Polysubstance use
| Polysubstance use | |
|---|---|
caffeinated alcoholic beverage Buckfast Tonic Wine is associated with drinkers who are prone to committing anti-social behaviour when drunk.[1] | |
| Specialty | Psychiatry[2] |
| Complications | Combined drug intoxication, drug overdose[2] |
Polysubstance use or poly drug use refers to the use of combined
Combination drugs
Some common combinations that are used recreationally include
- Adderall (dextroamphetamine sulfate/amphetamine sulfate/dextroamphetamine saccharate/amphetamine aspartate monohydrate) – treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy.
Drug synergy
Ayahuasca
Some substances, such as the powerful psychedelic drug DMT, are not psychoactive when ingested alone. Ayahuasca, or pharmahuasca, notably consists of DMT combined with MAOIs that interfere with the action of the MAO enzyme and stop the breakdown in the stomach of chemical compounds, which make the DMT psychoactive. The MAOIs are also psychoactive and thus produce a polysubstance effect with the DMT. However, the MAOIs may cause combined drug intoxication with the majority of all psychoactive substances and are therefore usually only combined with DMT.
TOMSO
TOMSO is a lesser-known psychedelic drug and a substituted amphetamine. TOMSO is inactive on its own; it is activated with the consumption of alcohol.
Proprietary blends
Pre-workout
Some ingredients such as
Combined drug intoxication
Combined drug intoxication use often carries with it more risk than use of a single drug, due to an increase in side effects, and drug synergy. The potentiating effect of one drug on another is sometimes considerable and here the licit drugs and medicines – such as alcohol, nicotine and antidepressants – have to be considered in conjunction with the controlled psychoactive substances. The risk level will depend on the dosage level of both substances. If the drugs taken are illegal, they have a chance of being mixed (also known as "cutting") with other substances which dealers are reported to do to increase the perceived quantity when selling to others to increase their returns. This is particularly common with powdered drugs such as cocaine or MDMA which can be mixed with relative ease by adding another white powdery substance to the drug. This cumulative effect can lead to further unintended harm to health dependent on what is being covertly added.
Common combinations of drug classes
- Alcohol combined with cannabis – known as cross-fading; may easily cause spins in people who are drunk and use potent cannabis.
- Caffeinated alcoholic drinks
- Nicotini: Alcohol combined with nicotine.
Dangerous combinations of drug classes
Concerns exist about a number of pharmacological pairings, especially:
- Antidepressants
- MAOIscombined with most drug classes, especially stimulants.
- SSRIscombined with MAOIs, or opioids.
- Depressants combined with depressant. For example:
- GHBcombined with alcohol can lead to a long-lasting coma-like state (‘G-sleep’) or even death, because it is hard to dose GHB.
- Depressants combined with stimulants. For example:
Scheduling
Within the general concept of multiple drug use, several specific meanings of the term must be considered. At one extreme is planned use, where the effects of more than one drug are taken for a desired effect. Another type is when other drugs are used to counteract the negative side effects of a different drug (e.g. depressants are used to counteract anxiety and restlessness from taking stimulants). On the other hand, the use of several substances in an intensive and chaotic way, simultaneously or consecutively, in many cases each drug substituting for another according to availability.[11]
Research
The phenomenon is the subject of established academic literature.[12]
A study among treatment admissions found that it is more common for younger people to report polysubstance use.[13]
See also
- Alcohol licensing laws of the United Kingdom
- Ban on caffeinated alcoholic drinks in the United States
- Counterfeit drug
- Designer drug
- Drug checking
- Drug overdose
- Flavored tobacco
- Gateway drug theory
- Harm reduction
- Illegal drug trade
- Mickey Finn (drugs)
- Over the counter drug
- Pharmacology
- Polysubstance dependence
- Psychopharmacology
- Psychotomimetism
- Purple drank
- Recreational drug use
- Responsible drug use
References
- ^ "England gets a taste for Buckfast, the fortified wine that's linked to crime". The Daily Telegraph. 17 July 2017.
- ^ LCCN 2016020729.
- ^ "Polydrug use | www.emcdda.europa.eu". www.emcdda.europa.eu.
- PMID 30089501.
- PMID 30678328.
- ^ Office of the Commissioner (2019-02-09). "FDA 101: Dietary Supplements". FDA.
- S2CID 46001278.
- PMID 7866122.
- PMID 8947361.
- PMID 35345678.
- ^ a b "EMCDDA Annual Report 2006 ch. 8".
- PMID 15135556.
- ^ "Polydrug Use Among Treatment Admissions: 1998." OAS Home: Alcohol, Tobacco & Drug Abuse and Mental Health Data from SAMHSA, Office of Applied Studies. Web. 29 Sept. 2011. [1]
Bibliography
- Martin, Christopher S.; Chung, Tammy; Langenbucher, James W. (2017). "Part 1: Defining and Characterizing the Nature and Extent of Substance Use Disorders – Historical and Cultural Perspectives on Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders". In Sher, Kenneth J. (ed.). The Oxford Handbook of Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders: Volume 1. Oxford Library of Psychology. LCCN 2016020729.
- Anthony, James; Barondess, David A.; Radovanovic, Mirjana; Lopez-Quintero, Catalina (2017). "Part 1: Psychiatric Comorbidity – Polydrug Use: Research Topics and Issues". In Sher, Kenneth J. (ed.). The Oxford Handbook of Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders: Volume 2. Oxford Library of Psychology. LCCN 2016020729.
- Hernández-Serrano, Olga; Gras, Maria E.; Font-Mayolas, Sílvia; Sullman, Mark J. M. (2016). "Part VI: Dual and Polydrug Abuse – Chapter 83: Types of Polydrug Usage". In Preedy, Victor R. (ed.). Neuropathology of Drug Addictions and Substance Misuse, Volume 3: General Processes and Mechanisms, Prescription Medications, Caffeine and Areca, Polydrug Misuse, Emerging Addictions and Non-Drug Addictions. ISBN 978-0-12-800634-4.
External links
- "The Science of Drug Use: A Resource for the Justice Sector". www.drugabuse.gov. North Bethesda, Maryland: National Institute on Drug Abuse. 26 May 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
- School-Based Drug Abuse Prevention: Promising and Successful Programs (PDF). ISBN 978-1-100-12181-9. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 May 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021.)
{{cite book}}:|website=ignored (help - Sacco LN, Finklea K (3 May 2016). "Synthetic Drugs: Overview and Issues for Congress" (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Congressional Research Service. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 December 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021.