Effects & Dangers of Mixing Alcohol and Benzodiazepines

Polysubstance use, or using any combination of substances together, can be dangerous and lead to unpredictable outcomes.¹ This includes the co-use of alcohol and benzodiazepines.¹

Learn about how mixing benzodiazepines and alcohol might affect your body, how the substances interact with one another, their specific effects, and benzodiazepine and alcohol addiction treatment.

Combining Alcohol and Benzodiazepines

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, more than 7 million Americans had both an alcohol use disorder and a drug use disorder in 2023.² In other words, 1 out of every 6 people in the U.S. who experienced any type of substance use disorder in the past year struggled with both an alcohol use disorder and some type of drug use disorder, including a sedative, hypnotic, or anxiolytic use disorder, the clinical term for benzodiazepine addiction.²

Alcohol andbenzodiazepines may be intentionally used together for a variety of reasons, such as to experience a combined or heightened level of intoxication.¹ Regardless of why a person might combine the two, drinking alcohol and taking benzodiazepines at the same time can be extremely dangerous and quickly turn fatal.¹

Dangers of Mixing Alcohol and Benzodiazepines

The simultaneous use of alcohol and benzodiazepines can result in several negative effects. Since every person is different, predicting the exact outcome of one’s alcohol and/or benzo misuse is not realistic, as several factors can affect how one’s body may respond, such as how much of each substance was consumed, how quickly, and in what capacity.³

Effects of Alcohol

Drinking in a manner that could cause harm to oneself or others is known as alcohol misuse.⁴ This can include binge drinking, drinking while pregnant, drinking heavily, and underage drinking.⁵ Depending on the amount consumed, alcohol misuse can have some potentially harmful immediate, or short-term, effects, including:^6,7

• Slurred speech.
• Impaired coordination.
• Unsteady gait.
• Problems with attention or memory.
• Confusion.
• Stupor or coma.

Several of these short-term effects can increase a person’s risk of harming themselves or others, experiencing violence, and engaging in risky behavior (e.g., unprotected or unintended sex).⁸

Additional dangers and harmful health effects can develop when alcohol is regularly misused over longer periods of time, including:⁶

• Damage to heart muscle.
• Heart arrhythmias.
• High blood pressure.
• Stroke.
• Liver problems, including fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, and cirrhosis.
• Pancreatitis.
• Certain types of cancer, including head and neck, esophageal, liver, breast, and colorectal cancers.
• The development of addiction, known as alcohol use disorder.

Effects of Benzodiazepines

Prescription benzodiazepines can be effective when used as prescribed and under the supervision of a professional, however they are often misused for non-medical purposes. Misuse of benzodiazepines can include using them in a manner other than prescribed, using someone else’s prescription, or taking them to feel euphoric effects or “get high”.⁹ Commonly known benzodiazepines includeValium,Ativan,Xanax, andclonazepam (Klonopin).

Benzodiazepines have several common side effects, including drowsiness, lethargy, and fatigue.⁹ Higher dose benzodiazepine misuse can have other short-term effects, including:⁹

• Euphoria.
• Over-sedation.
• Dizziness.
• Impaired motor coordination.
• Blurred vision.
• Slurred speech.
• Mood swings.
• Hostile or erratic behavior.

Some studies suggest an association between long-term benzodiazepine misuse and other serious and potentially debilitating effects, such as:^10,11

• Memory loss.
• Cognitive impairment.
• Pathological sleep changes.
• Increased risk of falls, especially in the elderly population, which can lead to fractures and other possible injuries.
• Tolerance, which requires a person to take more of a substance or take it more frequently in order to achieve the desired effects.
• The onset of withdrawal symptoms, which can occur when someone who is dependent on benzodiazepines stops their benzo use abruptly.

At certain doses, benzodiazepines can slow respiratory rate.⁹ Respiratory function can become further compromised when benzodiazepines are simultaneously used with opioids or alcohol, potentially leading to fatal respiratory arrest.⁹

Interactions Between Alcohol & Benzodiazepines

Studies show that people with alcohol use disorder are at greater risk of misusing tranquilizers and sedatives, including benzodiazepines, than those without alcohol use disorder.¹² Ingesting too much alcohol or too many benzodiazepines at the same time, however, can increase the risk of overdose toxicity and other adverse effects.^1,11

As alcohol and benzodiazepines both have depressant effects, the co-use of them can raise the risk of oversedation and slowed breathing.¹ This can be dangerous, and potentially lethal, should breathing slow to a point where not enough oxygen is being exchanged throughout the body.⁹

Benzodiazepines on their own rarely cause overdose, however when they are combined with other substances (especially other depressants like alcohol), the risk of overdose increases dramatically.^1,13

Additionally, both alcohol and benzodiazepines alone can cause significant physiological dependence and are known to produce the most severe withdrawal syndromes.¹⁴ When both substances are combined, however, the the risk of experiencing potentially fatal symptoms increases dramatically, therefore obtaining the proper medical care is essential.¹⁴

If you believe someone is suffering an overdose on alcohol and benzodiazepines, call 911 immediately. Try to keep the person awake and stay with them until emergency help arrives.¹

Alcohol and Benzodiazepine Addiction Treatment

While each person’s needs are different, treatment might begin at different levels and then progress through other levels as needed. Those who are struggling with an addiction to alcohol and benzodiazepines may benefit from a variety of personalized treatment plans, some of which may include the following:

• is a form of treatment that offers supportive medical care and, when needed, medications to manage the discomfort and potentially dangerous withdrawal period during early recovery from substances such as alcohol and benzodiazepines.¹⁴
• is a program that offers 24/7 care and scheduling, providing a structured environment to undergo intensive therapeutic interventions.¹⁵ Patients of an inpatient program will live at the facility while they recover.¹⁶
• , also known as PHP’s or more recently, high intensity outpatient programs (or HIOP’s,) are sometimes used as step-down care from inpatient programs, but may also serve as the initial point of care for some individuals. Patients usually participate in 6-8 hours of treatment per day at a facility, but are able to return to their homes or other sober living situation outside of treatment hours.¹⁵
• which are slightly less time-intensive to their PHP or HIOP counterpart programs, often require patients to spend 9 to 20 hours at the facility per week for treatment.¹⁶
• offer more flexible scheduling and can be offered in the evenings or on the weekends. These are most appropriate for people with relatively less severe addictions and addiction related issues and those who are stepping down from completing a more intensive program.¹⁵
• offer continued care after completing a formal addiction program. A wide variety of aftercare programs include services such as and community mutual aid groups such as 12-Step programs.¹⁵

Getting Help for Alcohol and Benzodiazepine Addiction

If you or a loved one is ready to seek rehab for a substance use disorder, explore your options and reach out to a rehab center using our rehab directory tool today!