What Happens if You Mix Cocaine and Alcohol?

For clubgoers around the world, the mix of cocaine and alcohol go hand in hand. Alcohol is a staple at every party, bar, and club, no matter where you go. Cocaine comes as a close second in the many areas it’s available. What makes the mix of the two so popular?

The opposing effects of cocaine and alcohol make them feel like a perfect match. The energy boost and alertness from cocaine counters the drowsy, downing effects of the alcohol. Cocaine is known for its ability to make you feel less drunk. This gives you the ability to drink more and for longer periods of time.

While this might sound like fun, it isn’t the cure-all it may appear to be, though. Mixing cocaine and alcohol is fun in the moment but there are some long-term consequences that come with it. Each drug comes with its own set of side effects but the combination of the two creates something else entirely.

What happens if you mix cocaine and alcohol? Continue reading to learn more about the side effects of each substance and what happens when you combine them. You might think twice the next time you go out drinking
with friends.

Alcohol is by far the most widely used drug in the United States. 86 percent of Americans ages 18 and older have drank alcohol at least once in their life. It’s easily accessible and available almost everywhere you go. Whether you’re in a restaurant, at a family get together, or a work party, you can usually find at least one person with a drink in their hand.

Since it’s so commonplace in society today, many people don’t consider the dangers of alcohol. The majority of people who drink wouldn’t even consider themselves drinkers. They have a beer after work a few times a month or a glass of wine while out to a nice dinner and leave it at that.

People consume alcohol because of the relaxing effects that a drink or two provides. It makes you less nervous, makes conversation flow easier, and allows most people to have an enjoyable night out. Not everyone leaves it to only a drink or two, though.

26.9 percent of the 18 and older population reports at least one night of binge drinking in the last month, though. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines binge drinking as drinking that brings your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to a 0.08 or higher. This takes about 4 drinks for women and 5 drinks for men over the course of two hours.

Then when you bring cocaine into the mixture, you have another problem on your hands.

Cocaine is a stimulant drug that spikes your levels of excitement, energy, and alertness. It causes a massive buildup of dopamine, the “happy chemical,” in your brain. This gives you a high chance of developing an addiction to the rush it provides. The effects of cocaine come on almost immediately after ingesting it but only last for up to
half an hour.

Snorting cocaine is the most popular way to ingest it. It most often comes in the form of a fine, white powder easily stored in baggies. You’re ready to go for another round at the bar after a quick trip to the restroom for another “bump.” These side effects of cocaine make it a regular resident in thousands of people’s pockets every weekend.

When people go out for a night of drinking, they find a great pairing between the tension relief of alcohol the burst of energy from cocaine. It seems like an easy way to make a fun night last longer. The majority of people who combine cocaine and alcohol have no idea the risks they put themselves at, though.

The high from cocaine makes you feel less drunk and makes you think you can drink more. If you aren’t used to the effects of cocaine and alcohol together you can quickly overshoot the mark. Although it feels like you can drink more while you’re high on cocaine, your body can still only process so much at one time.

It’s easy to drink yourself to the point of alcohol poisoning when you mix cocaine and alcohol. You aren’t as aware of how much you drank which might cause you to slip into a dangerous zone. Alcohol poisoning requires hospitalization in order to clear your system of the ethanol and replenish your body with nutrients.

Unless you’re familiar with addiction treatment or the medical field, you most likely haven’t heard of cocaethylene. Your liver is responsible for filtering any drugs that you put into your body. After it filters the substances you use it leaves some byproducts behind. Research revealed the presence of cocaethylene in the bodies of those who regularly mixed cocaine and alcohol.

Cocaethylene is much more toxic to your system than cocaine or alcohol alone. It may cause a number of dangerous results such as:

It might seem impossible to escape the clutches of cocaine and alcohol. This dangerous combination has the potential to take away your life if you don’t do something about it. Thankfully there is a way out of the darkness of drug and alcohol addiction.

Addiction treatment centers like Hawaii Island Recovery are here to help you. You can learn to live your life without feeling like you need drugs and alcohol to survive.