
The liver produces this new toxic substance from the combination of alcohol and cocaine and sends it through the bloodstream. When these two substances are consumed, they produce a toxic chemical in the body called cocaethylene. Combining alcohol and cocaine can lead to: Next, using the two substances together poses a greater risk to your physical health. Stimulants counteract the feelings of alcohol intoxication, so if you are using cocaine with alcohol, you could end up drinking more than intended and experience alcohol poisoning. Physical health effects of cocaine and alcoholįirst, using cocaine with alcohol can make it hard to tell how drunk you are. These risks could affect your short-term and long-term physical and mental health. Whether you use both drugs to get a “better high,” to feel less drunk, or to treat your cocaine withdrawal, there are significant risks linked to using alcohol and cocaine together. What are the risks of combining alcohol and cocaine? This feeling may not be reality, though, as combining substances changes your body’s natural balance. Since cocaine is a stimulant that speeds you up and alcohol is a depressant drug that slows you down, you may feel like using them both helps keep you in a balanced state. When a cocaine high is ending, a person could feel restless, irritable, and uncomfortable and choose to drink alcohol as a way to manage those symptoms. To treat your cocaine withdrawal: Using alcohol helps to decrease the discomfort of coming down from cocaine intoxication. Likewise, alcohol may allow a person to consume more cocaine without feeling as high. They may still feel alert and coordinated, despite having a very high blood alcohol level. To feel less drunk: Using cocaine allows a person to drink more alcohol without feeling as drunk.

To get a better “high”: Using both substances together creates the feeling of a better “high” than either drug alone. It seems that there are three main reasons people use alcohol and cocaine together: You may see people use alcohol and cocaine together, but the reasons they do so could differ.

Studies show that as many as 90% of people who are dependent on cocaine (cocaine use disorder) are also dependent on alcohol (alcohol use disorder). Why do people use alcohol and cocaine together? Some of these effects can result in dangerous outcomes to you or the people around you. When you consume too much cocaine, the chances for negative effects increase and you could experience: Whether you smoke, snort, or inject the substance, cocaine tends to produce similar effects like: This is why you could feel more energetic, alert, and mentally sharp while using cocaine. Cocaine is a stimulant drug that speeds up the messaging between the brain and the body. Get started What is the effect of cocaine on your body?Īlcohol typically makes you feel calm, relaxed, and less focused, while cocaine has the opposite effect. These effects tend to go away when the body processes and eliminates alcohol from the system, but some damage may be long lasting. Lower body temperature and turning blue or pale Someone overdosing on alcohol or experiencing alcohol poisoning could display: Mood changes, including becoming very sad, happy, or angryĪs alcohol use increases, the effects grow and intensify. Problems thinking clearly, remembering, and making good choices

Trouble standing or walking with coordination Alcohol is considered a depressant substance because of its ability to slow down brain messaging, which results in the symptoms of alcohol intoxication and being drunk like: When you drink alcohol, the drug interferes with the normal communication patterns in your brain. You may have consumed alcohol with the goal of relaxing or feeling more comfortable in social situations. Nearly 86% of Americans over 18 have used alcohol at some point, so chances are good you already understand the effects of alcohol. What does alcohol do to the body and brain? These substances share another connection because people frequently use them together to enhance or modify the effects of using just one of the drugs. However, cocaine is an illegal drug with no legal outlets and a reputation for being highly habit forming.ĭespite their differences, alcohol and cocaine are similar in their ability to create powerful changes to your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. For example, in the United States, alcohol is legal for people over 21, widely available across the country in restaurants and gas stations, and usually deemed safe when used in moderation. What are the effects of alcohol and cocaine?Īlcohol and cocaine differ in terms of availability, legality, and perceptions of safety.
