What is Polysubstance Abuse?

One of the most complicated questions to ask is “What is polysubstance abuse?” There can be instances when either ourselves or a loved one are abusing not one, but multiple substances simultaneously.  This is a condition known as polysubstance abuse. When you start looking for an inpatient drug rehab in Jacksonville, Florida,  it’s good to keep these three facts about polysubstance abuse in mind.

What is Polysubstance Abuse

Polysubstance abuse occurs when an individual abuses multiple substances at the same time.  Typically, this is defined as three substances but can also be defined as involving two substances.  Polysubstance abuse does not include nicotine and caffeine, even though those substances are known to be addictive.

This combination of drugs can be incredibly dangerous. Polysubstance abuse increases the risk of overdose. In many cases, this is because the drugs often mask each other’s effects. For example, alcohol and cocaine mask the effects of each other, which means individuals may accidentally take more and overdose. These drugs also have unpredictable effects when mixed. Two drugs that are relatively stable when separate may become dangerous when combined.

Polysubstance abuse can occur for a variety of reasons. Some individuals may be polysubstance users without even realizing they are. This can occur, for instance, when individuals on prescription medications drink alcohol without knowing they are mixing drugs. It can also occur when individuals are looking to combine different kinds of highs such as mixing alcohol with cocaine. Another factor behind polysubstance abuse are individuals who do not have adequate mental health care and, therefore, self-medicate with multiple drugs.

Common Polysubstance Combinations

When asking: “What is polysubstance abuse?” we should keep in mind the different kinds of intoxicants that are often combined and the reasons for their combination. These combinations can include:

• Alcohol and Multiple Drugs – Some people mix alcohol with other drugs without even knowing that they are polysubstance drug users. There’s a common misconception that alcohol is not a drug and this causes people to be more reckless when combining it with other intoxicants. Alcohol and cocaine is a common combination that can be particularly dangerous because of the effects of each drug mask the effects of the other. This makes overdose more likely.
• Prescription and Illicit Painkillers –  prescription painkillers can be highly addictive. Many cases of addiction involve individuals being prescribed painkillers and then abusing their prescriptions. When access to prescription painkillers becomes more difficult individuals often turn to elicit painkillers to fill the need formed by abuse.
• Opioids and Benzodiazepines– The combination of opioids and benzodiazepines is particularly dangerous. Both of these drugs are central nervous system depressants and their combination can lead to dangerous situations.

How to treat Polysubstance Abuse

After asking “What is polysubstance abuse?” people often ask how is it treated. Treatment for polysubstance abuse is very similar to traditional treatments for general abuse and addiction. Individuals suffering from polysubstance abuse go through similar cognitive, physical, and medical therapies as individuals suffering from the abusive of single drugs. One of the main differences is in the complexity of detox for polysubstance abuse. Doctors not only have to treat each withdrawal separately, but they also have to treat the effects of the withdrawals interacting with each other.

Beaches Recovery

Addiction can seem unbeatable, but there is hope. If you or a loved one is suffering from polysubstance abuse, contact our friendly staff today at 866.605.0532 for information on how you can start your road to recovery.