The dangers of mixing cocaine and alcohol

Whether you take cocaine occasionally, regularly or have used it once or twice, it's important to understand the risks involved in mixing it with alcohol. Both substances affect the body and mind, even when taken alone, and there are even greater risks when they're consumed together.

As cocaine is a stimulant and alcohol is a depressant, the collective pressure they put on your body and mind can be dangerous. Here, we explore the immediate and longer-term risks that mixing cocaine and alcohol can have on your health and wellbeing.

The short-term risks of mixing cocaine and alcohol

There are immediate dangers from both alcohol and cocaine. For example, alcohol carries the following short-term risks:

• Impaired vision
• Unpredictable emotions
• Vomiting
• Alcohol poisoning
• Dehydration and blackouts
• Reduced inhibitions - this can often be the catalyst for taking cocaine as you may feel more comfortable doing illegal drugs after drinking

Cocaine’s short-term risks include:

• Rise in body temperature
• Increased heart rate
• Feelings of paranoia and anxiety
• Becoming more erratic and/or aggressive
• Increased blood pressure

The combination of cocaine and alcohol can make you feel invincible, and increase the likelihood of you behaving in a way that compromises your safety. Also, the shared negative effects of both cocaine and alcohol, such as aggression, can intensify when the two substances are taken together.

The short-term risks of cocaine and alcohol show that, even if the substances are taken recreationally, they can harm your body and your mood fairly quickly. They can also take a toll on your mental health, which is often felt during the 'comedown', in the days after consuming cocaine and alcohol.

What is a comedown?

Comedowns happen when your body is getting rid of the drugs that it's been subjected to. They can vary depending on how much of the drug you've taken, and differ from person-to-person. Managing a comedown can be difficult and many people get the urge to take more drugs to get rid of the symptoms, although this can spiral into an addiction as your body then starts relying on drugs to function.

As a result of the alcohol leaving your body, you may also experience what's known as 'hangxiety'. This is when your body is adjusting to life without alcohol and it causes you to become distressed and anxious. Alcohol is often associated with feeling merry and jolly, but excessive drinking can cause anxiety, or make existing anxiety worse.

The long-term health risks of mixing cocaine and alcohol

Mixing cocaine and alcohol has been linked to a greater risk of suicidal tendencies. Prolonged use can also take a toll on your long-term physical health, which can be fatal.

Prolonged alcohol consumption carries the following long-term risks:

• Increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and cancer
• Liver damage
• Brain damage
• High blood pressure
• Mental health problems such as depression and anxiety

Long-term cocaine use can lead to the following problems, some of which mirror the risks of alcohol:

• Nose and mouth damage
• Risk of blood clots, embolisms and heart attacks
• Breathing difficulties
• Seizures and strokes
• Mental health problems, such as psychosis, paranoia and hallucinations
• Liver and kidney damage

The toxic effects of cocaine and alcohol are heightened when they're taken together, as the combination of the two substances creates new metabolites in the body.

The most potent of these is an active substance called cocaethylene, which can damage your liver, heart and other vital organs. Once cocaethylene is created in the body, it remains there for much longer than alcohol or cocaine alone. It's associated with increased cravings, more dependence and it significantly increases the risk of serious health problems.

How to address your cocaine and alcohol consumption

If you feel like you’ve lost control of your ability to stop taking cocaine and alcohol, you don't have to suffer in silence. Talk to someone you trust, share what you’re feeling and ask for their help.

Keeping quiet will only make you feel worse, as without support, you’ll likely feel lonely, helpless and unable to cope. This can lead to a vicious cycle where you use cocaine and alcohol to try and feel better. And the longer you allow this to go on, the more damage it will continue to have your life.

No matter how bad things feel right now, you can stop using cocaine and alcohol if you want to. There’s always someone willing to listen and help, and many people in your situation have been able to move on from these types of challenges before. With professional help, you can embark on a better future.

How professional treatment helps with drug or alcohol addiction

At Priory, we know how to help people overcome their struggles with addiction.

We offer a range of drug and alcohol addiction treatment programmes, with the type and level of care tailored entirely to your individual needs, circumstances, and the intensity of support required. Depending on what’s right for you, this may include:

• Outpatient therapy, offering weekly one-to-one sessions that can be arranged around your personal and professional commitments
• Day care, where you attend therapy for a series of days or half-days at one of our hospitals or wellbeing centres
• Medically assisted detox, which may be recommended if you’ve been using substances regularly and need help to safely clear them from your system
• Inpatient rehab, such as our 28-day programme, providing an immersive and supportive environment where you can focus fully on your recovery alongside others on a similar journey

To help you find the most appropriate path, we offer a free, no-obligation addiction assessment. This allows us to understand your situation and recommend the treatment that’s right for you. For more information on our addiction treatment services - including programme formats, settings and pricing - please visit our dedicated addiction services page.