Whether it’s drinking alcohol while taking prescription medications, or taking two different types of drugs to counter or intensify each other, polydrug use is a serious issue. It is also a dangerous one, with combined drug intoxication (or CDI) being one of the leading causes of overdose deaths. This is due, in large part, to the unpredictability of the substances interacting. It can put great strain on the vital organs and the body at large.
Polysubstance abuse and CDI can be so dangerous and deadly. It is important not just to understand what it is but also how to prevent it.
What Is Combined Drug Intoxication?
As the name implies, and as we briefly mentioned in the introduction, CDI occurs when two or more substances are taken simultaneously with the intention of a unique experience. This can lead to dangerous and sometimes fatal effects.
CDI can include any number of combinations of prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, illicit substances, and drinking alcohol. In most cases, CDI is caused by the purposeful use (and consequential addiction to) multiple substances. However, there are instances where CDI can occur by accident. This may be the result of someone having an adverse reaction to taking multiple prescription drugs or a prescription drug with an over-the-counter drug to which they expect no reaction.
CDI is particularly common in individuals who engage in recreational drug use, individuals with substance use disorders, and people with chronic pain who take multiple prescribed medications (or substances like medical marijuana). People taking multiple substances at once may underestimate the risks of combining substances, especially if they have been prescribed by a doctor.
In the case of illicit substances, CDI may be accidental. This is particularly true in instances where a street drug has been laced with or cut with another illicit substance (i.e. cocaine with added fentanyl powder). The additional substances may be added without the user’s notice or consent.
While there are any number of combinations of CDI, some common ones include:
- Opioids and Benzodiazepines: This combination is especially lethal, as both substances depress the central nervous system and may lead to respiratory failure.
- Alcohol and Prescription Medications: Prescription medication will often come with a warning saying “Do not mix with alcohol.”. Many prescription drugs can have dangerous interactions with alcohol, increasing sedation and impairing cognitive function in the person taking them.
- Stimulants and Depressants: Mixing stimulants (such as cocaine or methamphetamine) with depressants (such as heroin or alcohol) can cause the body to struggle with competing effects, sometimes leading to heart complications and other severe health issues.
- Over-the-Counter Medications and Illicit Drugs: Some seemingly harmless over-the-counter drugs (such as antihistamines) can dangerously interact with illicit substances. This may lead to heightened sedation or agitation.
Why Is It Dangerous?
Mixing multiple substances can be particularly dangerous due in large part to how the substances interact inside the body. This initial interaction is just one of the many reasons why CDI is so dangerous.
Different substances can interact in ways that magnify their effects or create new, unexpected reactions. For example, combining a sedative with an opioid can lead to extreme drowsiness, unconsciousness, or even death due to respiratory failure.
Due to the unpredictability of mixing substances, it may be more difficult to seek the proper medical attention in a timely manner should a medical emergency occur.
Even if CDI is not fatal, or you are able to get the medical attention needed to address any issues that arise, repeatedly combining substances can cause permanent damage to vital organs. This includes the heart, liver, brain, and nervous system. Chronic polydrug use can also greatly increase the risk of addiction, which comes with the increased risk of additional physical and mental health complications.
CDI has the potential to severely impact mental health, leading to heightened feelings of anxiety, depression, paranoia, and impaired judgment. The brain’s chemistry can be highly sensitive to drug interactions. Taking multiple substances may lead to severe mood swings, hallucinations, suicidal thoughts, and psychotic episodes. If people have pre-existing mental health conditions, recovery will require specialized treatment known as dual diagnosis treatment to help prevent future self-medication with addictive substances.
Polydrug use can increase the risk of developing dependence on multiple substances simultaneously, which can make treatment and recovery more complex. The body becomes reliant on a combination of drugs to function. This leads to a more severe detox process and a higher risk of relapse.
