There's a myth out there about using cocaine and alcohol together. People believe taking both can boost the cocaine high and help avoid withdrawal.
This is just not true.
In fact, mixing cocaine and alcohol can have lethal results.
Keep reading to learn how cocaine and alcohol affect the body and what happens when you mix the two.
Cocaine has been around for many years. It comes in two chemical forms: a water-soluble powder form and fat-soluble 'free base' form. The drug has anesthetic and stimulant effects.
Its influence comes on fast and is gone within a few minutes to a few hours.
How cocaine affects a person depends on many factors, such as the form and amount used and whether it's smoked, snorted, injected, or taken orally. Typical effects include:
Other side effects of cocaine include:
NOTE: This isn't a full list of cocaine's side effects.
Alcohol is a depressant. It affects the brain, including your:
Drinking too much at once (binge drinking) or heavily drinking for a long stretch of time can damage vital organs, including the:
Excessive alcohol use may cause:
Using cocaine with alcohol creates new elements. One of the most powerful of these metabolites is called cocaethylene.
This product is stronger than either cocaine or alcohol alone. It increases toxicity to the heart, liver, and other major organs.
Cocaethylene also stays around for a much longer time in the body than cocaine, and its toxic effects last longer. Alcohol also slows the removal of another metabolite, ethylbenzoylecgonine, from the kidneys. This raises the blood levels of cocaine and cocaethylene.
Sudden stroke is possible when using both cocaine and alcohol. Cocaine increases the risk of stroke by:
Cocaethylene can raise the risk of stroke even more because it can stay around in the body for days to weeks.
Research finds that alcohol can increase cravings for cocaine. This can make it harder to stop using. People may binge-drink to continue feeling its effects and keep withdrawal at bay.
Both cocaine and cocaethylene raise levels of the brain chemicals dopamine and serotonin and block their reuptake. This increases stimulant effects on the body, which can lead to:
The rise of cocaethylene and cocaine increases heart and liver toxicity. The biggest danger of using both are sudden heart-related problems, such as a heart attack or change in heart rhythms.
The level of risk may increase if a person already has heart-related health issues.
People who use cocaine and alcohol are also more likely to have injuries or adverse reactions and visit emergency rooms more often.
Plasma and liver enzymes break down cocaine into two major metabolites: benzoylecgonine and ecgonine methyl ester. The body removes them through urine. These metabolites can be detected in urine for up to 36 hours, in blood for two days, and in hair for months.
When people mix cocaine and alcohol, cocaethylene can stay around for days to even weeks in the body. Total duration depends on how much is used and how it's consumed. How your liver, pancreas, and kidney are working also play into duration time.
Studies show alcohol and cocaine use during pregnancy have negative effects on both mother and fetus. These effects can have a lasting health impact on both mother and child.
Using cocaine and alcohol at the same time can greatly increase these dangers. Combining these substances during pregnancy can cause:
The dangers depend on the individual, including:
One reason people use alcohol and cocaine together might be because they believe alcohol can curb the withdrawal and anxiety when cocaine's effects start to wear off.
However, alcohol can increase cravings for cocaine. This creates a cycle of misuse of both.
It also causes toxic levels of cocaine metabolites to build in the liver. That increases the risk of stroke and heart-related reactions for days to weeks.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), more than 14 million people met the criteria for alcohol use disorder (AUD) in 2017 in the United States.
Around 966,000 people met criteria for substance use disorder (SUD). More than 2 million had both AUD and SUD.
Studies show half of those using cocaine receive a diagnosis of alcohol dependence. Those with SUD have a higher risk for developing AUD.
A recent study of cocaine use data from 2011 to 2015 found people who reported heavy alcohol use in the past month had higher rates of weekly cocaine use.
Dependence means the body has become used to a drug and needs it to function. Addiction, on the other hand, is a set of behaviors. It's the compulsive use of a drug despite negative consequences, whether they're social, financial, legal, etc.
Signs of cocaine and alcohol dependence include:
There are many reasons that go into why someone may have a higher risk for substance misuse and dependence. These include:
Some research suggests biomarkers for stress and organ damage may help predict SUD risk, but more work needs to be done in this area.
Cocaine dependence develops when there's a change in the brain's reward system from constant release of dopamine. After a while, you need more of the drug to get the same desired feelings and to avoid withdrawal.
Cocaine also causes changes to other brain chemicals like norepinephrine and serotonin.
Withdrawal symptoms can include:
If you think you or a loved one might have a problem with cocaine, alcohol, or another substance, reach out to a healthcare provider. They can work with you to find the best treatment option.
The following organizations can also help you get local help and support:
Al-Anon and The Support Group Project can help you cope if you have a loved one dealing with an SUD.
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger of hurting themselves, reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK for free, confidential help 24/7.
Cocaine is often used with alcohol. This co-use increases the harmful effects of cocaine as well as the risk of drug dependence and addiction.
When these two substances combine, they create a more powerful metabolite called cocaethylene. It can stay around for a much longer time in the body and cause damage to major organs.
Currently, there's no Food and Drug Administrationāapproved treatment for cocaine dependence. Research is being done on vaccines and gene- and biomarker-based treatment models.
Disulfiram is one drug that's approved to treat alcohol dependence. It may also work in some people to treat cocaine dependence. Other medications to treat cocaine dependence are being used off-label with limited success.
Cognitive behavioral therapy, peer recovery support, and other symptom-management treatments can also treat and manage drug dependence.