Self-medication is a concept that applies to social security disability claims that "potentially" involve drug and/or alcohol abuse.

Generally, the issue of self-medication surfaces in cases where intellectual deficits (memory loss, low IQ, dementia), schizoaffective disorders, or affective / mood disorders, such as depression or anxiety, are alleged.

For example, a claimant with major depression has psychiatric records documenting this condition. Yet the records also indicate the existence---or possibility---of concurrent drug or alcohol abuse.

In such a case, the question becomes "Does the claimant's substance abuse exacerbate the depression, or does the condition exist independently of the claimant's substance use---which simply constitutes an attempt on the part of the claimant to self-medicate the condition?"

In some cases, of course, the conclusion may be made that the condition's very existence is owed to the use of alcohol or drugs.

And, for this reason, claimants with a past history of drug or alcohol abuse should make sure that their medical records do not mistakenly indicate current substance abuse problems.

Note: The issue of self-medication generally arises in cases for which another issue is involved as well: DAA materiality (see the definition for this concept).