Cocaine and Alcohol Dangers
By: Lakeview Health
Published: October 2, 2020

Do you know someone who mixes cocaine with alcohol because they’ve heard it helps prolong the high? This practice of mixing powerful drugs such as stimulants and depressants may have devastating effects on your physical and mental health. In fact, it may lead to a condition called “polysubstance use disorder.” If you or someone close to you has a habit of mixing drugs without the direction of a doctor, consider seeking the help of a drug and alcohol treatment facility near you. For those who live in or near Jacksonville, FL, Lakeview Health has the solution.

What Are Cocaine and Alcohol

Cocaine is a stimulant drug. It’s an illicit or “street” drug, meaning it’s not available by prescription. Cocaine is a powerful narcotic classified as a Schedule 1 drug by the U.S Drug Enforcement Agency. Schedule 1 drugs have no medicinal value but present a high risk of abuse. Possession of cocaine is illegal because it is highly addictive and presents a real risk to your health.

Alcohol, on the other hand, is perfectly legal to possess and to use for those over the age of 21. It’s this fact that often contributes to its misuse. Because it’s legal, many who use it feel it’s perfectly safe. However, this isn’t true. Alcohol is a depressant drug that slows your respiration and heart rate. Alcohol poses a risk of addiction, as well, especially when it’s mixed with other drugs such as cocaine.

The Dangers of Mixing Cocaine and Alcohol

Cocaine and alcohol dangers include risks to your major body organs, your memory, and more. If you or your loved one is regularly combining these two drugs, adverse side effects will likely occur, including:

  • Uncontrolled aggression
  • Sudden stroke
  • Heart attack
  • Unhealthy increases in body temperature
  • Seizures
  • Depression

These two drugs, when taken together, amplify the other’s individual effects. This means it’s easier to overdose. It also means the typical side effects — things like confusion and memory loss — become magnified.

If you or someone you care about is combining any substances — especially cocaine and alcohol — let Lakeview Health give you the help you need as soon as possible. One way to do this is to reach out to Lakeview today using our secure online form or call us at [Direct]. Our compassionate, expert team of addiction specialists is waiting to give you the tools you need to achieve genuine, long-term recovery.

Complications of Withdrawal From Cocaine and Alcohol

When you’re ready to recover from substance use disorder involving cocaine and alcohol, a drug and alcohol treatment center is the answer. Trying to detox and withdrawal from drugs such as these alone at home is never recommended. Symptoms may be severe, and without a physician on call to help, you could become very sick or, at the very least, relapse. Each drug comes with its own set of uncomfortable side effects for people in withdrawal. The withdrawal symptoms of cocaine include:

  • Irritability
  • Confusion
  • Depression
  • Poor judgment
  • Paranoia

The side effects of alcohol withdrawal may include tremors, seizures, rapid heartbeat, and more. You could become very sick from the side effects of detoxing from cocaine and alcohol. You could even die. To recover from a substance use disorder that involves these drugs, contact a behavioral health care center like Lakeview Health today.

How Lakeview Health Can Help

When you’re ready to recover from drugs or alcohol, Lakeview Health is waiting to step in. Our gender-specific programs treat men and women separately, offering one of the highest levels of behavioral health care available. The drug and alcohol addiction treatment programs at Lakeview Health are fully integrated to treat all symptoms of your disorder concurrently. Our 12-step model of recovery combines the best of holistic, traditional, and experiential therapies to help you achieve individual goals that move you toward healing.

When you arrive at Lakeview Health, you’ll find a warm and welcoming atmosphere and compassionate clinicians and staff who are genuinely invested in your recovery. We care about what happens to you, and we’ll do our best to teach you the skills and behaviors needed to achieve a drug-free life. When you’re ready to reach out for help contact us, and we’ll help you take that first positive step to recovery.