Clinically Reviewed by Sarah Hogan, MA LPC
Sarah is a Licensed Professional Counselor with 13 years of experience in the behavioral health field as well as a certified provider of Cognitive Processing Therapy for Trauma. She has extensive experience in counseling and case management with local mental health authorities, emergency homeless shelters, leading high acuity response teams, and serving first responders/veterans.
Stimulant drugs, such as cocaine and amphetamines, and depressants, like alcohol and benzodiazepines, are often mixed together. While this may seem like a harmless activity to some, it can have serious consequences – both in the short-term and long-term.
In this article, Plum Creek Recovery Ranch explores the potential risks of mixing stimulants and depressant drugs, so you can be armed with the facts about these substances and the consequences of using them. We’ll also provide guidance on finding treatment for addiction.
Specifically, we will also cover how each drug affects the body and how the combination of these two different types of drugs can be particularly dangerous.
The Different Types Of Stimulants and Depressants
There are two main types of drugs that can have opposite effects on the body: stimulants and depressants. Stimulant drugs, such as cocaine and methamphetamine, increase alertness, heart rate, and blood pressure.
Effects of Stimulant Drugs
Stimulants increase alertness by affecting the brain’s dopamine system. This system is responsible for pleasure and reward signals in the brain. Stimulants also increase heart rate and blood pressure by constricting blood vessels and increasing oxygen to the muscles. These effects can be beneficial in small doses— like with coffee or when prescribed by a doctor— but can be dangerous when taken in large amounts or combined with other drugs.
Effects of Depressant Drugs
Depressants create feelings of relaxation and sedation. They also affect the GABA neurotransmitter, which helps to regulate anxiety levels. When taken in large doses, depressants can cause respiratory depression, which can be deadly. Depressant drugs, such as alcohol and barbiturates, have the opposite effect of stimulants and can slow down the central nervous system. Mixing these two types of drugs can be extremely dangerous because they can cancel each other out or cause unexpected side effects.
Mixing stimulants and depressants can have unpredictable results because they act on different systems in the brain. It is important to be careful when taking any combination of these drugs and to start with smaller doses to see how your body reacts. Combining stimulants and depressants can result in serious consequences including overdose and death.
Consequences Of Mixing Stimulants and Depressant Drugs
Stimulant drugs increase alertness, attention, and energy. Depressant drugs slow down the central nervous system. When someone takes both types of drugs together, the effects can cancel each other out or cause unexpected side effects.
There are many consequences that can result from mixing stimulants and depressant drugs. Some of these consequences can be minor, while others can be severe or even life-threatening. It is important to be aware of these potential dangers before mixing any two substances.
Mixing stimulants and depressants can be dangerous and even life-threatening. The combination can lead to:
- unconsciousness
- respiratory failure
- heart failure
- coma
- death
One of the most common consequences of mixing stimulants and depressants is an increased risk of overdose. This is because both types of drugs can slow down the respiratory system, which can lead to oxygen deprivation and ultimately death. Mixing stimulants and depressants also increases the likelihood of developing a dependence on one or both substances.
What Else You Need to Know
Additionally, it can be difficult to know how each drug will affect the other when they are taken together, which can make it easy to accidentally take too much of either substance.
Another serious consequence of mixing these two types of drugs is that it can lead to cardiovascular problems. Stimulants increase heart rate and blood pressure while depressants slow them down. This combination can put a lot of strain on the heart and potentially lead to heart attacks or strokes.
Additionally, it can also cause irregular heartbeat and high blood pressure. These effects can be particularly dangerous for people who have preexisting heart conditions or who are taking other medications that affect heart function.
Mixing stimulants and depressants can also cause seizures. Seizures are caused by sudden, uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain and can result in loss of consciousness, muscle spasms, and convulsions. They can be very dangerous.
Treatment For Stimulant and Depressant Abuse
The consequences of mixing stimulant and depressant drugs can be both short- and long-term. In the short-term, mixing these two types of drugs can lead to dangerous side effects, including increased heart rate and blood pressure, nausea and vomiting, anxiety and paranoia, and even death. Long-term consequences of mixing stimulants and depressants can include addiction, organ damage, and cognitive impairment.
If you or someone you know is abusing stimulants and depressants, it’s important to seek professional help as soon as possible to avoid these potentially deadly consequences. Mixing stimulant and depressant drugs can have serious physical, psychological, and emotional consequences. It is important to remember that any misuse of any drugs is risky behavior and should be avoided at all costs.
Plum Creek Recovery Ranch Has Solutions
At Plum Creek Recovery Ranch we understand how dependence on drugs or alcohol can take over your life before you know what’s happened. Addiction is a disease of the mind, not a moral failing. You aren’t alone. You or your loved one deserve the best help available and that’s exactly what we provide. We offer an inpatient medical detox right on our premises where residential treatment also occurs. We are happy to answer your questions about prescription drug or any other form of addiction and provide helpful information free from judgement. Just dial 512-559-8534 and whatever you are facing, you will have our guidance and support.
