Stimulants and depressants can lead to addiction, but how they impact the brain is contrasting. The former makes the brain more energetic and excited, while the latter slows it down, along with other bodily functions. When mixing stimulants and depressants, the consequence can be dangerous, if not fatal.Yet, polysubstance use is prevalent, especially in the US, which claimed nearly 35,000 lives in 2019 alone.If you want to learn more about the potential hazards of polydrug abuse, stick with us. This blog will discuss the risks of mixing drugs and the importance of drug education and prevention.
Drug addiction is an alarming public health issue in the country. In fact, many people have reported to have used illicit drugs at least once.The simultaneous consumption of different substances further compounds this concern. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 50% of drug overdose deaths in 2019 involved multiple drugs. Multiple substance use often involves stimulants and depressants. As briefly explained earlier, stimulants are drugs that enhance or stimulate brain activity. This broad-ranging class includes caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, ecstasy, and amphetamines. When consumed, they will make you feel more energetic and awake, then fatigue, poor concentration, and depression afterward. They also increase blood pressure and heart rate, among others. Excessive use can lead to more harmful effects, including:
On the other hand, depressants are a class of drugs that hamper brain functioning, which is the opposite effect of what stimulants do. Think alcohol, opioids, and benzodiazepines. Taking them can slow down your reaction time and breathing, enhance your mood, and increase your risk of injury or accident, mainly because of impaired judgment. Meanwhile, higher doses can cause:
To clarify: There are cases when mixing legal-to-use stimulants with depressants is fine. And it’s only when there’s a doctor’s prescription. But even in this context, it's rare. After all, doing so can lead to unpredictable drug interaction effects.Just mixing various stimulants (or depressants) can already be significantly hazardous.For instance, combining stimulants can damage the brain and liver, and increase your rate of stroke and heart attack. An overdose due to mixing this class of drugs can lead to increased body temperature, chest pain, fast breathing, nausea, vomiting, and tremors or seizures. Meanwhile, if you combine depressants, you’re also putting your brain and other organs at risk of getting damaged. Signs of overdose include slowed breathing, weakened pulse, confusion, and passing out. The worst-case scenario is death.Now, combining stimulants and depressants is another (dangerous) story. The first thing to remember is that these two types of drugs don’t cancel each other. Instead, one drug escalates the impact of the other. When combined drug intoxication occurs, you can experience seizures, heat stroke, heart issues, suppressed breathing, stomach bleeding, and brain damage. As with other drug abuse scenarios, multiple substance use can lead to comatose and, ultimately, death.Nonetheless, the impact of polydrug use is still dependent on different factors, including a person’s age and weight, the dosage taken, and which drugs were combined. Some of the most common mixes of stimulants and depressants include alcohol and cocaine, and ecstasy and cocaine.
You might have heard this a thousand times, but an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. And this is especially true in terms of substance abuse. By educating yourself about the subject matter — and specifically understanding the dangers of drug interaction — you won’t want to risk your health and life. On the contrary, you will be empowered to prioritize your well-being. Here are some resources to help you out:
While resources are available for drug abuse prevention, you have an important role in preventing addiction. Below are some strategies to follow:
Your peers can influence your behaviors. When you’re in the company of people with positive and healthy habits, it can reduce your likelihood of being pressured into taking addictive substances.
Understand that some factors can increase your risk of addiction. These include genetic predisposition, family history of addiction, and the existence of other mental health conditions. Knowing all this can help you avoid succumbing to triggering addictive behaviors.
Going through a lot of stress? Carrying a burden that seems too heavy? Learn to talk your feelings out with trusted loved ones instead of turning to unhealthy coping mechanisms like (poly)drug use.
Exercise regularly. Eat a balanced diet. And engage in activities that let you pursue your hobbies and interact with others. The key is to use your time for something more meaningful.
Knowing what to do in case you or someone you know has a drug problem is an essential first step. Part of this entails getting help.Professionals play a vital role in treating addiction, including polydrug abuse. They specialize in designing treatment plans that suit your specific needs, taking into account how to detoxify while teaching you how to resist cravings safely. They use varied available treatments, such as inpatient rehab (for those requiring more intensive care), outpatient programs (for better flexibility), therapy and counseling sessions (individual and group), and even medication-assisted treatment for some cases.
Mixing stimulants and depressants is dangerous. These two types of drugs cause contrasting effects on the brain and the body. Hence, the consequences of taking them simultaneously can be unpredictable. It can lead to coma and even death.If you or someone you know is struggling with drug misuse, one critical step is to seek professional help. You can go the extra mile and help raise awareness about this topic so that more people can learn about the dangers of drug abuse, especially when it involves multiple substances.For a comprehensive and holistic approach to addiction treatment, Oregon Trail Recovery is here to offer expert services. Call today and speak to one of their dedicated professionals.