Polysubstance abuse is categorized by an addiction to the feeling of “being high” regardless of what substance is used. Those struggling with polysubstance use don’t have a specific preference for one particular drug.
Polysubstance use is generally diagnosed when the individual is using three different substances. However, some definitions say it only requires two drugs to be used.
Polysubstance abuse can include the use of any type of drug. Alcohol tends to be a common one. Other substances that can be abused include but are not limited to:
Most cases of polysubstance abuse involve alcohol and illegal drugs. However, prescription medications can also become a part of the problem. Prescription medications have the potential to become addictive, and eventually severely abused.
You can recognize the presence of polysubstance use through a variety of symptoms that vary from individual to individual. Diagnosing polysubstance abuse can be tricky.
In many cases, the individual may only be aware of one addiction, or none at all. Generally speaking, polysubstance use requires a minimum of three substances being abused.
Besides, the individual must show at least three of the following signs within the last 12 months. Please note that there are many more signs and these are only a handful of symptoms to look out for:
It’s worth noting that it is possible to have more than one addiction, which is not the same as polysubstance abuse. For instance, an individual may have a cocaine addiction, as well as an alcohol addiction present. This is an example of multiple addictions rather than a polysubstance addiction.
Polysubstance abuse is specifically categorized by an addiction to the effects of substances. The particular substance is not an important component of the individual.
There are numerous reasons as to why you should not mix drugs at all unless you are instructed to do so by your doctor. If you have taken any prescription medication, you have probably been warned about mixing your medicine with certain types of drugs and/or alcohol.
Every drug, no matter what type it is, can interact with other substances and produce severe side effects. If you mix drugs recreationally, particularly drugs that you are using illicitly, the risk can be even greater.
Recreational drug users combine alcohol with other drugs at a higher rate than any other combination. This is because alcohol is legal and readily available to most people.
Alcohol is a CNS depressant, so it reduces the functioning of neurons in the brain.
The effects of combinations with alcohol will differ depending on the drug used.
Combining alcohol with other central nervous system depressants (like benzodiazepines, opioids, or other sedatives) enhances the effects of both drugs and increases the possibility that you may overdose on one of them.
If alcohol is combined with central nervous system stimulants like amphetamines or cocaine, each drug cancels out some of the effects of the other drug. This makes it very likely that you will take too much of one of them (most often the stimulant).
When combined with antidepressant medications and other prescription medications that are typically not drugs of abuse, alcohol can reduce the medication’s effectiveness. The combination can also produce different side effects that can be very distressing.
Cold medicine and alcohol are another highly dangerous combination. Chronically combining alcohol with over-the-counter analgesics, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve), can lead to an increased risk for liver damage, ulcers, and cardiovascular issues.
The chronic effects of combining alcohol and tobacco products can lead to numerous long-term health issues, especially increased risk for many different forms of cancer. This risk is significantly higher than the risk of getting cancer as a result of using either drug alone.
Combining alcohol with other central nervous system depressants (like benzodiazepines, opioids, or other sedatives) enhances the effects of both drugs and increases the possibility that you may overdose on one of them.
Whenever you drink alcohol, your liver gives priority to metabolizing the alcohol in your system overall other substances.
This means that other potentially toxic substances, like other drugs, are not metabolized until your liver has eliminated the alcohol from your system.
As a result, combining alcohol with other drugs places a significant burden on the liver and the rest of your system. Unless instructed to do so by your physician, you should never combine alcohol with any drug of abuse, prescription medication, or over-the-counter medication.
Other central nervous systems (CNS) depressant combinations are popular among abusers of this class of drugs. These include:
Any of these combinations can lead to an enhancement of the effects of the drugs, resulting in potentially dangerous issues. The most serious risk is a severe or even fatal overdose on either drug.
Stimulant drugs speed up the central nervous system. Combining stimulant medications can enhance their effects. This can result in potentially dangerous issues, such as dramatically increased blood pressure, cardiac issues, stroke, seizures, and psychosis.
The following stimulant medications are commonly abused and may be combined:
The same principles regarding enhanced effects and overdose apply to these combinations.
There have been many research studies proving that there are harmful consequences and risks associated with abusing alcohol and Adderall together.
Some of the many negative risks include:
Xanax and cocaine are other examples of a combination of drugs that individuals take. There are many adverse risks to taking Xanax and cocaine at the same time. Cocaine and Xanax have many opposing effects.
Cocaine can stimulate feelings of euphoria, high energy, as well as paranoia and anxiety. Xanax typically decreases anxiety and energy, while increasing drowsiness, and possibly depression.
The similarities between cocaine and Xanax use are often irritability and restlessness. The comedown from cocaine can commonly lead to depression and exhaustion. The use of Xanax can intensify these effects.
Combining cocaine and Xanax can also result in a dangerous accumulation of both drugs in the body. Consequently, this can lead to high levels of toxicity and overdose. An individual with excessive amounts of Xanax and cocaine built up in their system are at risk of:
The effects of combining different types of drugs also affect your ability to think, control emotions, or inhibit impulsive behaviors.
If you combine central nervous system depressants, you are more likely to have decreased reaction times, slow rates of thinking, be irrational, and have problems controlling your emotions, leading to emotional outbursts of anger, depression, and even aggression.
Combining stimulant medications often leads to feelings of invulnerability that can lead to significant problems with judgment. It can also result in psychotic-like states due to high levels of excitatory neurotransmitters like dopamine being released in your brain.
Combining drugs with opposite actions nearly always reduces your ability to make quick decisions, think clearly, and control your emotions and impulses. This can lead to numerous issues, including accidents, legal entanglements, and other serious problems.
In many cases, there are medicinal effects associated with mixing certain types of prescription medications or in using combinations of medications that you can get over the counter with prescription drugs.
For instance, if you mix the opioid antagonist ReVia (naltrexone) with other opioid drugs, you may find that your cravings to use these drugs are reduced, and you use less of them. Using naltrexone to eliminate cravings and cut down on opioid abuse is a common practice.
Your physician may prescribe you different combinations of medications to treat different conditions. But in these cases, the physician is aware of the potential interactions that may occur and engage in a cost-benefit analysis based on their expertise to determine the treatment that can best address your situation.
You should never combine medications or illicit drugs without consulting with your physician.
There are thousands of potential interactions that can occur when you combine different types of drugs. People who abuse drugs will very often combine alcohol with their drug of choice, or they may seek to enhance or decrease the effects of one drug by combining it with another drug.
This can be a dangerous practice. When you combine controlled substances with other drugs without consulting with your physician, you are taking your life into your own hands.
Our dedicated addiction recovery team can guide you through the enrollment process and get you started with treatment immediately. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please don’t hesitate to find your location and reach out to us. We’re here for you the moment you make that first call!
