Dangers of mixing Alcohol and other Drugs

Alcohol addiction is not an uncommon occurrence in the society currently due to the easy availability and rather normal and socially acceptable perception of alcohol consumption. But as explored in our earlier articles, someone addicted to alcohol usually ends up consuming other drugs due to the fact that they end up spending time with people such proclivities. And though Alcohol is by itself a high risk substance that increases the risk to several diseases, combining it with other drugs not just increases the risk but multiplies it. But how can one reduce the risk of addiction caused by combining alcohol and drugs? By educating themselves of the risks so that they can then spread awareness about the risks with others. Let’s review some of the risks caused by combining alcohol with specific drugs below:

Ganja

Alcohol and weed use individually can have a wide variety of dilapidating effects on a user. When combined, the effects caused by both alcohol and weed can manifest together in a user. Alcohol and weed use can result in mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, mood swings, insomnia, headaches, etc.. Alcohol use before weed can lead to a more potent high from the weed. In some cases users may “green out” – when a user gets sick from the intense high due to the increased absorption of weed in the body due to the alcohol. Both alcohol and weed use can affect academic performance and lead to issues with memory retention and recall and overall lowered cognitive functions and delinquency. Alcohol and weed use can also have dilapidating effects on a user’s cardiovascular health and diseases such as high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes and irregular heart beats are common in persistent long-term users.

Cocaine

Cocaine use when combined with alcohol can have a higher effect on the heart rate and the blood pressure than just alcohol use. Combined use of Alcohol and Cocaine also leads to the formation of Cocaethylene that increases the cardiotoxic effects of cocaine or alcohol. Co-use also further impacts the already affected memory recall and retention, and impaired co-ordination and motor functions bought on by alcohol use.

Ecstacy

Alcohol combined with other drugs such as Ecstasy/MDMA can increase the potential for physiological issues such as difficulties breathing, depression, anxiety and other associated mental health conditions. Also, these drugs can reduce the intoxicating effects of the combination thereby increasing the potential for blackouts, alcohol poisoning or overdose. 

LSD

Hallucinogens intake by itself can be unpredictable but when combined with alcohol the resultant reaction can be hard to manage. In some mild cases users might experience uncomfortable effects such as dizziness, nausea and vomiting and since drugs such as LSD can increase the heart rate and blood pressure, seizures and heart attacks are common in long term use cases.

Over the counter Medication

Alcohol when combined with over the counter medication such as Opioids, Valium, Xanax can be dangerous and even fatal in some cases. Such combinations have lead to cases in which a user’s respiration is reduced to the point that they can’t breathe which lead to death. Other effects that have been documented with cough medications include dizziness, drowsiness, effects on memory recall and retention and losing consciousness.

Caffeine

Consuming energy drinks that contain large doses of caffeine with alcohol can mask the real effect of alcohol in the body and the mind. That can lead a user to be less in control of themselves while leading themselves to believe that they are more in control of themselves. Such instances can lead to dangerous, reckless and often illegal behaviour that results in people getting hurt.

For help with a poly drug abuse, reach our addiction counsellor at +91 77999 19293 for help.