Drugs and Alcohol: A Dangerous Mixture

It's never a good decision to mix drugs and alcohol. The effects can have short-term and long-term implications.

Depressants, narcotics and alcohol

When used alone, alcohol reduces the function of the central nervous system. Use of depressants and narcotics with alcohol causes additional depression, which can cause severe impairment of voluntary movements and in large enough doses, involuntary functions such as breathing.

Stimulants and alcohol

Because the stimulant effect of this class of drugs may reverse the depression effect of alcohol on the central nervous system, these drugs may give a false sense of security. The alcohol will continue to exert its depressant effect on the brain. It can mask high levels of alcohol consumption, which may be lethal.

Marijuana and alcohol

When used in combination with alcohol, marijuana amplifies the effect of alcohol. Marijuana combined with alcohol creates greater impairment of coordination and reaction time. In addition, the body will experience a racing up and down of heart rate and blood pressure because marijuana causes an increase and alcohol a decrease. Panic attacks are more likely to occur with the combination of these drugs.

Hallucinogens and alcohol

Most hallucinogens act initially as stimulants and can produce elevation in body temperature, heart rate and respiration; pupil dilation and appetite depression. The depressant effects of alcohol will cause a racing up and down effect in the body.

In addition, there is an increased likelihood that vomiting will occur, since nausea is common with both alcohol and hallucinogen consumption.

In addition, the reality distortion caused by hallucinogens is amplified with the use of alcohol.

Inhalants and alcohol

Both have depressive effects. Combining the substances in these heightens the depression of the central nervous system; potentially lethal.