The Dangers Of Mixing Alcohol And Opiates : Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna, British Columbia by Options Okanagan Treatment Center in Kelowna, British Columbia treating Opiates and Alcohol addiction and recovery.
In the United States and Canada, the lives of over 25 million people are affected by opiate abuse, and more than 150 million people are affected by alcohol abuse. Many of those who are affected by opiates and alcohol take both substances at the same time. Taking alcohol and opiates together is a dangerous combination. Although the feeling produced from mixing the opiates and alcohol is an intense high, that temporary euphoria is heavily outweighed by the risks and permanent effects.
What Are Opiates?
The class of drugs that are used for pain relief is called “Opiates”. These include Heroin, Opium, Suboxone, Methadone, Hydrocodone, Fentanyl, Percocet, Vicodin, Oxycodone, and Morphine. The interesting fact is that apart from Heroin and Opium, all of these drugs are prescription medications. In fact, Suboxone and Methadone are used in medical detox – helping addicts to transition from other drugs to these.
Why Is The Combination Of Alcohol And Opiates Dangerous?
Acetaminophen, which is the active ingredient in Tylenol, is found in most opiates; and if taken in large doses it can cause severe damage to the liver. Alcohol, especially when drunk regularly, also causes liver damage. When you combine these substances, you are increasing the damage to the liver.
What Happens When You Take Opiates And Alcohol At The Same Time?
The absorption of the opiate is increased by the alcohol, and the effects of both the alcohol and the opiate depressing the central nervous system is intensified when they are taken at the same time. Due to the fact that both alcohol and opiates suppress respiration, breathing is compromised to a dangerous level when these substances are taken together. Since opiates and alcohol both negatively affect judgement, many people who take them together find themselves engaging in behavior they would not normally display.
The Dangers And Effects Of Mixing Alcohol And Opiates
The body of a person taking alcohol and opiates at the same time can slow down to the point of a heart attack. In addition to this, there are numerous other side effects, including:
a) Impaired coordination
b) Numbness
c) Decreased heart rate
d) Dream like state
e) Drowsiness and dizziness
f) Coma
g) Seizures
h) Breathing problems
Increase In Use
The popularity of taking alcohol and opiates together has increased amongst college students, and is now second in popularity to marijuana. Pharma parties have become increasingly popular with students who bring prescription drugs to the party and empty the bottles into a large glass bowl. They then take them randomly. The deaths and overdoses associated with pharma parties in the US are on the rise.
Medical Detox For Alcohol And Opiate Abuse
The majority of doctors agree that the addiction to opiates and alcohol is most effectively addressed through medical detox. The most effective and safest method for medical detox is considered to be IV therapy medical detox. This is administered by a physician, and in addition, the intravenous therapy enables the doctor to adjust the medication according to the changes in the patient’s withdrawal symptoms. The patient is more able to complete the detox process since they are kept comfortable. It has been shown through studies that those patients who are able to complete detox are more likely to succeed in ongoing sobriety than those who are not able to complete the detox.
Options Okanagan Opiate and Alcohol Treatment Centers in Kelowna, Salmon Arm and Vancouver, British Columbia – Men and Women are recovering and healing from Alcohol and Drug Abuse at our treatment center here in the Okanagan right now.
Our unique and distinctive Opiate Drug and Alcohol treatment program allows men and women to come in from Calgary as well as Edmonton as we offer airport pickup.
Numerous clients come to us from Calgary and Edmonton and other locations in Alberta and even other provinces for Opiate addiction treatment, meth drug treatment, many other drug and alcohol addictions for rehabilitation because of the uniqueness of our treatment center.
Our Treatment Location:
Options Okanagan Opiate Treatment Center
206 – 478 Bernard Avenue, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V 2E6
Toll Free Phone Number : 1-855-335-0331