The "self-medication hypothesis" has received attention for its proposed way of understanding alcohol dependence. This hypothesis is based on the view that those who become dependent are selecting a substance for the purpose of temporarily relieving the hardship or distress they are facing and that they fall into substance dependence as a result of continued use. In this study, we listened to the narratives of members of alcohol dependence self-help groups, as well as those of their families,

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... d attempted to identify and extract the hardships each faced and factors supporting their recovery. We then considered the self-medication hypothesis based on these results. Although Japan faces several challenges in treating alcohol dependence, such as a lack of counseling services, we found the presence of friends and family, together with professionals, community members, and self-help groups, to be essential to recovery. In other words, places where participants could find supportive understanding and a sense of belonging were very powerful resources in the recovery process. Further, we found that interview participants were able to endure emotional hardships through the help of their connections and relationships with other people, and not through the use of alcohol. In addition, it was understood that participants were not drinking alcohol simply as a pleasurable activity but were seeking to overcome hardships.