It’s incredibly dangerous to use cocaine and alcohol at the same time, as the combination can cause a variety of life-threatening side effects.
Article at a Glance:
Cocaine and alcohol amplify the effects of one another, and combining them can lead to life-threatening consequences.
A hangover caused by cocaine and alcohol can be very uncomfortable and drive someone to use more of these substances to relieve the effects.
The combination of cocaine and alcohol is associated with a higher risk for suicidal thoughts and actions.
Cocaine can mask alcohol impairment and cause an intoxicated person to believe they are sober.
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Mixing Cocaine and Alcohol
Some people use alcohol and cocaine simultaneously in order to increase the effects of both substances. However, this combination can easily lead to life-threatening consequences such as overdose or alcohol poisoning. Alcohol is a depressant while cocaine is a stimulant, and when these opposing substances are used at the same time, their side effects can quickly amplify to dangerous levels. Alcohol and cocaine should never be used together, as the risks greatly outweigh any potential reward.
The Hangover or Comedown
Increased Suicide Risk
Alcohol Poisoning Risk
Overdose Risk
Cocaine and Alcohol Effects
Taking alcohol and cocaine together can amplify the individual side effects of each substance. Additionally, there are manylong-termandshort-term side effectsassociated withcombining alcohol and cocaine, including:
- Cardiotoxicity (heart toxicity)
- Breathing problems
- Increased heart rate
- Cognitive impairment
- Increased blood pressure
- Loss of coordination and motor function
- Violent thoughts and threats
- Heart palpitations
- Cerebral infarction (death of blood vessels and blood tissue)
- Stroke
- Death
What Happens When You Mix Cocaine and Alcohol?
When cocaine and alcohol are taken together, they metabolize in the liver and produce a substance called cocaethylene (See More:Cocaethylene), which temporarily enhances the highs associated with both drugs. This buildup is particularly dangerous, as it increases blood pressure and can lead to aggressive and violent behavior. It can also contribute to long-term liver damage and even create the potential for sudden death (See More:Can Cocaine Kill You Instantly?).
Does Cocaine “Sober” You Up?
Because cocaine can make someone feel less cognitively impaired, using it with alcohol can reduce how intoxicated they feel. However, even though a person taking these substances together may “feel” less impaired, they are still very intoxicated. Cocaine and alcohol have two significant drug interactions that make a person more impaired. First, cocaine slows down the metabolism of alcohol, which actually makes a person more intoxicated. Second, cocaine and alcohol combine into cocaethylene, a longer-acting version of cocaine that increases the toxicity to the heart. It is important to understand that combining these drugs is much more toxic to the body than using either by itself.
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