800-671-4304Polysubstance Use Disorder: Deadliest Drug Combos and Risks
In This Article:
- What Is Polysubstance Use Disorder?
- Why Mixing Drugs Is So Dangerous
- The Most Dangerous Drug Combinations Circulating Right Now
- Signs of Polysubstance Abuse in Someone You Love
- Why Polysubstance Addiction Is Harder to Treat: and Why That’s Not an Excuse to Wait
- What Detox for Polysubstance Abuse Looks Like
- Finding Help for Polysubstance Use
Polysubstance abuse is a dangerous, yet common occurrence among those struggling with drug addiction. The rise in polysubstance abuse is noteworthy and addressed politically as an epidemic, since it affects thousands of people each year.
Understanding the risks involved with this type of use, the use of poly drugs is crucial, as using multiple substances at once greatly increases the risk of overdose and death. These irreversible side effects harm not only the one using the drugs, but also their loved ones who grieve a life lost too soon.
Raising awareness around “what is polysubstance abuse” can help mitigate the secrecy of drug use and ideally prompt many to seek the help they need for the life they deserve.
If you or a loved one is struggling, but you aren’t ready to fully commit to sobriety, consider using our drug combination card, where information is offered on various drug combinations, the risks involved and what to do in an emergency.
What Is Polysubstance Use Disorder?
Polysubstance abuse refers to the use of two or more psychoactive substances that are consumed at the same time, or separately but within a close time frame. Often, these substances are intentionally used to experience a sense of euphoria or to avoid withdrawal symptoms from previous substance use.
Many people wonder, “Does polysubstance abuse include alcohol?” Although this is confusing, yes, polysubstance abuse is also the combination of alcohol with other substances. Polysubstance use with drugs and alcohol is equally dangerous and can both lead to polysubstance dependence, causing harm to your health, damage relationships, and limit your ability to function.
A difference should be noted between an intentional combination of different drugs and those who unintentionally combine drugs, most often by way of drugs that are unknowingly laced with something else.
Polysubstance dependence stems from the former, where you are aware of the drug combination and take it with the intention to achieve a stronger high.
For example, someone who drinks heavily and then takes Xanax, or combines meth and opioids, regularly would meet the criteria for a polysubstance use disorder.
However, someone who intended to use cocaine but accidentally uses some laced with fentanyl did not use both drugs with intent and, therefore, does not fall into the category of a polydrug addiction and would not be classified as polysubstance abuse.
Important facts about polysubstance abuse:
- Nearly half of all drug overdose deaths in 2022 involved multiple substances.
- Drug-dependent individuals use an average of 3-4 substances.
- Polysubstance use is associated with a 3x higher mortality rate than single-substance use.
- It’s often harder to recognize, diagnose and treat than addiction to a single drug.
Why Mixing Drugs Is So Dangerous
The dangers of mixing drugs cannot be understated. One substance can mask the effects of another, making it difficult, if not impossible, to recognize how close you are to an overdose.
Combining drugs is highly dangerous and unpredictable. Because each substance interacts differently in the body, these combinations can produce unexpected and life-threatening effects, including a significantly increased risk of overdose and death.
Opioids + Benzodiazepines
Individually, both opioids and benzodiazepines slow your breathing, so when taken together, the risk of overdose is raised substantially, to the point of complete cessation of breathing.
With this risk, opioids and benzodiazepines remain the deadliest combination of polydrug abuse, and they stand as the leading cause of overdose deaths.
Stimulants + Depressants
Stimulants taken with depressants raise the risk by masking the true level of sedation. Without full awareness of how sedated you’ve become, you may feel that more is needed, thereby increasing the dangers.
While your body attempts to process the sedative effects, your heart and lungs will simultaneously struggle to function properly. If this becomes too much, you are at risk of organ failure.
Alcohol + Any Other Drug
Mixing alcohol with other drugs is the most common and underestimated combination in polysubstance abuse. Alcohol will amplify almost everything with which it is combined, making it a popular choice for use with opioids, benzos and stimulants.
Recognizing when someone is struggling is not always easy, but there are some common polysubstance abuse symptoms to watch for:
- Erratic behavior
- Swings between states, such as hyperactive and then suddenly sedated
- Confusion
- Slow and/or stopped breathing
Polysubstance abuse is serious, and medical support is recommended to help overcome the addiction.
