Using two or more substances simultaneously or within a short period can pose severe health risks and make addiction recovery far more complicated. What starts as occasional experimentation can quickly spiral into a dangerous pattern of polysubstance use, with devastating consequences for your physical and mental health.
How Does Polysubstance Abuse Develop?
Polysubstance use disorder often evolves unintentionally, but over time, it can lead to full-blown dependence on multiple substances. There are several ways these habits can develop.
- Enhancing the effects of a primary drug: Some people combine substances to increase euphoria or prolong the high. For example, drinking while taking prescription opioids or benzodiazepines intensifies the sedative effects.
- Self-medicating mental health symptoms: People with anxiety, depression or trauma may use multiple substances to cope, turning to alternative choices if the original doesn’t provide enough relief.
- Managing withdrawal symptoms: Using another substance to counter withdrawal symptoms is relatively common after developing a tolerance to a primary drug. For instance, you might drink alcohol to fall asleep more easily when withdrawing from stimulants.
- Social environments: Party settings and peer pressure can expose people to various substances at once, leading to a pattern of polysubstance use.
The Dangers of Polysubstance Abuse
Combining substances multiplies their effects exponentially, drastically heightening the risks. Interactions between different drugs can be unpredictable and life-threatening, even at low doses.
Here are some of the most significant dangers.
- Increased chance of overdose: Mixing substances, especially depressants like alcohol and benzodiazepines, can cause respiratory depression, leading to coma or death.
- Severe health complications: Polysubstance abuse will strain your heart, liver and kidneys. Over time, it can lead to organ failure, cognitive decline and severe mental health conditions.
- Worsened mental health: Multi-substance use can intensify anxiety, depression and psychosis, making it harder to identify and treat co-occurring disorders.
- Complex withdrawal symptoms: Withdrawal becomes more unpredictable and dangerous with multiple substances involved. Attempting an at-home detox without medical supervision can lead to seizures, delirium and other life-threatening complications.
- Higher likelihood of addiction: Using multiple substances will increase your likelihood of developing a substance use disorder, as your brain becomes conditioned to seek relief through any available drug.
Why Hospital-Based Care Is Essential for Polysubstance Abuse
Recovering from polysubstance dependence is more complicated than treating addiction to a single substance. Our hospital-based program offers the comprehensive, medically supervised care needed to ensure your safety and long-term success.
- Medically monitored detox: Around-the-clock medical supervision safely manages complex withdrawal symptoms.
- Integrated care for co-occurring disorders: Our accredited facility offers a holistic approach to recovery.
- Personalized treatment plans: Everyone’s experience is different. We tailor our programs to address the unique challenges of polysubstance abuse, providing targeted therapies that promote healing and resilience.
- Safe, supportive environment: The structure of a hospital-based program removes external triggers and distractions, allowing you to focus entirely on your recovery.
Get Sober With Personalized Treatment
Hemet Valley Recovery Center & Sage Retreat’s professionals have seen firsthand how polysubstance abuse can escalate and how challenging it can be to break free without professional help. Recovery in our CARF-accredited, hospital-based program offers the safest solution for those struggling with multi-substance dependence.
Recovery is possible, even if you face the challenges of polysubstance abuse. We’re here to guide you as you work to regain control of your life and build a healthier future. Contact us today to learn more about our customizable programs.