Have you ever combined medications or chemical substances without asking your doctor first? It may seem harmless to take a blood pressure pill and drink alcohol shortly thereafter, but both substances are drugs, and both have their own ways of working inside your body. Therefore, unless you’re a physician yourself, you probably don’t understand what could happen. Some combinations are relatively harmful, and some are deadly. Consequently, the dangers of mixing substances are real. If this is something you frequently do, it may be time to reach out for help. For information on our alcohol and prescription drug addiction treatment programs, contact Red Oak Recovery® today at 866.457.7590.
Worst Dangers of Mixing Substances
Some of the worst dangers of mixing substances happen when you mix two or more from the same family. For instance, alcohol is a depressant, so are benzodiazepines and opioid painkillers. When you mix them, you intensify their reactions in your body. Mix two, and it doubles the reaction. Mix three, and it triples. Imagine how dangerous that is when each one works by slowing your heart rate.
Thousands of people die accidentally each year because they’ve mixed substances in such a way that the outcome is fatal. Generally, it’s not intentional. It’s not planned. It’s simply one of the dangers of mixing substances. Here’s what we know:
- Alcohol and cocaine mixed together produce cocaethylene inside your body. Unfortunately, cocaethylene is 20 times more deadly than cocaine alone.
- Mixing alcohol with ecstasy can raise your body temperature to dangerous levels, causing organ damage and heatstroke as a result.
- Opioid drugs, when taken with alcohol, can depress your respiratory system to a point where your heart ceases to beat.
- Ecstasy combined with cocaine can intensify your heartbeat, leading to a heart attack or stroke.
Red Oak Recovery® Can Help
If you’re still mixing substances, it’s time you understood the dangers of this reckless activity. Therefore, reach out to Red Oak Recovery® today for help. Our drug and alcohol treatment programs in North Carolina offer excellent care for addictions such as polysubstance use disorder.
Based in NC, Red Oak Recovery® offers gender-specific treatment programs for adolescents and adults ages 14 and up. In general, our emphasis is on eco-therapy, which makes our placement in the glorious Blue Ridge Mountains fortuitous. Surrounded by miles of wooded trails and breathtaking vistas, a stay at Red Oak Recovery® will clear your mind and provide a needed respite from the stress and tension of everyday life. Consequently, people come to Red Oak Recovery® from all over the country for healing. Contact us today to enroll in one of our drug and alcohol addiction treatment programs. It’s time to put an end to your substance use.
When You’re Ready to Reach Out
When you’re ready to face the dangers of mixing substances and ready to conquer a substance use disorder, call Red Oak Recovery®, or read testimonials from our clients we’ve previously helped. We have the staff and the resources to provide excellent drug and alcohol treatment. Our addiction treatment programs use a combination of evidence-based and holistic treatment options. We tailor these treatment options to fit the unique needs of the men who attend our addiction treatment programs. As a result, these young men have the best possible chance for a long term recovery. Our treatment options include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Group therapy
- Individual therapy
- Family therapy
You don’t have to live with your addiction to multiple substances any longer. Contact Red Oak Recovery® today at 866.457.7590 for more information on how Red Oak Recovery® can help you change your life for the better.
