Alcohol And Drugs: A Risk of Overdose

Drugs and alcohol can be dangerous enough on their own, but when they are mixed, the dangers can be magnified to a deadly degree. The immediate effects of many drugs can intensify when mixed with alcohol, from depressants, which can drastically slow your heart rate, to stimulants that provide an “upper”.

Unfortunately, polydrug use is all too common, and research shows that of 1,130 people seeking treatment primarily for alcohol addiction, 35% reported also using another drug (excluding tobacco. When including tobacco, positive respondents become 71%).

These numbers show the scale of the issue, so shedding light on the dangers of mixing drugs and alcohol is crucial for saving lives.

What is polydrug use?

‘Polydrug use’ refers to the use of more than one drug or substance simultaneously or one shortly after the other. These substances can be alcohol, illicit drugs or even prescription medicines. What makes polydrug use so dangerous is its unpredictable nature, with different combinations affecting your mind and body in varying and potentially violent ways.

Why do people mix drugs and alcohol?

Factors associated with polydrug use are younger age, lower education levels and socio-economic factors like housing risk. Contributors of polydrug use are multi-faceted.

People choose to mix alcohol and drugs for an array of reasons, one common reason being a person seeking to enhance the pleasurable effects of the two substances.

For example, some people combine alcohol with cocaine for enhanced feelings of euphoria or to prolong the high. Conversely, some might mix alcohol with hallucinogens to reduce the effects or comedowns from drugs like LSD.

Drugs commonly mixed with alcohol

Polydrug combinations of alcohol with other substances are a broad area of continued research. Each combination comes with its own potential risks. Some of the most common combinations and their effects are:

• Alcohol and marijuana: The poly-use of alcohol with marijuana can enhance the effects of each substance, creating a heightened sense of euphoria. It can, however, also cause dizziness, nausea and increased anxiety or paranoia.
• Alcohol and cocaine: Ethanol in alcohol mixed with cocaine forms a new compound called cocaethylene, intensifying the effect of both drugs. This leads to an increase in the risk of heart attacks and liver damage.
• Alcohol and prescription opioids (e.g., Oxycodone): Poly-use of alcohol with prescription opioids can depress the central nervous system, resulting in slowed breathing and increased risks of respiratory depression and overdose.
• Alcohol and ecstasy (MDMA): The depressant effects of alcohol can dampen the euphoric effects of MDMA while increasing the risk of hyperthermia, dehydration and severe heart issues. It can also lead to impaired judgement and risky behaviours.
• Alcohol and heroin: Polydrug use of alcohol with heroin is extremely dangerous, as both are central nervous system depressants. This combination can lead to profound sedation, heart failure and a high risk of fatal overdose.

The dangers of mixing alcohol and drugs

Mixing alcohol and drugs (prescription or otherwise) comes with a host of risks and dangers. It’s helpful to separate short and long-term risks, as new users may face different dangers than long-term users.

Short-term risks

• Nausea and vomiting: Immediate and severe nausea with disorientation is common.

• Fainting: With sudden respiratory changes come drops in blood pressure.
• Overdose: Combined depressant effects on the nervous central nervous system are extremely dangerous.

Long-term risks

• Addiction: There are increased risks of addiction to alcohol or the drug it’s used in conjunction with.

• Mental health issues: Depression and anxiety are common for long-term users.
• Medication interactions: Research shows that an additional long-term risk is that alcohol can reduce the effectiveness of genuine medications and even make prescribed medicines harmful to the body.

What causes an overdose when mixing alcohol and drugs?

Overdoses can happen when mixing alcohol and drugs, as their combined effect can overwhelm your body’s ability to process them. The risk of overdose increases when mixing drugs that act on your body in similar ways. For example, both alcohol and drugs like opioids, benzodiazepines and sedatives are all central nervous system depressants.  When you take these together, you can slow your vital functions to dangerous levels. This can result in restricted breathing, rapid heart rate changes and respiratory depression, where breathing becomes too slow or stops altogether.

What are the signs and symptoms of these overdoses?

Understanding how an overdose presents itself and learning to spot it early could save the life of a loved one experiencing it. Overdoses are life-threatening without intervention. Here are some signs:

• Extreme drowsiness or unresponsiveness: The person might become excessively sleepy or completely unresponsive, unable to wake up.
• Slow or irregular breathing: Signs of very shallow and irregular breathing might show, in severe cases, breathing stops altogether.
• Bluish skin or lips: As respiratory risks increase, there might be signs of skin or mouth having a blue tint, especially around lips and fingertips.
• Seizures: The body’s reaction to toxic levels of substances can cause seizures and convulsions.
• Pinpoint pupils: In cases of opioid usage, pupils shrink or become unresponsive to light.

If I’m experiencing these symptoms, what can I do?

If you think you’re having an overdose, it’s crucial to stay calm and take immediate action. The most important step is to call emergency services right away. Responders are trained to handle these situations and give the necessary help.

You need to reduce the risk of harm. If you’re with someone, try your best to let them know exactly how you feel at that moment. If you’re alone, keep the phone close by for the emergency responders.

An overdose is a serious medical emergency that needs to be evaluated by healthcare professionals. Your health and safety are top priority, so if you feel like you’re overdosing, don’t hesitate to seek immediate assistance.

Are you struggling with drug or alcohol addiction?

Here at UKAT, our mission is to help those going through addiction, and the risks that come with it. With us, you’ll find understanding from people who have been in your shoes.

Our specialised centres provide support for alcohol detox and rehabilitation with comprehensive care. Our treatment and recovery plan is broken into three steps: addiction, detox and rehab.

So, if you or a loved one are going through addiction, we are here for you. Get in touch for the support and treatment you need and deserve.