The Most Dangerous Drug Combinations Circulating Right Now
Polysubstance abuse is on the rise, with these being the most common drug mixes. Before using, consider these polysubstance abuse examples, and be aware of the dangers of mixing drugs, to make a fully informed decision.
Fentanyl + Methamphetamine (“Goofballing”)
Goofballing may create the illusion of safety, as methamphetamine can temporarily counteract the sedative effects of fentanyl, making a person feel more alert or functional while still under the influence.
However, this perceived balance masks serious danger. The stimulant effects of meth do not prevent opioid overdose; instead, they can delay warning signs and push the body beyond its limit. As the drugs interact, the risk of overdose remains high and unpredictable, potentially leading to respiratory failure, cardiac complications and death.
Naloxone, or Narcan, can help offset the fentanyl component, so administration is crucial if overdose is suspected.
Fentanyl + Benzodiazepines (“Benzo Dope”)
Combining two central nervous system depressants, like the fentanyl and benzodiazepines in Benzo Dope, quickly and severely increases respiratory depression. As your central nervous system becomes depressed, breathing and heart rate slow, causing overdose and potentially death.
Benzo Dope raises the risk of overdose death, since the CNS suppression is not fully mitigated with naloxone. Naloxone can help reverse the effects of the opioid, but it will not alter the effects of the benzos. Without reversing the effects of both fentanyl and benzodiazepines, the body will continue to experience sedation, thereby potentially leading to death.
If an overdose from benzo dope is suspected, call 911 immediately.
Ketamine + MDMA + Stimulants (“Pink Cocaine”/Tusi)
Pink cocaine is not true cocaine. In fact, there is no actual cocaine in it. Instead, pink cocaine is a dangerous mixture of ketamine, MDMA and sometimes methamphetamine or fentanyl.
No batch of pink cocaine is the same, meaning there are different amounts of each drug in every batch, thereby increasing the unpredictability of how your body will respond.
Pink cocaine is newly popular among club and party scenes, and it is often distributed with fentanyl contamination, posing an increased threat of death.
Fentanyl + Xylazine (“Tranq Dope”)
Tranq Dope presents itself as one of the most dangerous drug combinations. It is known for creating “zombie effects” as the enhanced sedation affects your body.
Tranq dope contains fentanyl and xylazine, a veterinary sedative that is not approved for use in humans. Xylazine makes this an incredibly dangerous combination because it increases the sedative effects of the fentanyl, thereby increasing the risk of overdose.
Xylazine is not an opioid and will not respond to naloxone, complicating the treatment options for overdose. Naloxone should still be administered to abate the fentanyl, but emergency services are necessary in the event of a Tranq Dope overdose.
Tranq Dope has now been found in drug supplies across 48+ states, making it a growing concern.
Alcohol + Opioids or Prescription Sedatives
All too common is the combination of alcohol with other drugs or medications, such as opioids or prescription sedatives. This combination occurs so often that many don’t even consider it dangerous.
Yet, alcohol will inevitably enhance the effects of the other drugs, thereby leading to dangerous levels of sedation and potentially causing overdose and death. In fact, many deaths seen as alcohol poisoning are later found to be a result of alcohol in combination with other prescription sedatives.
Caution is always essential when consuming alcohol, and even more so when it may be combined with other drugs or medications.
If you’re looking for more information or need a quick reference for the information above, download our free Drug Combination Danger Card.
It’s a printable one-pager with every combination on this list, showing whether or not Narcan reverses it, and the five steps to take in an overdose emergency.
Download for free: Drug Combination Danger Card
Signs of Polysubstance Abuse in Someone You Love
Loving someone with addiction can feel overwhelming, especially when the signs of addiction are not always easy to see or understand.
Polysubstance abuse symptoms do not follow a predictable pattern like a single drug addiction might, thereby adding to the uncertainty of when to seek help and support.
