Although abuse of cocaine and alcohol has been gradually decreasing, these two substances still affect thousands of people all over the United States. Alcohol is legal to consume for people ages 21 and older in the US, but millions of people also struggle with alcohol use disorder.
What is Cocaine?
Normally when we think of drug abuse, the immediate thing that comes to mind is when someone takes drugs every day, several times. But with cocaine addiction, signs can be ambiguous. You do not have to be taking cocaine, or crack cocaine, every day to be addicted to it. A sign of addiction is that you’ve tried to cut down or stop but are unable to. Any use of cocaine is considered abuse because it is an illegal substance.
Even when cocaine is a highly addictive drug, one of its main issues is that it may be hard to recognize its addiction. For example, craving cocaine, even if the use or need appears every few days, and ignoring the consequences that come with it are signs of an addiction.
Psychological addiction is often the hardest part to overcome, although there are undeniable physical symptoms of addiction. Someone who uses cocaine frequently will develop a dependence on it, meaning they need to have it to feel normal.
Once dependence has developed, a tolerance will develop and withdrawal symptoms will occur when stopping use. Once someone becomes addicted to cocaine, it can be very hard to stop. This is because cocaine abnormally increases the level of dopamine in the brain, eventually reprogramming the brain reward system.
Cocaine is a stimulant, meaning it increases alertness and energy. It affects the neural pathways in your brain, leading you to feel talkative, energetic, and euphoric. Cocaine addiction can develop quickly, even after trying it only a few times. An addiction can be physical, meaning your body craves the drug. It can also be mental, meaning you strongly desire the drug’s effects. Moreover, Cocaine can be consumed in a variety of ways.
Cocaine and alcohol statistics
In 2012, there were a reported 17 million adults, ages 18 and older, who suffered from alcohol use disorder, formerly called alcoholism. Other forms of alcohol abuse – especially heavy drinking and binge drinking – can be equally detrimental to a person’s health.
Both cocaine in powdered form and freebase or “crack” cocaine are also abused by numerous people in the US. About 5.2 percent of people surveyed in the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) through the CDC reported that they had ever used cocaine. This represents a slow, steady decrease, as the highest percentage reported since 1991 was 9.5 percent in 1999. In 2016, the Monitoring the Future Survey found that 2.3 percent of 12th graders tried cocaine in any form in the prior year.
Effects of mixing Cocaine and Alcohol
Cocaine, both powdered and freebase, causes stimulant effects and side effects, such as:
- Increased risk-taking
- Anxiety and paranoia
- Restlessness, irritability, and aggression
- Insomnia
- Dilated pupils
- Cravings for more as the drug begins to wear off
- An intense, energetic high
- High energy and mental alertness
- Constricted blood vessels, causing heart palpitations and high blood pressure
- Increased body temperature
- Decreased appetite
Alcohol, being a depressant, has effects that are opposite those of stimulant drugs like cocaine. These effects and side effects include:
- Slowed reaction time and reflexes
- Loss of motor coordination
- Slow speech
- Reduced inhibitions
- Blurred vision
- Impaired judgment
- Memory loss, even blackouts
- Confusion, anxiety, and restlessness
- Depression
- Increased fatigue or sleepiness
- Slowed heart rate
- Reduced blood pressure
- Slow breathing rate
- Increased sweating
- Nausea or vomiting; stomach upset
- Dehydration
People who struggle with cocaine abuse may mix the drug with alcohol to reduce cocaine’s negative effects, like anxiety or twitching, by adding a depressant. In some cases, mixing cocaine and alcohol occurs because of a social situation. In some instances, a person who drinks too much may take cocaine to increase their physical energy. There are many reasons people may mix these drugs, but it can be very dangerous to do so.
When Cocaine and Alcohol Are Mixed
Mixing recreational drugs is a very dangerous practice, and it indicates a problem with polydrug abuse. Mixing cocaine and alcohol is one of the more common forms of polydrug abuse; people often mix these substances because one will, allegedly, reduce negative symptoms from the other. Alcohol also enhances the euphoric effects of many substances, since it acts indirectly on GABA receptors, thereby increasing the release of some neurotransmitters.
The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) found that over half of cocaine-dependent individuals also suffered from alcohol dependency, highlighting the close link between these two addictive substances. EMCDDA reported that both drugs were commonly associated with partying and nightlife, so they are often mixed in social scenarios. However, people continue to abuse these drugs together, even outside of social situations, because the self-reported high associated with both is more intense than either drug alone. This can lead to abuse, addiction, dependence, and health consequences.
Too often, people who suffer serious mental health conditions self-medicate with drugs, alcohol, or both before they receive an appropriate diagnosis. People who struggle with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are especially susceptible to substance abuse and polydrug abuse patterns.
People with bipolar disorder are more likely to develop alcohol use disorder as a co-occurring disorder in an attempt to modulate the mania associated with the condition. This population is also at an increased risk of developing cocaine addiction to modulate the effects of depressive episodes. Some people with undiagnosed bipolar disorder may begin to abuse both cocaine and alcohol, attempting to regulate their mood disorder. In reality, drug and alcohol addiction are more likely to make mood disorders like depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder worse.
