Top 3 Most Dangerous Drugs to Mix Alcohol With

Of course, it is far safer not to take any drugs at all, but the reality is that many do. Mixing alcohol with drugs really is like playing Russian roulette with your life. Whether it is on a recreational basis, because of a medical need or because of an addiction, the following drugs should never be mixed with alcohol:

1. Opiates – When opiates are mixed with alcohol, the sedative effects become much more pronounced due to additive effects. Opiates such as Class A Heroin and many prescription painkillers—including Morphine, Oxycodone, Oxycontin, Dihydrocodeine, Co-Codamol, and numerous codeine-based over-the-counter medicines—are types of opioid drug and opioid painkillers. These drugs act on the central nervous system, slowing breathing rate and increasing the risk of overdose and overdoses. Alcohol increases the sedative effects of opioid drugs, which significantly increases the risk of fatal outcomes. Alcohol and opiates together are a very deadly mix; both drugs are extremely addictive and the risk of overdose is greatly heightened.

2. Cocaine – Cocaine and alcohol are often used together to achieve a euphoric state without the drunkenness or overstimulation. Consuming the two drugs together causes an independent third drug to be produced by the liver called cocaethylene; this drug is known as Cocaethylene. Cocaethylene is a longer acting drug than just cocaine. Together, alcohol and cocaine produce a long-lasting intoxicated but functional high. Independently, both alcohol and cocaine are known to be very addictive; when cocaethylene is produced, the risks of addiction developing are even more prevalent. Some studies suggest that consuming alcohol and cocaine together carries an 18 to 25 fold increased chance of immediate death than cocaine alone. It is also far more toxic and potent to the body’s organs, especially the heart and liver, and increases the risk of liver damage and liver disease. Those that mix the two together will have a capacity to drink far more alcohol than they normally would without cocaine; again, this carries additional risks of damage to the body’s organs as can often result in dangerous levels of binge drinking and cocaine consumption.

3. Benzodiazepines – Benzodiazepines are a prescription only sedative medication that offer therapeutic and medical benefits to the patient. As well as causing sedation they also have the effect of a false sense of well being. For this reason, they are often abused and used recreationally. When Benzodiazepines are mixed with alcohol they become very dangerous. Alcohol increases the risk of negative effects such as respiratory depression and overdose. The sedative effects are vastly increased and often cause the user to “black out” (continue to function but not be able to recall events the next day due to over intoxication). The increased sedative effects and a false sense of courage and power put the user at high risk of harming themselves or others. There is also the increased danger of overdose, coma and respiratory failure.

Mixing alcohol with certain medications, such as aspirin, can also increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, especially in older adults.

Mixing stimulants (such as amphetamines or cocaine) with alcohol increases the risk of panic attacks, heart problems, and other negative effects. Additionally, combining alcohol with certain drugs that affect serotonin levels, such as some antidepressants or stimulants, can increase the risk of serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition.

Combining alcohol with magic mushrooms can lead to unpredictable effects and heightened risks.

In summary, mixing alcohol with other drugs can compromise the immune system and increases the risk of serious health complications, including changes in blood pressure.