Author: Gary Jackson

Polysubstance Abuse: Signs, Types, Risks and Treatment

The physical consequences of abusing multiple substances are severe and varied. Each substance comes with its own set of health risks, and when combined, these risks can multiply. For example, the simultaneous abuse of alcohol and opioids greatly increases the risk of respiratory depression and accidental overdose. Long-term abuse can lead to chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, liver damage, respiratory distress, and neurological impairment. Each additional substance used can exacerbate these conditions or lead to new health issues, including an increased risk of infectious diseases for those using injectable drugs. Many individuals who engage in polysubstance abuse have underlying psychological conditions that they may attempt to self-medicate.

This lesson includes:

The immediate risks of combining substances are numerous and can be life-threatening. When multiple drugs are consumed, their effects can interact in unpredictable ways, enhancing each other’s potency and potentially leading to acute health crises such as overdose. For example, mixing depressants like alcohol with opioids can intensify the suppressive effects on the respiratory system, dramatically increasing the risk of fatal respiratory depression. Finding the right addiction treatment program in a facility that cares about and supports each individual can be detrimental to a person’s recovery outcome.

It’s important that you follow your provider’s instructions and stick to their treatment plan to prevent side effects. You may prefer to detox in a healthcare facility where you have around-the-clock support. But outpatient options are available if you’d be more comfortable at home. Have students share options and make note of them (on the worksheet, board, etc.). Possible answers include take the medication, not take the medication, take an over-the-counter pain reliever, and seek help from an adult.

Polysubstance Use Disorder

Work together with your group to read the scenario, which is provided to you. Then, work through the DECIDE decision-making model process to define the problem, explore the options, consider the outcomes, identify the best option, develop a plan to act, and, finally, evaluate your decision. If a person decides to take a drug, the DECIDE model is an important tool for determining how to not consume more than one substance at a time. Some choices are harder to make than others, especially if you feel pressured by those around you. Today, we are going to practice a decision-making process called DECIDE.

Polysubstance Use (Using more than one drug)‎

1. It involves the problematic use of multiple drugs that lead to significant impairment or distress.
2. But outpatient options are available if you’d be more comfortable at home.
3. A University of Michigan study found that reports of prescription drug misuse were 18 times higher in participants who were dependent on alcohol.
4. He received his master’s degree in adult geriatric primary care nurse practitioner from Walden University and a second postmaster specialty in psychiatry mental health nurse practitioner from Rocky Mountain University.
5. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), either the substance use disorder or the mental health disorder can occur first, and having one disorder may make a person more likely to develop the other.

A full assessment of both disorders and a treatment plan that takes into account the individual’s medical history, as well as other factors, is necessary for treatment success. A comprehensive treatment plan within an inpatient drug rehab center can help individuals overcome polysubstance abuse and learn to manage their mental disorder. Signs of abuse can be physical, behavioral, psychological, or external (how drug abuse affects a person’s life).

What’s the outlook for polysubstance use disorder?

The evaluation consists of 11 yes or no questions that are intended to be used as an informational tool to assess the severity and probability of a substance use disorder. The test is free, confidential, and no personal information is needed to receive the result. Unintentional polysubstance use occurs when a person takes drugs that have been mixed or cut with other substances, like fentanyl, without their knowledge.

An overdose happens when a harmful (toxic) amount of a substance (or multiple substances) enters your body. An overdose can cause your organs to stop working, which is life-threatening if not treated quickly. But research suggests the addictive potential of substances and their effect on your brain causes the condition. Using the scenarios in the To Mix or Not to Mix worksheets below, have students complete the DECIDE model to progress through the stages of the decision-making process. As we continue to confront the challenges posed by polysubstance abuse, it is crucial for individuals, families, and communities to be informed and proactive. Education plays a vital role in prevention, and early intervention can significantly improve the prognosis for those struggling with this condition.

One study of 2,016 intoxicated drivers tested for substance use found that 5.6% used both alcohol and cocaine. When taken together, the substances produce cocaethylene (a byproduct of using both cocaine and alcohol) in the body, which plays a role in cocaine-related heart disease and overdoses. Whether intentional or not, mixing drugs is never safe because the effects from combining drugs may be stronger and more unpredictable than one drug alone, and even deadly. Polysubstance use disorder is a treatable condition and recovery is possible. You may need to try different treatment options to find one that works best for you. If you take medications as part of your daily routine, it’s important to tell your provider about all of the medications and supplements you currently take.

Long-term Health Consequences

The abuse can occur with both drugs in one incident or at separate times during the same period of abuse. A person may, for example, take two drugs together for their intended opposing effects, or may take one drug after another to counteract the effects of the first. While detox is a critical first step in the recovery process, it is not effective treatment on its own. It must be followed by a comprehensive addiction treatment program that primarily includes therapy. Due to the potential unpredictability of withdrawal from multiple substances, continual medical monitoring is always needed.

Stimulants such as cocaine can increase heart rate and blood pressure, which, when combined with other substances like MDMA, can lead to severe cardiovascular stress. These interactions often result in emergency medical conditions that require immediate intervention. If a person abuses a drug for an extended period of time, or a highly-addicting drug several times, addiction can result. Risk of addiction is especially high when abusing multiple substances, as each instance of abuse puts a person at further risk for developing an addiction. The key with any substance misuse treatment program is that care is tailored to the individual needs of each client.