Polysubstance abuse means combining multiple substances and using them in ways that are not directed by a doctor or pharmacist. You could become dependent on one or more of the substances in the combination, and recognizing what is polysubstance abuse can help you understand what’s happening and how to get treatment at a drug and alcohol detox center.
How Does Polysubstance Abuse Occur
If you are asking yourself what polysubstance abuse is or if you are wondering if you are suffering from it, The Right Step Hill Country is here to provide you with several ways that you could find answers:
- Accidental substance abuse: If you use recreational drugs or otherwise have medication that you don’t disclose, then you may not know that the combination is hazardous. If a substance makes it hard to remember things, then you could assume that you took it long ago. You could mistakenly think that you’re able to take another substance. Over time, you could begin abusing the combination even if you started out accidentally.
- Seeking specific combination effects: You may like the way substances make you feel when they’re taken together. Or, they could be more effective at treating the base condition that you suffer from.
- Lowering inhibitions for additional substance use: You may be more open to taking substances than you would otherwise be because your inhibitions get lowered. This could lead to trying out different types of substances.
- Curiosity about highly addictive substances: Being curious about a substance that’s highly addictive could lead to being hooked on it. This could happen from the first time you take it, whether alone or in combination.
- Looking for self-medication: If one substance isn’t doing enough to help you with your goal, then you may be tempted to try out multiple.
- Encountering peer pressure: If your social circle commonly combines substances, then you could end up in a situation where you’re pressured into it. This pressure can be either intentional or unintentional. It can be challenging to be the only sober person out of your social circle.
The Dangers of Combining Substances
Side effects that are commonly associated with one substance may change when you start using two or more in combination. In addition to the normal side effects, you are increasing your chances of having rare interactions, or those that are not documented in medical literature.
The unpredictable nature of these combinations makes them dangerous, especially if you have underlying health conditions that could be worsened. This is especially the case for people who have heart conditions, mental illness, and high blood pressure. At our dual diagnosis treatment center in TX, we can help you overcome your substance abuse and avoid these negative effects.
Side Effects Of Polysubstance Abuse
Overdosing is the first danger to consider with polysubstance abuse side effects. Especially since it can be hard to tell what an acceptable dose is when you have drugs interacting. Even if the substance abuse doesn’t contribute to overdosing, it could greatly increase the side effects that you have after taking these drugs.
Your heart rate could rise, along with your blood pressure. You may encounter problems with keeping food and water down, and other digestive disturbances. Your metabolism could greatly decrease or increase, disrupting your normal bodily functions. To ensure that you do not endure any of these side effects, it is important to seek help from an alcohol addiction treatment center.
Contact The Right Step Hill Country
It becomes more complicated to address polysubstance abuse since you are dealing with the effects of more than one substance. The detoxing and recovery requirements could be completely different from expected. We are here to help. Contact us at 1.844.675.1628 to get assistance with the recovery process.