IN my 20's, before I had kids, work was a struggle emotionally. I self-medicated with alcohol every night. When I was able to quit that job and stay home, I stopped drinking. Then when my kids were older, I used to drink a lot to deal with my bad marriage. I was never drunk around the kids, just when they were sleeping late at night, I'd drink just enough to take the edge off. I never got stinking drunk, just enough to feel better.
I never took street drugs or too many prescription drugs.