Beyond the physical and mental health risks, CDI also carries significant social and economic consequences. Individuals struggling with CDI may face job loss, strained relationships, and financial instability due to their concurrent addictions. The cost of medical treatments, hospitalizations, and legal consequences may make it harder for individuals to seek help and recover.
A potentially dangerous consequence of taking multiple substances at the same time is an increased risk of an overdose. As the body attempts to metabolize the substances, it may not be able to do so successfully. As a result, the body may go into a state of shock or collapse into an overdose.
In some extreme cases, a person may be experiencing an overdose but not be able to recognize that an overdose is occurring. For example, a stimulant might temporarily keep someone awake despite having consumed a fatal dose of a depressant. This may cause a delay in medical intervention that can ultimately prove to be fatal.
Polydrug Intoxication vs. Overdose
While polydrug intoxication and overdose are related, they are not the same thing. However, the similarities outline how difficult it can be to predict the effects of taking multiple substances at once.
Polydrug Intoxication
Polydrug intoxication occurs when multiple substances are ingested at the same time. When two or more substances are taken at the same time or close to each other, it can lead to immediately adverse effects such as dizziness, confusion, nausea, and impaired motor function.
However, these effects may not be considered life-threatening. They do still come with significant risks and may lead to much more severe issues (including death) if not addressed in a timely manner. They are also still wholly unpredictable in regards to how they will affect the body, even if the same substances are taken together at different intervals. Chronic polydrug use can lead to increased likelihood of an overdose in the future, due to overconfidence in being able to predict the effects of substances or increasingly risky experimentation.
Overdose
An overdose occurs when the body is overwhelmed by toxic levels of substances, leading to severe symptoms such as:
- Loss of consciousness
- Difficulty breathing or respiratory arrest
- Seizures
- Vomiting or choking
- Slow or irregular heartbeat
Overdoses, especially those involving multiple substances, require immediate medical attention. Conventional wisdom regarding how to treat overdoses of certain substances may not apply or even prove detrimental in a polydrug overdose. Naloxone (Narcan) is an effective treatment for opioid overdoses, but may not reverse the effects of all drug combinations that include opioids.
In some cases, overdose symptoms can be prolonged or complicated due to the presence of multiple drugs in the system. Medical intervention may require advanced life-support measures. Some overdoses may result in long-term neurological impairment, affecting memory, cognitive function, and motor skills.
Heal From Combined Drug Addiction at Eagle Creek Ranch Recovery
If you or a loved one is struggling with substance abuse of any kind (including CDI), help is available. At Eagle Creek Ranch Recovery, we offer comprehensive treatment plans for all types of substance abuse and co-occurring mental health issues. This includes people suffering from CDI and chronic polydrug use.
We at Eagle Creek work to help you every step of the way, including medical detox complete with around-the-clock care and monitoring. We offer a variety of effective therapeutic approaches, such as:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
- Individual and group therapy
- Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
- Holistic therapy treatments such as yoga, meditation, and nutritional counseling
To make sure your adjustment back to daily life goes as smoothly as possible, we offer an aftercare program in order to help promote long-term sobriety. Contact us today to learn about how we can get you or a loved one on the road to recovery.
Clinical Director
Kendall Maloof is the clinical director at Eagle Creek Ranch Recovery. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist and has held multiple leadership roles before settling here at Eagle Creek. Kendall received her master’s degree in marriage and family therapy from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology in 2016. Her career in mental and behavioral health began in 2014 when she took up internships in both the nonprofit and for profit sectors. She interned at multiple reputable companies, such as The Living Success Center and 449 Recovery in California.
In 2019, Kendall became the clinical director of Sunsets Recovery for Woman, a dual diagnosis program in southern California. Kendall is a natural leader. She has an incredible ability to problem solve and stay calm in any situation. Kendall never fails to show up when she is needed, and her calm demeanor makes her team and clients feel at ease. Eagle Creek Ranch Recovery is proud to have Kendall as our clinical director.
