Is mixing alcohol and cocaine dangerous? Some people believe that mixing alcohol and cocaine helps to avoid withdrawal and boosts cocaine high. However, mixing the two drugs can be lethal. Cocaine is available in two chemical forms, namely, a fat-soluble form and a water-soluble powder form. The drug has both stimulant and anesthetic effects. Its effects happen fast and go away in a couple of minutes or hours. The severity of the effects of cocaine depends on the amount and form used. Some people may either smoke it, inject, take it orally, or snort it. Cocaine is very addictive and can take over your life. Seek treatment at an Ohio cocaine rehab program if you feel you are struggling with cocaine or alcohol abuse.
Why mix alcohol and cocaine? Some people feel the effects of taking both drugs together are more potent. But there are unseen dangers. Cocaine makes you have more energy, become more alert and talkative, and more reactive to sounds, touch, and lights. On the other hand, alcohol is a depressant. It affects your behavior, thinking capacity, judgment, movement, and mood. Binge drinking puts you at risk of damaging your heart, brain, pancreas, and liver. Mixing the two can cause heart muscle problems, restlessness, and increased blood pressure and heart rate, among other dangerous effects.
Is Mixing Alcohol and Cocaine Dangerous?
Yes, it is. When using alcohol together with cocaine, your body processes them into new substances. It releases a powerful metabolite known as cocaethylene. This product causes stronger effects compared to just one of cocaine and alcohol. It increases the toxicity to the liver, heart, and other vital organs. Also, cocaethylene stays in the body for a longer time than cocaine. Alcohol slows down the production of metabolites by the kidneys. This increases the blood levels of cocaethylene and cocaine.
Mixing cocaine and alcohol can cause a sudden stroke. Cocaine increases the risk of blood clots, shrinks blood vessels, and causes bleeding in the brain. These effects increase the chances of the user getting a stroke. Alcohol increases the cravings of using cocaine. This makes it even more difficult to quit using both drugs. People tend to binge drink to prevent the effects of withdrawal and continue feeling high. Both alcohol and cocaine cause stimulant effects on the body. Using them together can lead to violent and impulsive behavior, depression, anxiety, and panic attacks. The most dangerous effect of mixing alcohol and cocaine is damage to the heart. It can cause a change in heart rhythms or a heart attack.
Ohio alcohol addiction treatment programs help you to recover safely from alcohol abuse and withdrawal. They ensure you go through the withdrawal symptoms without any complications. Treating alcohol addiction will prevent you from using other drugs such as cocaine. An Ohio alcohol addiction treatment center helps you learn to use healthy coping mechanisms and implement them throughout your journey to recovery.
Alcohol and Cocaine Dependence
Dependence is where the body becomes used to the drug and requires it to function. If you’re wondering, is mixing alcohol and cocaine dangerous, some of the common signs of alcohol and cocaine dependence include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Mood and sleep shifts
- Behavior changes
- Nosebleeds and a runny nose
- Increased blood pressure and a heart rate
- Weight loss
Various treatment programs help people struggling with drug and alcohol dependence. Drug addiction treatment programs in Ohio have both outpatient and inpatient programs. An inpatient treatment program works best for individuals with severe addiction problems or those with multiple recovery attempts. Holistic and evidence-based treatments are effective in treating your spirit, body, and mind.
Some of the evidence-based therapies used in treating addiction include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Commitment and acceptance therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Marital and family therapy
Find Help Today from an Addiction Treatment Facility
If you have a drug addiction problem, the best step is to seek help from an addiction treatment center. Now you know the negative effects of mixing alcohol and cocaine, take a step to reach out to a drug rehabilitation center. Begin your journey to recovery.
