Mixing Cocaine and Alcohol

The effects of mixing cocaine and alcohol together produces an extremely toxic and dangerous substance called cocaethylene. Doctors have dubbed mixing these two widely used drugs together as a “deadly combination”.

Cocaine and alcohol are two highly addictive substances and both are readily available. They are also responsible for many substance related deaths, when used separately and when combined together.

Mixing cocaine with alcohol vastly increases the danger of suffering adverse effects that could cause death. In fact, some studies have shown that you are up to 25 times more likely to die from mixing alcohol with cocaine, than you would by taking cocaine alone (6)

If you or a loved one have a problem with cocaine and alcohol, we urge you to seek professional help now, before it’s too late.

What are the effects of mixing cocaine and alcohol?

Mixing cocaine and alcohol can produce a variety of effects sought after by those that abuse drugs. Not all of the effects produced are pleasant, some can be very dangerous, terrifying, and even life-threatening.

Taking cocaine and alcohol together you may experience any number of physical and psychological effects.

The strength and duration of these effects will depend on your tolerance to both cocaine and alcohol, the purity of the cocaine, the route of administration of cocaine, the strength of the alcohol and how much you consume of each:

Effects produced by mixing cocaine and alcohol include:

• Anxiety
• Intense euphoria
• Increased sexual desire
• Depression
• Impulsiveness
• Poor judgement and decision making
• Poor coordination
• Increase in heart rate and heart arrhythmia
• Increased talkativeness and alertness
• Increased confidence
• Jaw tension and teeth grinding
• Feelings of invincibility
• Mood swings
• Strong cravings for more cocaine and alcohol
• Sexual promiscuity and contracting sexually transmitted infections and diseases (STI’s and STD’s) as a result
• Sudden death (1,2)

Mixing cocaine and alcohol together also vastly increases your risk of suffering life-threatening effects:

• Heart attack and cardiac arrest (very high risk in those that already suffer heart related health issues)
• Sudden stroke
• Seizures
• Increased risk of developing cancer
• Increased risk of developing a substance addiction
• Uncharacteristic violent behaviour
• Increased body temperature
• Paranoia
• Suicidal ideation and attempts to take your own life
• Sudden death (1,2)

These high cost risks are due to increased toxicity in the heart, liver and other organs that cocaethylene produces.

People who use cocaine and alcohol are more prone to suffering injuries or adverse reactions. It has also been proven that they require more assistance from the emergency services and hospitals also (3)

What is Cocaethylene?

Cocaethylene is a very powerful and toxic drug that is formed in the liver where cocaine and alcohol coexist in the blood. Structurally it is similar to cocaine (4)

Cocaethylene is considered to be a recreational drug in its own right. It forms independently when ethanol and cocaine are taken at the same time. Cocaethylene has sought after stimulant, sympathomimetic, euphoriant, appetite suppressant, and anaesthetic properties.

In most individuals that mix cocaine and alcohol together, cocaethylene extends the duration of cocaine’s effects and induces a more powerful euphoric high. These effects can make the drug very seductive to a user (5)

The important thing to understand about cocaethylene is that it is a drug that your body automatically produces when cocaine and alcohol are mixed together – you do not have a choice in taking this third and extremely dangerous drug!

Some studies have suggested that cocaethylene carries an 18 to 25 fold increase over cocaine alone of suffering immediate death (6)

Mixing cocaine and alcohol increases alcohol consumption

Cocaine is a stimulant drug and alcohol a depressant drug. Many individuals who take cocaine and alcohol together describe enjoying the benefits of alcohol without suffering the drowsiness. They are therefore able to drink much more than they would normally, as cocaine counteracts alcohol’s depressant effects.

By increasing alcohol consumption during cocaine and alcohol binges, the individual is at higher risk of developing a dual addiction and suffering both cocaine withdrawal symptoms and alcohol withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms can be life-threatening if not treated medically with a cocaine and alcohol detox (7)

Cocaine death toll rises for 7th consecutive year

Deaths due to cocaine have risen for the 7th consecutive year in England and Wales, with a shocking 637 deaths being recorded during 2018. This is almost double the number of deaths recorded in 2015 (8)

The continual rise in cocaine related deaths are partially attributed to historically higher purity levels. Cocaine is stronger and now more deadly than ever before (9)

By mixing cocaine and alcohol together you are putting your life at serious risk!

h2>Cocaine and alcohol addiction treatment

If you or a loved one suffer from cocaine and alcohol addiction, a full medical detox and bespoke rehabilitation programme is recommended.

Call Delamere today and speak with one of our addiction treatment experts who can advise you of your treatment options – 0330 111 2015.