For someone who has an alcohol problem, there may be a greater than average temptation to combine alcohol with other drugs. Perhaps this is so one does not have to forego alcohol during treatment or perhaps it is so they can deepen the effects of alcohol. There is good reason, however, for many medications to have “no alcohol” warnings on their labels – it’s because alcohol does not interact well with a wide variety of other drugs. In the case of many drugs, the consequences can be quite serious.
As we know, alcohol is a dangerous drug in and of itself. But when combined with other substances, it can be even more so. According to this MSNBC article, in 1983 only 92 people died at home from combinations of medication and/or alcohol and street drugs. In 2004, that number was 3,792, an almost 3200% increase over 1983.
Among the most dangerous alcohol-drug combinations are benzodiazepines and alcohol. Benzodiazepines are drugs like Valium and Xanax that are used to treat depression and anxiety. Like alcohol, they are “downers.” When taken with alcohol, they become much, much more dangerous, and can lead to overdose and death. Non-benzodiazepine depression management drugs like Prozac should also not be taken with alcohol as that combination can be fatal as well.
Prescription painkillers are also extremely dangerous, and join benzodiazepines at the top of the list of risky combinations. Vicodin, OxyContin, and codeine can all create hard to control and unpredictable effects when used in conjunction with alcohol, and lead to overdose and death.
This is only covering the prescription drugs – street drugs do not mix well with alcohol either. Using marijuana with alcohol may not lead to overdose but it can certainly get you sick quicker, as toxins are absorbed more quickly when they are used together. Combining cocaine and opiates like heroin with alcohol on the other hand can be as lethal as doing so with some of the prescription drugs above. Drugs from the opiates family (which includes codeine) should never, ever be used with alcohol as serious central nervous system depression and death are possible. When used with alcohol cocaine actually becomes more threatening, since the body turns the by-products of the mix into cocaethylene, which is deadlier than cocaine itself.
Of course, abusing illegal drugs is obviously risky behavior. Your prescription drugs if properly used can be just as risky. Alcohol makes risky behavior even riskier in both cases. If you are drinking you should be aware of whether your medications could adversely interact with alcohol. Alcohol is a powerful drug, and when combined with other drugs, it can become more than our body can handle.
This article was written by Robyn Schelenz, a Home Health Testing blog contributor. Home Health Testing is an online company that specializes in home drug test, nicotine, and alcohol test sales.
