Mixing two addictive substances—or more—is dangerous. It is called polysubstance abuse. Taking cocaine and drinking alcohol at the same time is a common hazardous mix. People who become addicted to one substance are at a greater risk of becoming addicted to a second substance. People think each substance will counteract the adverse effects of the opposite substance, but instead, it puts you at greater risk of the side effects of addiction. Not to mention how hard it will be to withdraw from more than one substance as part of treatment. For help finding a cocaine rehab in Texas, contact the team at The Right Step for guidance at 17135283709 or online.
Dangers of Mixing Cocaine and Alcohol
The dangers of polysubstance abuse are many. The risks of mixing cocaine and alcohol include the following.
Liver Damage
The combination of cocaine and alcohol can wreak havoc on the liver, including cirrhosis and other severe conditions.
Cardiovascular Problems
Cocaine is a stimulant—it can mess with your regular heart rate and blood pressure levels. Alcohol is a depressant and can also affect heart rate but make it slower instead of faster. Stroke and heart attack are also risks.
Cognitive Issues
Healthy cognitive function is impaired when any substance is used. This multiplies when multiple substances are used. Judgment is impaired and can cause risky behavior.
Greater Tolerance
The more a substance is used, the more effects can lessen. This is why people take more significant amounts of the drug to experience the impact they crave. Unfortunately, this is a vicious cycle that leads to further addiction.
Increased Risk of Overdose
With more substances being taken and more of each substance to achieve the desired effect, tolerance levels only build. With increased tolerance comes an increased risk of overdose.
The Bigger Issue: Polysubstance Abuse
Polysubstance abuse can be any combination of multiple drugs or drugs paired with alcohol. Multiple addictions affect a person in various ways, both physically and mentally. The user takes one drug for one effect and another for a different effect, like the combination of cocaine as a stimulant and alcohol as a depressant.
Getting to the root cause of addiction is an essential part of substance abuse treatment. In many cases, someone who becomes addicted to one drug will quickly become addicted to another. Addiction can stem from things like:
- Childhood trauma
- Addiction in the family
- Identity crisis
- A co-occurring mental health condition
- Stress
Understanding polysubstance abuse, its root causes, and how best to treat it is what a substance use disorder treatment center excels at. Professionals, peers, and family support are critical to a successful treatment experience. A comfortable environment to receive treatment—in either a residential or outpatient program—makes the journey easier. This is why professional and accredited treatment centers, like the one at The Right Step, are sought after as an excellent resource for successful treatment and recovery from polysubstance abuse.
Overcome Polysubstance Abuse at The Right Step
At The Right Step, a holistic approach is taken when treating any substance use or mental health condition. A combination of evidence-based and experiential therapies is designed to provide a customized treatment plan for you and your needs. Therapies can include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), motivational interviewing, family therapy, group therapy, yoga therapy, art therapy, and more. In addition to treating addiction, a treatment center can also address a co-occurring mental health issue as part of dual diagnosis treatment.
Contact The Right Step at 17135283709 or online to learn more about the dangers of polysubstance abuse. A treatment team member is standing by to answer questions.
