The combination of cocaine and alcohol is common in many party scenes. However, mixing these two substances can damage the body over time. Additionally, this combination can also quickly lead to an overdose.
Mixing Cocaine and Alcohol
Why do people use cocaine and alcohol together? Typically, it’s because they experience a better high through a combination than when using either substance alone. Or, they may have had too much to drink and count on cocaine for energy. Also, those who abuse cocaine may add it to alcohol to prevent twitching, excitability, or anxiety.
No matter what the reason, abusing both substances at a time can produce cocaethylene in the liver, which is even more dangerous than cocaine or alcohol on their own.
Why Is Cocaethylene Dangerous?
Using alcohol or cocaine together, also referred to as polysubstance use, adds stress to your body’s organs. When you mix these substances, your liver and heart experience the most damage. Additionally, in a worst-case scenario, you could suffer a heart attack or brain damage.
Cocaethylene increases chances of overdosing on a smaller amount of cocaine. The same amount of the drug would be much less harmful when used alone. Sudden death can also occur in rare cases.
Short-term Effects of Cocaine and Alcohol Addiction
If you mix the two drugs, your body could engage in risky behavior, such as:
- Acting aggressively or inability to think property (cognitive impairment)
- Experiencing hallucinations and paranoia
- Inability to walk and move around in a proper, coordinated manner
Other recorded side-effects of polysubstance use include:
- Breathing problems
- Increased blood pressure
- Heart palpitations
- Increased heart rate
- Seizures
Long-term Effects of Cocaine and Alcohol Addiction
Over an extended period of time, using both substances together will wreak havoc on your liver and heart. Cocaethylene stays in the liver five times longer than cocaine, increasing the risk of liver cancer, hepatitis, and cirrhosis.
It also enhances the risk of heart attack and stroke, which explains a large number of emergency medical admissions among patients with a history of polysubstance use.
Overcome Cocaine and Alcohol Addiction at Crestview Recovery
Take control of your life and return to drug-free living with Crestview Recovery’s treatment program. Our professionals provide comprehensive support to help you get your life back on track. Some of the therapies and training that make a big difference in preventing relapse include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Trauma therapy
- Group therapy
- Dual diagnosis treatment center
- 12 step program
- Life skills rehab
Don’t let cocaine and alcohol abuse get in the way of personal and professional success. You are one phone call away from compassionate, evidence-based treatment at our quality Portland, Oregon facility. Call us at 866.262.0531 to start your recovery journey today.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
