I am not sure if I self medicated, but I started drinking at 18 when I was in college. Until then, I was completely uninterested in it. It sure was fun while it lasted. Then I scared myself into thinking that I was drinking too much and I stopped. Now I have a drink here and there. I have never done any other drugs other than my prescribed bipolar meds. Of course growing up with a dad who is a cop put a stop to alot of bad behavior before it even started. He had me good and scared.