Effects of Mixing
We don’t even think about it
We often mix drugs without even thinking about it. You might be at a 21st Birthday and drink vodka with Red Bull and not realise that this is actually mixing a depressant (the alcohol) with a stimulant (the Red Bull). You’re slowing your heart rate down with one substance and raising it with another.
Opposite effects
You might have been prescribed a drug for anxiety. But, if you’re drinking Red Bulls or other stimulant type drinks during the day, or if you’re taking cocaine at the weekend, you are forcing your body to work in overdrive, increasing the pressure and anxiety.
Two of the same type of drugs
The crash
Using a substance like cocaine at the weekends may increase your confidence and your feel-good buzz initially as it increases your brain’s access to dopamine. However, if you keep using it, it has less impact on your brain. This means that the high reduces and your cravings for dopamine increase, leading to a crash in feelings, and often paranoia and anxiety.
If you take a depressant (like valium) to cope with this crash, you are putting even more stress on your body and your organs including your heart.
Double effects
Some substances have a double effect on the body. Cannabis is a depressant with possible hallucinogenic effects. Ecstasy is a stimulant with hallucinogenic effects.
For great information on different drugs and the effects they have on our bodies and those around us go to www.drugs.ie