While it’s not necessarily uncommon to see people continuing to enjoy a drink while on a prescription medication, it’s more harmful than you might initially think. This practice, known as polysubstance abuse, whether accidental or intentional, involves taking two or more substances at the same time. This can include prescription medications like oxycodone for chronic pain, illicit drugs like heroin, and legal substances like alcohol or marijuana. Combining any of these will amplify the effects of each, putting you in danger of considerable consequences for your short- and long-term health and well-being.
If you or a loved one finds it challenging to stop drinking while on a prescription medication regimen, you should consider enrolling in polysubstance abuse treatment. Promise Brazos Valley offers a full range of residential and outpatient treatment options to accommodate your individual recovery needs.
What Is Polysubstance Abuse?
The term polysubstance abuse refers to misusing two or more substances together—the prefix “poly-” means multiple. Polysubstance abuse can be accidental or intentional.
Accidental Polysubstance Abuse
Some people may not realize that it’s unsafe to combine certain substances. For example, they might be prescribed an opioid to address chronic pain after a motor vehicle accident and continue to enjoy their daily glass of wine without realizing they shouldn’t mix the two.
Intentional Polysubstance Abuse
Some people partake in polysubstance abuse because they’re seeking a more intense high. This is fairly common at parties where drugs and alcohol are often used concurrently. For example, a person might drink alcohol and use cocaine on the same night to amplify the euphoric effects.
The Dangers of Mixing Drugs
Prescription drugs come with an insert listing the dangers and potential interactions of using the drug alongside certain other substances. But when it comes to illicit drugs like cocaine or recreational drugs like alcohol, you’ll see no such warning on the package. Instead, you need to educate yourself and others about the dangers of mixing drugs to hopefully prevent some of the following consequences.
Increased Risk of Injuries
Mixing drugs can significantly impair your coordination, judgment, and decision-making abilities. This can put you in situations where you’re more likely to incur injuries due to risk-taking behaviors like driving under the influence (DUI) or getting into physical altercations. It can also make you more vulnerable to falling and injuring yourself or being the victim of a sexual assault.
Higher Risk of Overdose
Combining substances will exaggerate the effects of each. When combining two depressants like alcohol and benzodiazepines, such as Xanax®, the depressant effects—like slowed breathing—will be more intense. This can lead to serious complications like respiratory depression and coma.
Organ Damage
Alcohol, prescription medications, and illicit drugs can all interfere with healthy organ function. For example, your liver—which is responsible for processing the toxins you ingest—can become overloaded if you take large amounts of substances or combine drugs or alcohol. This can cause irreparable damage to your liver as well as your kidneys, heart, and brain.
Severe Complications
In addition to a greater risk of overdose, mixing drugs can cause a person to have difficulty breathing or to stop breathing altogether, which can result in seizures, coma, or death. Even in cases when polysubstance abuse doesn’t end with fatality, a lack of oxygen to the brain can cause lasting damage to cognitive function, impairing memory and learning capacity.
Contact Promises Brazos Valley and Start Polysubstance Abuse Treatment Today
If you or a loved one is finding it challenging to avoid mixing substances, you need the support of polysubstance abuse treatment to take back control of your health. Find the compassion and guidance you need to overcome addiction by calling Promises Brazos Valley at (979) 731-9433 or filling out our online form to coordinate with a friendly member of our team.
