The Dangers of Mixing Alcohol with Other Drugs

Medically Verified: 2/1/24

Medical Reviewer

Chief Editor

All of the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional.

The Dangers of Mixing Alcohol With Other Drugs

Alcohol is the most commonly used substance in America. In fact, 86.4 percent of adult-aged Americans have reported drinking at some point in their lifetime. While only having a couple of drinks is not necessarily harmful, many individuals develop a dependence or addiction to alcohol over time. Even more concerning, it is extremely common for people to mix alcohol with other drugs. However, mixing alcohol with other drugs is dangerous. This causes concern due to alcohol’s probability to react negatively when used in combination with other substances. 

Alcohol has the ability to amplify the effects of other medications or substances that an individual consumes. This is problematic when you consider the risks and effects that other drugs cause when used alone. Additionally, alcohol may negate the effects of certain prescription medications that are vital to one’s health. As a result, it is extremely important to avoid mixing alcohol with other drugs in order to protect your health. 

Drugs People Mix with Alcohol

Antibiotics

Antidepressants

While these side-effects are minor on their own, when you mix two substances together these side-effects can increase in potency. On the other hand, mixing alcohol with other drugs may reduce the effects of antidepressants. This is problematic when considering antidepressants are used to improve one’s mental health. Oftentimes, without the antidepressant working properly in one’s system, people experience severe depression. 

Adderall

All too often, people mix alcohol with Adderall due to the misconception that combining a depressant with a stimulant will cancel out the effects of each other. In reality, mixing a depressant and stimulant (commonly referred to as “speedballing”) will increase the effects of both substances. While an individual may experience less of the drowsiness associated with alcohol, combining these substances still causes severe adverse reactions in the body. Additionally, people may drink more than their bodies can handle due to the energy that Adderall provides. This may lead to alcohol poisoning along with other life-threatening issues.

Cocaine

Mixing cocaine with alcohol has similar effects as combining alcohol with Adderall. Since cocaine is a stimulant, people believe that mixing it with alcohol will cause them to “sober up” enough to be able to drive or function as if they were sober. However, this is a gross misconception that can cause life-threatening effects. In fact, when alcohol and cocaine are combined, they turn into another substance once they enter the body. 

Meth

Furthermore, meth is an extremely addictive substance that, like alcohol, requires medical treatment once a person becomes addicted. Lastly, the combination of alcohol and meth is known to cause severe kidney damage. 

Opioids 

Mixing alcohol with other drugs like legal or illicit opioids is arguably one of the most dangerous and detrimental combinations possible. When combined, these substances magnify the effects of one another. As a result, people can experience fatal sedation, overdose, and respiratory failure. Additionally, this combination can cause depressed breathing, which can lead to brain damage or death due to a lack of oxygen. 

In addition to these side-effects, combining alcohol with opioids of any kind can cause irreversible liver damage. In order to avoid this, do not drink alcohol while you are on opioids. 

Hallucinogens

While many people use alcohol to soothe symptoms of a “bad trip” while on a hallucinogen, this combination is extremely dangerous. Using alcohol with a hallucinogen may lessen the intoxicating effects of alcohol, causing users to drink more. As a result, an individual can easily overdose on alcohol. 

Treating People Addicted to Mixing Alcohol with Other Drugs

Polydrug use is defined as the act of frequently mixing different substances, often resulting in the addiction or dependence to said substances. As demonstrated above, combining alcohol with other drugs cause severe and life-threatening ramifications. Just like any addiction, polydrug users vitally need to undergo addiction treatment or alcohol rehab. If you or a loved one suffers from the addiction to mixing alcohol with other drugs, treatment is available. Beating addiction alone is difficult and potentially life-threatening. Call us today.