If you or your loved one shows any of the following behaviors, there may be a developing polydrug addiction, so please consider reaching out for support:
- Behavior that seems contradictory, such as rapid changes from agitated to unresponsiveness
- Multiple types of drug paraphernalia
- Overdose where naloxone doesn’t help
- Slurred speech, confusion or coordination problems
- Denying or minimizing drug use when confronted
- Rapid deterioration in physical appearance, hygiene or daily functioning
Loving someone with a drug problem doesn’t mean you have to know what polysubstance abuse is. Instead, loving someone can mean helping them help themselves. If you feel something is wrong, ask them to get help, so they can work toward the life they deserve.
If you’re not sure where to start, consult a qualified intervention specialist who can help you and your family take the first steps toward getting your loved one the help they need.
Why Polysubstance Addiction Is Harder to Treat, and Why That’s Not an Excuse to Wait
Beginning recovery from polysubstance abuse is best with medical oversight in a treatment facility, as polydrug addiction can lead to more intense withdrawal symptoms than single drug detox.
Detoxing from polysubstance addiction can be medically dangerous and should not be attempted at home. The risks associated with withdrawing from multiple substances at once can be life-threatening without proper medical supervision and support.
Therefore, chronic polysubstance abuse requires specialized treatment. A medically supervised detox provides around-the-clock monitoring for complications and support that often includes the use of FDA-approved medications to ease withdrawal symptoms as the substances are cleared from the body.
These medical professionals will also know how to manage comorbid polysubstance abuse and dual diagnosis, where there is both a drug addiction and a mental health condition present.
The complexity of mental health conditions and addiction is exactly why specialized treatment is so important. Polysubstance use disorders often occur alongside other mental health conditions, requiring a comprehensive and informed approach to care.
Addiction specialists and treatment professionals dedicate their careers to understanding these interconnected challenges and to helping individuals achieve lasting recovery, stability and improved well-being.
Detoxing can be scary and difficult, so no one should have to go through that alone. Call a facility today to ask for help and get the care you need. Remember, seeking help is not a moral failure, but rather a sign of strength and courage.
What Detox for Polysubstance Abuse Looks Like
Polysubstance abuse treatment is possible with the right steps and support along the way. Detox for polysubstance abuse is always the first step in recovery.
If you’re looking into detox from polysubstance abuse, knowing what to expect in your detox process can help limit fears and build confidence as you start your sober journey:
- Medical evaluation: You will undergo a full assessment, where you will discuss your substance use history, such as what substances and how long you have used. You will also discuss the risks involved in the withdrawal process.
- Medically supervised detox: Once your detox begins, you will be offered around-the-clock monitoring and medication management to ensure your safety and make you as comfortable as possible.
- Dual diagnosis screening: Many people with an addiction are also struggling with an underlying mental health condition, such as anxiety or PTSD, so your treatment will often include screening for other co-occurring conditions.
- Individualized treatment planning: You will receive a treatment plan that is customized for your specific needs and concerns, helping you to stabilize and prepare you for aftercare.
- Aftercare and relapse prevention: With the complexity of polysubstance use disorder, what happens after detox matters just as much as what happens during detox. As such, your treatment will include a comprehensive aftercare and relapse prevention plan, aimed at preventing relapse and aiding in long-term sobriety.
You should never attempt detox from polysubstance abuse alone, due to the high-risk nature of the addiction. Withdrawal from different drug combinations like opioids and benzodiazepines can be life-threatening without medical supervision.
If you’re ready to take the first step, medically supervised detox programs are specifically equipped to handle the complexity of polysubstance use.
Not ready to make a call yet? That’s okay, recovery rarely starts with a single decision.
Download the Drug Combination Danger Card and keep it somewhere accessible. Share it with someone you’re worried about. When you’re ready for the next step, we can help you find a program built exactly for this.
Download the Drug Combination Danger Card
Use the national treatment provider directory to find a detox program near you.
Finding Help for Polysubstance Use
Polysubstance abuse treatment begins with deciding on a program that can treat your individual needs. When looking for multiple drug addiction help, you want to find a program that has experience treating multiple substances concurrently and understands and treats dual diagnosis.
To best serve your needs of detox for polysubstance abuse, the program you choose should also have MAT availability and medically supervised detox on-site.
No matter how long you’ve been using or how many different drugs you’ve tried, you deserve help and freedom from addiction. Your past does not dictate your future.
Polysubstance addiction is not who you are, but it is a struggle you’re working through. There are programs and people waiting specifically to help you heal.
