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Have you ever combined two things to try something new? Maybe it was just trying a new clothing combo. Maybe you combined pizza with a new topping.
As humans, we're curious by nature, but that curiosity can come at a cost. More than 1 in 4 teens and adults reported illicit drug use throughout the last month here in Oregon. While some may think they fully understand the risks, the reality is far more complex.
As one of the oldest non-profit rehabs in the state, our team here at Serenity Lane has a long history of substance use. We've seen how the combination of two substances can deeply impact someone before they even realize it. Today we're going to talk about cocaine and Xanax and how combining them can affect you or your loved ones.
You've likely heard of both cocaine and Xanax before, but what do you know about them?
These two substances are very different from each other, in many ways.
Cocaine, despite being used in some forms as a local anesthetic, is primarily an illicit drug sought after for its effects. Xanax, also known as alprazolam, is a prescription benzodiazepine. Like many medications, it can be used against medical advice, but its primary function is medical.
The biggest difference between these two substances is how they affect the body.
Cocaine is a stimulant. This means that it speeds up the body's systems, primarily the central nervous system. This can cause feelings of euphoria and high energy levels, as well as quickened breathing and heart palpitations.
Xanax, on the other hand, is the exact opposite. Benzodiazepines are classified as depressants. This means they slow down the body, also causing feelings of euphoria but combined with feelings of calm or relaxation and lowered inhibitions. This calming effect is why Xanax is utilized to assist with seizure disorders and panic disorders primarily.
With how different these two substances are, you might wonder why someone might want to take them together. Wouldn't they just cancel each other out?
The answer to this is yes, but that's one of the reasons people intentionally seek out this combination. Some people want to have a controlled way to “end” their high while others utilize them to “balance” the side effects of the other.
It's important to note that this could also happen unintentionally. People who take prescription medications, like Xanax, might engage in substance use without realizing that the two can interact when present in the body at the same time. This experience, known as polysubstance use, isn't uncommon. It's seen most often in people drinking alcohol while on long-term medications. These combos are risky, however, and can lead to dire consequences.
The word “poly” simply means “many.” This doesn’t mean it has to be more than two, it just means it has to be more than one.
In the case of substance use, polysubstance use is when a person engages with two or more substances at the same time. They don’t have to be taken back to back, they just have to both be present in your body for an overlapping period of time. As mentioned earlier, this can happen both intentionally and unintentionally.
Being able to spot the long and short-term side effects of mixing Xanax and cocaine is important. These side effects can build gradually over time, making it harder to notice the changes caused by them. This doesn’t mean the changes aren’t happening, though.
If you think a loved one might be engaging with cocaine, Xanax, or a combination of the two, here are some side effects you can look out for.
After mentioning that having cocaine and Xanax in your body at the same time can make them “cancel each other out,” it's easy to think this makes the combination harmless.
This isn't true.
No level of substance misuse is safe. Both substances, on their own, pose risks to your health. This becomes even more true the more frequently you take them, or the higher doses that you take.
When we take medications or substances, they're not natural to the body. This means they have to get filtered and processed out, just like anything else you put in your system.
This process occurs primarily through the liver, bloodstream, and urine. However, this system can only process so much at once. Much like waiting in a queue, just because there are more people on the line, doesn't mean it's going to go faster.
When you have more than one substance in your body at the same time, you're just adding to that processing queue. If the body gets too overwhelmed before everything can be processed, you'll experience an overdose.
Mixing a stimulant and a depressant, like cocaine and Xanax, makes your odds of an overdose increase drastically. This is actually because of their opposite side effects.
People who regularly engage in substance use tend to develop a “feeling” of how much of a substance they should take. They stop when they experience this, which can help prevent them from overdosing.
When two substances “cancel” each other out, though, it becomes increasingly tricky to determine how intoxicated you actually are. Just because you feel okay, doesn't mean the substances are actually out of your system. If a person then continues to take more of any substance, they are at a high risk of taking more than their body can handle and thenceforth overdosing.
If you notice someone is –
– then this person is likely experiencing an overdose and you should call for medical help immediately.
If reading this article hits close to home for you, there are options available. Recovery is always an option, no matter your history with substance use, mental health, or any combination of the two. It can seem daunting, or overwhelming, but there are cocaine rehab options that will work with you to craft a journey of healing that meets your specific needs.
There’s no wrong time to get started. Our team here at Serenity Lane has the full continuum of care under our roof, with a team of master’s level physicians here and ready to help. We want to see you reach your addiction recovery goals, so give us a call today at 800-543-9905 and we’ll get you started.
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