The Danger of Mixing Benzos and Alcohol

Benzodiazepines, or benzos, are strong tranquilizers designed to calm the central nervous system. Namely, they’re anti-anxiety medications like Xanax, Valium, Ativan, and Halcion. Thus, benzos are popular to soothe stress and also, off-label, to experience surges of pleasure. In fact, National Public Radio reported that benzo prescriptions have risen by 5.4 million since 1999. Unfortunately, benzos are highly addictive with 44 percent of takers becoming dependent. Further, this outlook is worse when they’re paired with alcohol. Indeed, ignoring the warning label and drinking during benzo use could prove deadly. To explain, let’s look at what mixing benzos and alcohol into dangerous cocktails can cause.

Side Effects of Mixing Benzos and Alcohol

First, alcohol and benzos are both depressants that sedate the body. Therefore, the immediate effects are tiredness, slurred speech, impaired thinking, dizziness, and weakness. Usually, mixing benzos and alcohol will heighten the effects of each substance. Together, they create a powerful haze that eliminates inhibitions. Given that, people might make risky decisions and exhibit impulsive behaviors. For example, choosing to drive with benzos and alcohol in one’s system can cause serious accidents.

Moreover, the high dosage can result in blackouts. In other words, users may faint or lose consciousness. Even worse, mixing benzos and alcohol may result in overdose. Consequently, people might stop breathing and have permanent organ damage without oxygen. Of course, that’s only if they’re treated in time to avoid death.

Increased Risks From Benzo and Alcohol Abuse

Second, long-term habits of mixing benzos and alcohol significantly raise several risks. For example, the combination will slow down the body’s nerve impulses. Notably, the substances can hinder motor skills and disrupt the ability to respond to different stimuli. Commonly, users have depressed moods and memory loss. Likewise, people lose control of their emotions, which could destroy close relationships. Also, benzo and alcohol tolerance can build up to physical dependence. The body relies on the drug mix to function and enters withdrawal without doses. Then, the threat of dangerous medical conditions like heart disease, kidney failure, and dementia grows. Notably, the depressants can cause cirrhosis, which is liver damage. Sometimes, mixing benzos and alcohol together also leads to strokes or seizures.

Choose Beaches Recovery for Dual Rehab

Despite this, are you unable to stop mixing benzos and alcohol? Straightaway, turn to Beaches Recovery for quality rehab services. Our Jacksonville center offers a cross addiction treatment program in Florida. We customize dual diagnosis therapies to address both benzodiazepine and alcohol abuse. We have accreditation from The Joint Commission for excellence in treating substance use disorders. Our trained staff has high success rates getting clients to stop mixing benzos and alcohol. Our continuum of care includes the following:

• Drug and alcohol addiction treatment
• Residential drug rehab
• Partial hospitalization program
• 12 Step addiction recovery
• Fresh Start DUI program
• Intensive outpatient program

Don’t keep mixing benzos and alcohol because the consequences could be severe. Instead, make healthy drug-free lifestyle changes at Beaches Recovery. Contact us at 866.605.0532 now to begin polysubstance abuse treatment that works.