Polysubstance abuse means that someone is regularly abusing more than one drug at the same time or mixing a drug with alcohol. Often, tolerance builds for both or all the substances being abused, and ultimately, there can be an addiction to more than one substance. This scenario is far from unusual, and alcohol is one of the most common substances to be combined with just about any drug. Because benzodiazepines (benzos) and alcohol act similarly in the brain, they amplify one another’s effects, and sedative intoxication can happen rapidly, as can an overdose.
If you or someone you love is combining benzos and alcohol, reach out to The Right Step Houston online or call 1.844.768.0169 to learn about benzo addiction treatment as well as polysubstance addiction treatment.
Mixing Benzos and Alcohol
Mixing benzos with alcohol can be very dangerous—even if you do it only once. Because both substances affect the body as depressants, they speed up one another’s action within the body. When sedation effects are doubled, and the combined risks of both benzos and alcohol are taken into account, the dangers that come with this particular polysubstance abuse are significant.
In the short term, the sedation, disinhibition, and amnesia that result from abuse of benzos and alcohol can be dangerous as the symptoms of two dangerous depressants are magnified.
In the long term, alcohol affects the cardiovascular system, the liver, the digestive tract, and more. Both drugs—benzos and alcohol—interact first with the brain. As a sedative, when benzodiazepine is used not as prescribed or is acquired and used illegally, it behaves similarly to alcohol. Both of them:
- Slow down reaction time
- Create brain fog and delay the thinking process
- Interfere with sleep
- Affect memory formation
When used chronically, benzos and alcohol can lead to cognitive impairment, such as slowed processing speeds, decreases in language and problem-solving abilities, and a poor attention span. These long-term effects are typical for each drug on its own when abused. A polysubstance addiction to alcohol and benzos means that all possible impacts of both are potentially exacerbated and thus made more dangerous.
About Polysubstance Abuse Treatment
Polysubstance addiction is more challenging to treat than addictions to one substance. In a safe setting where the staff is expert in treating multiple addictions, you will be in good hands. If you or someone you love is chronically abusing benzos and alcohol, chances are they have a polysubstance addiction. Look for a rehab facility that treats both benzo addiction and alcohol addiction and has a polysubstance treatment protocol. The expertise in treating addictions to both substances, combined with experience treating multiple addictions at once, will make such a place a good choice for beginning recovery from a benzo and alcohol addiction.
When you reach out to The Right Step Houston to learn more, also ask about how we treat co-occurring mental health conditions. Not uncommon among those with multiple addictions, a co-occurring mental health diagnosis is something else that we will treat in a coordinated approach so that your mental health and polysubstance abuse recovery can be addressed simultaneously.
Contact The Right Step Houston for Polysubstance Abuse Treatment in Texas
We will approach your circumstance with respect and understanding, creating a coordinated treatment plan that will thoughtfully address your recovery needs in a comprehensive plan. Whether you need inpatient care that eventually steps into outpatient rehab, require a 30-, 60-, or 90-day rehab program, or any other plan that specifically helps you, The Right Step Houston can help. Reach out online or call 1.844.768.0169 today. We will help you get started on the journey of discovery.