4 Most Dangerous Drug Combinations

Why Combining Drugs is Dangerous

When a drug addiction or an alcohol addiction takes hold of a person, their life can unravel in several ways. If this drug or alcohol addiction goes unchecked, it can result in a person looking for other ways to be able to escalate their high. In certain cases, a substance abuse issue can become so severe that the person struggling with addiction could turn to mix drugs and alcohol as a way to feel the effect that they are searching for. However, the decision to mix drugs could lead to potentially deadly consequences. If you’re able to survive this deadly combination, it’s possible that you could experience other effects of drugs. For instance, you put yourself at a higher risk of developing mental health disorders and you put yourself in serious physical danger. Combining drugs to gain a more intense high is often referred to as polysubstance abuse and can present severe complications to any individual. 

4 Most Dangerous Drug Combinations

Realistically, any type of combination of drugs and alcohol could be potentially dangerous, and the risk of transfer addiction, where one transitions from one addictive substance or behavior to another, can further complicate matters. However, there are a select number of particularly deadly combinations. If you find yourself lost in this type of addiction or experiencing signs of transfer addiction when consuming these substances together, it’s imperative that you reach out for help immediately. Here are some examples:

Alcohol and Benzodiazepines

Without question, benzodiazepines and alcohol are a combination that you should avoid at all costs. Benzodiazepines suppress the central nervous system in the same way that alcohol does. Therefore, when you mix benzodiazepines and alcohol, the result will never be a good one. Having a benzodiazepine addiction alone could lead to serious health consequences. For example, benzos have been shown to trigger short-term memory loss. When you combine alcohol abuse with benzodiazepine use, you put yourself at serious risk of both physical and psychological issues. 

Cocaine and Heroin

Due to how common it is for people to combine cocaine and heroin, this lethal combination is often known as “speedballing”. However, regardless of how you refer to it, it is something that a person should never indulge in. The reason for this is the immediate impact that the combination of these two substances can have on your cardiovascular system is undeniable. 

Alcohol and Opioids

The combination of opioids and alcohol can have a similar effect on a person who has consumed alcohol and benzodiazepines. Often prescription medication such as opioids is used by a person that is in some type of pain. However, opioid addiction is something that can set in fairly quickly, particularly if opioid use goes unchecked. It’s not uncommon for a person with opioid addiction to turn to illegal methods to be able to fuel their addiction. In an effort to enhance their high, many substance abusers combine these two dangerous substances. However, both opioids and alcohol depress the central nervous system. In turn, this potentially deadly combination could result in a person having cardiac arrest, breathing problems, and a slew of potentially deadly reactions. 

Cocaine and Alcohol

There are many people who struggle with alcohol addiction and also develop an addiction to cocaine. Using alcohol and cocaine is similar to combining two opposite substances. Alcohol is a depressant while cocaine can boost you up. Therefore, when a person drinks and uses cocaine, the effect of the cocaine blocks how much alcohol that person can actually feel. Therefore, the alcoholic tends to drink more and for a longer period of time. The reason why this is so dangerous is due in large part to the fact that that person is more susceptible to cocaine overdose or alcohol poisoning, both of which can be extremely dangerous and deadly.  

Drug Rehab at Resurgence Behavioral Health

When you make the decision to address your drug addiction or alcohol addiction, the addiction treatment programs that are offered through Resurgence Behavioral Health are second to none. We understand that every client that comes to our rehab center deserves specialized and unique levels of care. Before you can commit to an addiction treatment program, however, it’s possible that you may need to commit to a drug or alcohol detox program to remove the influence of these substances from your mind and your body. Within just mere hours from the last time you use your substance of choice, you will begin to experience withdrawal symptoms which can make it impossible for you to properly care for yourself. On average, detox lasts approximately seven days. By the end of that time, you will be in a much better place to take full advantage of treatment plans. 

If you needed to complete a drug or alcohol detox program, then you may find it in your best interests to commit to an inpatient or a residential treatment program that gives you the opportunity to live on the campus of the treatment facility that you choose. You will have around-the-clock care from and access to your addiction treatment team. You will also have the peace of mind of knowing that you are in a safe and sober environment where you can exclusively focus on yourself for a period of time. 

If you feel as though inpatient addiction treatment isn’t the best option for you, you should always take the time to learn more about the outpatient rehab programs that are available through our treatment facility. Outpatient rehab is specifically designed for a person who may have full-time or part-time work or school responsibilities. At Resurgence, we give our clients the opportunity to take advantage of an intensive outpatient program or a general outpatient rehab program. The main distinction between these two options is that an intensive outpatient program requires a higher number of hours when it comes to treatment in comparison to outpatient rehab for polysubstance abuse. The exact details of your addiction treatment plan are something that you will discuss with your intake team when you initially reach out.

Regardless of which treatment plan you decide to take advantage of, it’s important to understand that you need to take advantage of the addiction therapy options that are available to you through your treatment program of choice. The reason for this is that you need to determine the root cause of your addiction and what may have led you to abuse drugs and alcohol at this higher level. Here are just a few examples of addiction therapy that you may experience during your time in treatment: 

Group therapy 

During group therapy, you will have the unique opportunity to interact and communicate with other people that are working through their own treatment programs. Often, when a person is in the midst of addiction, they feel as though they are completely alone when it comes to what they may be thinking or experiencing. However, the reality is that there are others that are likely feeling or experiencing the same thing. During group therapy, you will be able to share your experiences with others in your group and you will likely learn from those around you. In turn, you may be able to grow your system of support which is something that will become invaluable to you as you continue on in your recovery journey. 

Individual therapy 

In most cases, it’s likely that you will not feel comfortable sharing certain aspects of your life with others that are working through their own treatment program. This is where individual therapy comes into play. This form of therapy allows you to talk in a personal and private setting with the members of your addiction treatment team. This will help you to identify and work through the particularly challenging aspects of your treatment. Individual therapy also provides an excellent opportunity to assess your current treatment program and make any changes if needed.

Family therapy 

If you have been struggling with addiction, then there is a strong possibility that certain members of your family have been impacted by your addiction. Family therapy can help you to reconnect with your family so that they can begin to become an active and healthy part of your life once again. In many cases, family members will be more open to this form of therapy once they see the wonderful steps that you’re taking toward treatment. Family therapy is something that is only done when you come to a place in your treatment where you are ready to face some of the challenges that come along with this form of therapy. 

If you or one of our loved ones is suffering from polysubstance abuse, we encourage you to get in touch with us today. We can help you or your loved ones to address their addiction to benzodiazepine and opioids or alcohol abuse so that you or your family member can achieve the healthy and sober life that they would like. To learn more about how Resurgence Behavioral Health can help you to break the cycle of addiction, please get in touch with us today at (855) 458-0050.

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— Resurgence Behavioral Health (@RBHRecovery) April 8, 2022

Josh Chandler
After growing up in Chicago and North Carolina, Josh chose to get help with substance use disorder and mental health in California because of the state's reputation for top-tier treatment. There, he found the treatment he needed to achieve more than five years of recovery. He's been in the drug and alcohol addiction rehab industry for four years and now serves as the Director of Admissions for Resurgence Behavioral Health. Josh remains passionate about the field because he understands that one phone call can alter the course of a person's life.

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