self-medicate

verb

self-med·​i·​cate ˌself-ˈme-di-ˌkāt 

self-medicated; self-medicating; self-medicates

1

transitive : to treat (something) by self-medication

people who attempt to self-medicate depression

2

intransitive : to treat oneself by self-medication

self-medicated with analgesics to control arthritic pain

These courts are a lifeline for veterans, many of whom struggle with post-traumatic stress and brain injury when they return home after serving, often using drugs and alcohol to self-medicate.

—Claire Handscombe

Examples of self-medicate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Throughout the ordeal, Collins sometimes self-medicated with alcohol. —Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 21 Jan. 2026

The hidden population The vast majority of people diagnosed with a substance use disorder address the issue informally – seeking support from their community, friends or family, self-medicating or doing nothing at all. —Layla Bouzoubaa, The Conversation, 14 Jan. 2026

He self-medicated with alcohol and and dabbled in pills a bit. —Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 22 Dec. 2025

And so, the next best thing is to self-medicate. —Daniela Avila, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1902, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for self-medicate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate

Medical Definition

self-medicate

verb

self-med·​i·​cate -ˈmed-ə-ˌkāt 

self-medicated; self-medicating

transitive verb

: to treat by self-medication

the patient had attempted to self-medicate depression

intransitive verb

: to treat oneself by self-medication

patients with dental pain often self-medicate with analgesics