Even moderate alcohol use may be hazardous, but combining it with opiates can be lethal. When alcohol is used often, its harmful effects are amplified. When combined with other drugs like opioids, even a small amount of alcohol usage may be lethal. Has anyone you know ever combined booze and opiate painkillers? If so, keep reading to learn more about how hazardous these substances are to the human body.
Opiates and Opioids.
Opioids and opiates have long been utilized to help people manage the pain associated with accidents and surgical operations, but since they are addictive, even those who have a genuine medical necessity for them may misuse and abuse them.
The Risks of Taking Opioids and Alcohol Together
Alcohol and narcotics both have depressant effects on the brain. Being less mentally active results in emotions of relaxation and satisfaction (intense joy). Most people who take opioids also imbibe, increasing the results. Unfortunately, taking the drugs together might worsen their side effects, which include headache, trouble concentrating, disorientation, memory problems, loss of coordination, dizziness, dry mouth, and slurred speech. It’s possible for someone who uses alcohol and opioids to be unaware that they are abusing the drugs. Some patients who get opioid prescriptions also partake in alcohol abuse, often unaware of the connection. Consult with your healthcare provider whether alcohol has any adverse effects on the medicines you take.
Mixing Alcohol and Opioids Could Be Fatal
People who ordinarily take their medications carefully may consume alcohol and opiates together unaware. Other times, both substances are intentionally used to heighten their euphoric effects. Combining opiates with alcohol may be lethal due to the various effects each substance has on the body and brain.
Both alcohol and opiates cause the brain’s central nervous system to slow down, which in turn causes the heart and breathing rate to slow down. When these medications are used together, the body experiences a magnified depressive effect that results in dangerously reduced heart rate and respiration and a reduction in the oxygen supply to essential organs. Without adequate oxygen, the body’s essential organs shut down, which may cause death or brain damage. Another adverse consequence of opiate and alcohol use is a loss of coordination and balance, which may lead to major falls and make even routine activities, like driving, potentially lethal.
First responders have particular difficulties when dealing with overdoses from substances like opioids and alcohol since they need special interventions. There are medications to counteract the symptoms of an opiate overdose, such as naloxone, but there aren’t usually any for alcohol. Activated charcoal and stomach pumping are ineffective for eliminating alcohol from the body.
Taylor Recovery Is Your Best Solution
When addressing opioid and alcohol dependency, medical detox is often the initial step. It involves carefully weaning the individual off of narcotics while easing unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. When a person starts the detox process, they will get therapy and support to help them beat their addiction. Dual diagnosis treatment is often required by those who battle both mental health problems and substance misuse. This form of treatment addresses both issues concurrently. Please contact Taylor Recovery Center in Dallas to speak with a representative if you or somebody you know needs help overcoming an addiction. Make contact right now and decide to enhance your health today.