Most of the people I know who get high, get high because they enjoy getting high. It’s not to quell pain, it’s to get pleasure.
There is an aspect of that, however, most people dealing with addictions and addictive behavior are looking for an escape from the pain. The drugs and alcohol do give the pleasure they are missing.
Those who are emotionally healthy do not need that outlet to cloud their thinking and numb the pain. They enjoy life and get pleasure out of it already without assistance.