Substance abuse triggers profound changes in your brain. It interferes with normal functions and, perhaps more alarmingly, clouds judgment—one of those risks common to individuals with substance abuse issues is combining substances. Abusing one drug is hazardous enough. The dangers of mixing substances are even more substantial. Medical professionals call this an example of “polydrug” or polysubstance abuse.
Besides their individual effects, the drugs could have interactions that put your health in grave danger. In this case, there’s only one way out—seeking the help of a treatment and rehab center such as Santé Center for Healing. At Santé, we specialize in addressing substance abuse treatment near me in TX for clients nationwide.
What Is Polysubstance Abuse?
Polysubstance abuse happens when someone takes multiple forms of drugs at an excessive level in a short period. We’re not talking about someone with significant health issues, such as cancer, taking medications as treatment. We’re talking about the recreational use of substances that can lead to illness or even death.
One of the factors in polysubstance abuse relates to the characteristics of substance abuse itself. The worse your addiction, the more it takes for a particular drug to achieve the same high. People with substance abuse sometimes turn to a second substance out of frustration or fear, or they begin mixing substances in order to counteract the primary side effects of drug use.
Common Drug Combinations
Polydrug abuse doesn’t have a single pattern. It can happen across drug classifications and frequently involves alcohol. Some of the common combinations include:
- Alcohol and painkillers. These are both depressants and can multiply their effects by slowing down the functioning and effectiveness of the central nervous system and accelerating liver problems.
- Cocaine and heroin, when used together, are known as a “speedball.” Aside from the cutesy term, taking these simultaneously is incredibly dangerous. One is a stimulant, and the other is a depressant. Together they increase the risk of addiction and fatal overdose.
- Combinations of various forms of opioids, known on the street as the “gray death.” Reports of this mixture of heroin, fentanyl, and other substances are growing.
- Opioids and benzodiazepines. This combination appears at a high rate of the nation’s drug overdoses. The two substances act on each other to cause significant health problems.
- Any combination of substances is possible and increases the dangerous side effects of substance abuse.
Dangers of Mixing Substances
The list of dangers of combining substances is long and alarming. Remember that the risks come from the effects of each drug and the interactions between multiple substances. These interactions can make a bad situation into a tragic one. Dangers of combining substances include:
- Coma
- Brain damage
- Liver damage or failure
- Respiratory arrest
- Blood in your stomach
- Seizures
- Cardiovascular events
Beyond the physical issues, you can also face significant psychological difficulties. The dangers of combining substances are complicated to predict, given many variables.
If you or a loved one is in a period of polydrug use, consider seeking treatment. Polydrug use is an increasing problem with substance abuse in TX and reinforces the need for substance abuse treatment nationwide.
Treatment for Polysubstance Abuse
At Santé Center for Healing, we specialize in treating polysubstance abuse. Our team of expert medical professionals is incredibly knowledgeable about dual diagnosis and working with clients with difficulties in multiple areas. We understand that polydrug abuse is a challenging form of substance abuse requiring a compassionate, thoughtful approach.
Polysubstance abuse is an example of how addiction takes control of your behavior and makes it difficult to see the risks you’re taking. Treating every substance use disorder is essential, as leaving out a substance can result in worse withdrawal symptoms and dangerous physical illness.
Some treatments available and Santé Center include:
- Medical detoxification
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Motivational interviewing
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Group therapy and peer support groups
- 12-Step treatment programs
At Santé Center for Healing, we believe in comprehensive treatment that addresses substance abuse’s physical and psychological factors. If you or a loved one is struggling with polysubstance abuse, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Substance Abuse at Santé Center
The dangers of combining substances are apparent. You are sending conflicting signals to your brain, and the impact can cascade throughout your body. It also makes treatment more challenging. The experienced Santé Center for Healing staff has seen it all and can help. Every individual who comes to our center is different. We work with them to develop individualized therapeutic plans that use every element of our center.
Sante’s team provides individualized assessments, detox, residential treatment, intensive outpatient treatment, transitional living, and more specialized services. We focus on your healing journey to move you back toward stability and sobriety, and a life of promise and hope. So to get started, reach a counselor at Santé Center for Healing by calling 866.238.3154 for an initial confidential consultation.