Risks of Mixing Cocaine and Alcohol
Alone, both cocaine and alcohol abuse can cause considerable damage to the body, from an overdose to long-term, chronic health issues. Together, many of the health dangers increase.
Cocaethylene: A Deadly Byproduct
One of the most serious problems with mixing alcohol and cocaine occurs when the two are metabolized through the liver. The organ produces cocaethylene, which can build up in the body and put stress on major organ systems, particularly the cardiovascular system and the liver itself.
Cocaethylene temporarily enhances the high associated with both cocaine and alcohol, but this euphoria also increases blood pressure, aggressive and violent thoughts, and poor judgment. It will build up to toxic levels in the liver. An increase in cocaethylene has also been linked to sudden death.
Consequences from cocaethylene production include:
- Myocardial infarction, or heart attack with heart pain
- Cerebral infarction, or death of blood vessels and brain tissue, leading to brain damage, stroke, or aneurysm
- Intracranial hemorrhage
- Cardiomyopathy, or heart disease
- Cardiac arrhythmia, which can contribute to a later heart attack
Other Short-Term Problems from Mixing Cocaine and Alcohol
Both cocaine and alcohol increase impulsive and risky behavior, decrease the ability to make judgments, and reduce cognitive function. Alcohol also increases the likelihood of memory problems, so a person may not remember risky behaviors they engaged in the night before.
Other side effects of combining cocaine and alcohol include:
- Increased heart rate
- Cognitive impairment
- Loss of motor function and coordination
- Increased blood pressure
- Breathing problems
- Heart palpitations
Loss of inhibitions can lead to risky sexual encounters, needle-sharing, or other dangerous behaviors. This can lead to infections, including HIV, herpes, hepatitis, and bacterial infections.
Long-Term Health Damage from Mixing Cocaine and Alcohol
Recently, a study conducted at Brown University found that combining cocaine and alcohol increased the risk of suicide. Among close to 1,000 people who were admitted to the emergency room for substance abuse, those who mixed cocaine and alcohol were the most likely to attempt suicide within one year after emergency treatment. Out of the study population of 874 individuals, 195 people attempted suicide at least once; 298 of those people struggled with alcohol abuse; 74 struggled with cocaine abuse, and 41 abused both drugs. Those 41 people were 2.4 times more likely to attempt suicide compared to all the other people in the study.
Production of cocaethylene and other metabolites from mixing cocaine and alcohol can damage the liver. The combination also increases body temperature to a dangerous level, which can damage both the liver and kidneys. In addition, reduced oxygen from constricted blood vessels and reduced breathing can damage organs, including the kidneys and liver. Alcohol use disorder and heavy drinking alone can lead to liver failure over time, but this process appears to be sped up when cocaine is added to the mix. Abuse of cocaine for a long time, whether mixed with alcohol or not, can permanently increase blood pressure, which stresses the kidneys and can lead to kidney failure.
Reclaim Your Life From Cocaine and Alcohol With Dual Diagnosis Rehab Washington
Mixing cocaine and alcohol is one of the more common forms of polydrug abuse. We Level Up dual diagnosis rehab Washington can provide you, or someone you love, the tools to recover from addiction-related mental health disorders with professional and safe treatment. Feel free to call us to speak with one of our counselors. We can inform you about this condition by giving you relevant information. Our specialists know what you are going through. Please know that each call is private and confidential.
A comprehensive team prescribing medications can alleviate withdrawal pains while monitoring your health 24 hours. Assuring both your safety and comfort. At We Level Up dual diagnosis rehab Washington, our thorough approach to rehabilitation supports several levels of care to ensure the best possible outcome for every client who enters our doors. From an intensive and more supportive atmosphere for those in the early days of recovery to a comfortable residential-style living dynamic upon post-detox, we are here to help guide you down the safe and results-based path to your sobriety.
If you or someone you love is seeking a safe, secure, and compassionate resource for alcohol treatment, We Level Up dual diagnosis rehab Washington is here for you. Call us and speak with an addiction counselor today about our levels of care.
We Level Up Washington Mental Health Center: Primary Mental Health Treatment for Co-Occurring Disorders
At We Level Up Washington, we focus on providing comprehensive mental health treatment for individuals with addiction-related mental health disorders. We specialize in addressing primary mental health conditions associated with addiction and offer professional and safe treatment options.
Our team of counselors is available to provide you with information and support as you navigate through these challenges. We understand the unique complexities of addiction-related mental health disorders and are committed to helping you achieve lasting recovery. Rest assured that all conversations are private and confidential.
We offer a range of evidence-based therapies and interventions to address your specific mental health needs. We aim to support your well-being and guide you toward a healthier and more fulfilling life. Contact us today for a free mental health evaluation and take the first step towards a brighter future.
We Level Up Washington focuses on mental health treatment and does not provide detox services. Inpatient addiction treatment and additional support options may be available through affiliated facilities within the We Level Up Treatment Centers network.