Meds in Rehab?

Many people with severe depression go on to abuse drugs and alcohol as a way of blunting those negative feelings. Antidepressants can be helpful and effective in treating symptoms of depression in people who have also become drug dependent, so long as they stop abusing other drugs. All of the antidepressants have been extensively studied and there is no evidence that any of them will lead to drug abuse or dependency or will be used recreationally by people who gain access to them.

If someone has not been treated for depression before, but has developed feelings of discouragement of despondency during a period of chronic drug use, it may be preferable to hold off starting an antidepressant until the person has had a period where they are drug free, as many of these symptoms go away when a person stops abusing.