Effects of Mixing Alcohol and Amphetamine
Amphetamines are drugs that make a user feel more alert and ready. Doctors once prescribed the medications for patients trying to lose weight because the pills caused the user to eat less and burn more calories at the same time. Doctors now use the medication in the treatment of ADHD and narcolepsy.
In ADHD patients, the medications help the patient feel more alert, and the medication reduces the hyperactivity of the patient. Patients with narcolepsy take the medication because it prevents them from falling asleep during the day. Those who mix the drugs with alcohol can become addicted to amphetamine and alcohol.
What Happens when You Combine these Drugs?
Amphetamines have a stimulant effect that keeps a user wide awake. Some college students and high school students use the medication to study for a test or to do other types of schoolwork. Alcohol is a depressant that can make a user feel drowsy and less alert.
“The belief is that by mixing the two substances, the alcohol reduces the effects of the amphetamine.”-Projectknow.com
The belief is that by mixing the two substances, the alcohol reduces the effects of the amphetamine. Some users mix the substances because the amphetamine allows the user to drink more alcohol.
Dangerous Consequences
The University of California at Santa Barbara created Life of the Party @UCSB to warn college students about the dangers of mixing different substances. According to Life of the Party, the dangers of mixing amphetamine with alcohol can include:
- Changes in personality
- Aggressive behavior
- Irrational thoughts
- Poor decision-making skills
- Headaches
- Vomiting
- Kidney problems
The effects of mixing alcohol and amphetamines are similar to the effects of drinking too much. Users might feel like they have a hangover, but the hangover feelings can last longer than an ordinary hangover. Those who are addicted to amphetamine and alcohol risk serious injury to the kidneys. Mixing the two substances can also cause high blood pressure and rapid heart rate.
Warning Signs of Addiction
If you think that someone you know is addicted to amphetamine and alcohol, you might notice some warning signs of addiction, including:
- Unusual behavior
- Personality changes
- Insomnia
- Lack of concentration
- Fast talking
“…they do not want anyone to know they use those substances..”People who abuse amphetamines might become night owls who sleep during the day and stay up all night because the medication throws off sleep patterns. You might notice that you have trouble concentrating unless you take the amphetamines. Those who mix the two substances might hide the alcohol and amphetamines around the house because they do not want anyone to know they use those substances.
Available Treatment Options
When you decide to get help for someone addicted to those substances, you need a center that treats both addictions. You might discover that one center only focuses on one addiction. The best treatment plan is one that treats the alcohol addiction and the amphetamine addiction.
The treatment plans might include helping the addict detox from the substances. Detox is a process that lets the addict withdraw safely from the amphetamines and alcohol. The professional staff at the treatment center works with the addict to ensure that they feel as comfortable as possible during this process. Treatment might include behavioral therapy that teaches you skills you need after you leave the center. These skills help you lead a healthy life without using alcohol or amphetamines.
Reach out and Get Help
Call us directly at if you need help for your addiction. We also offer support and help if you discover that someone in your life is addicted to amphetamine and alcohol. You can get more information about potential treatment options for the addiction, and we can help you find a drug rehab facility in your community.
Factoid:
- According to the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, more than 2 million teenagers tried or abused prescription stimulants in a single year.
- Amphetamines are an illegal substance. Those caught using amphetamines can face heavy fines and potential jail time for the offense.