The Mess of Mixing

Taking different drugs together can produce greater effects than taking any drug by itself. Combining drugs or mixing drugs and alcohol can also produce new or unexpected and dangerous effects on your body. Here are a few facts about alcohol and other drugs to keep in mind when you are out celebrating with friends.

Depressants and Stimulants

Your body is controlled by your central nervous system (CNS). A depressant slows down your CNS and a stimulant speeds it up.

Mixing depressants, like alcohol, opiates such as heroin and prescription drugs such as sedatives and pain killers may cause you to feel uncoordinated and sleepy. Depressants are also likely to alter your perception and judgement. When more than one CNS depressant is present in the body at the same time, their effects may intensify to dangerous levels. These combinations may result in confusion, injuries from falls, dehydration, vomiting, depressed breathing and, in some cases, coma and death.

Like depressants, stimulants alter your perception and judgement. They may also cause agitation, impulsiveness and rise in blood pressure. By combining stimulants, you risk dangerously raising your body temperature, dehydration, working your heart too hard, or even having a stroke.

If you mix depressants with stimulants - it's hard to know what to anticipate except that you're putting yourself, and possibly others, at greater risk. For example, although cocaine is a stimulant, it can also cause irregular and shallow breathing. Taking cocaine with heroin, a depressant, may increase the risk of death from respiratory arrest.

Warning signs: Someone may be in trouble when...

The physical symptoms of excessive alcohol consumption or a drug overdose vary with the type of drug(s) taken. Some signs to watch for are:

• abnormal breathing;
• slurred speech;
• lack of coordination;
• slow or rapid pulse;
• low or elevated body temperature;
• enlarged or small eye pupils;
• reddish face;
• heavy sweating;
• vomiting;
• drowsiness;
• delusions and/or hallucinations;
• unconsciousness.

You can also visit the alcohol section of this site.

What to do when someone is in distress

First of all, never leave them alone. If they pass out, make sure they are positioned on their side to reduce the risk of choking. If the case is serious or you're not sure about their health, see that they receive medical assistance as soon as possible, regardless of the drugs that have been taken. Any legal consequences relating to the drug-taking may be far more severe if something serious happens to the person because they didn't see a doctor in time.

Get to know the Recovery Roll or " Bacchus Manoeuvre". Perform this on a person suffering from alcohol poisoning - it could save her or his life!

Find out more on overdoses in the DrugScope's glossary.

Having a party? Be aware of your obligations

Be as responsible as possible for the safety and behaviour of your guests. Depending on your age and the circumstances, you and your parents or guardians have legal responsibilities towards them. Here are some guidelines and suggestions for having a party from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

Know the risks of how alcohol and other drugs affect your driving, including
marijuana. Find out more about Pot and Driving campaign of the Canadian Public Health Association.