Effects & Dangers of Mixing Alcohol and Meth

The use of more than one substance, or “polysubstance use”, can be unpredictable, dangerous, and potentially deadly.¹ As a result, people who simultaneously misuse multiple substances run the risk of experiencing several negative outcomes.

This page will focus on the effects and dangers of polysubstance use involving alcohol and methamphetamine, including what potential interactions may occur, risk of addiction, and how to seek treatment.

Combining Alcohol and Meth

Of the 2 million Americans who reported using meth in the past year, 13.4% (268,000 people) also reported heavy alcohol use.² However, consuming alcohol while using drugs like meth (or vice versa), is never safe.¹ Despite any misconceptions, using a depressant like alcohol and a stimulant like meth at the same time does not balance out their effects.¹ Instead, doing so can modify and even mask the effects of one or both substances, which can make it easier for an overdose to occur.¹

Dangers of Mixing Alcohol and Meth

The effects of combining alcohol and meth can depend on certain factors, such as gender, age, how much of each substance was consumed, and how they were administered.³

Side Effects of Alcohol

Alcohol is a CNS depressant, meaning that it slows down brain function and neural activity.¹ At first, this causes feelings of euphoria and relaxation, but when consumed in larger amounts, it can result in a number of short-term effects.

Short-term effects of alcohol can include:^4,5

• Poor balance.
• Impaired coordination.
• Slowed reaction time.
• Slurred speech.
• Confusion.
• Problems with memory and/or attention.
• Stupor.
• Coma.

Short-term effects like these can also lead to additional risks, such as engaging in risky behaviors like unprotected sex or causing or sustaining injuries.⁶

The continued, chronic misuse of alcohol has its risks, too. These effects can be dangerous and cause problems that last long after alcohol is no longer being consumed.

Long-term effects of alcohol can include:⁴

• Cardiovascular complications, including damage to the heart muscle, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, and stroke.
• Liver problems and inflammations, such as cirrhosis, fibrosis, fatty liver, and alcoholic hepatitis.
• Inflammation of the pancreas, or pancreatitis.
• The development of certain types of cancer, including esophageal, head and neck, breast, liver, and colorectal cancers.
• The development of addiction, known as alcohol use disorder.

Effects of Meth

Methamphetamine is a highly addictive and illegal stimulant that is made in homemade labs from a mixture of dangerous chemicals.⁷ Stimulants are known to speed up the central nervous system, meaning they cause symptoms like increased respiratory rates, increased heart rates, and a rise in blood pressure.⁷ Unlike amphetamines, which are legal prescription stimulants used to treat medical disorders such as ADHD, methamphetamines, although structurally similar to amphetamine, have no medicinal purpose and a very high addiction potential.⁷

The terms “meth” and “crystal meth” are often used interchangeably, however, they are not the same.⁷ Meth comes in powder form, while crystal meth comes in solid, crystalline form that is “glass” like in appearance.⁷ Although they are structurally and chemically similar, crystal meth is purer and therefore more potent compared to meth. Additionally, meth is often snorted, injected, or swallowed whereas crystal meth is usually smoked or injected, resulting in a faster and more powerful “high”.⁷

Short-term effects of meth can include:⁷

• Euphoria.
• Increased alertness.
• Increased energy, sex drive, and confidence.
• Decreased appetite.
• Anxiety and paranoia.
• Cardiovascular effects, including rapid heart rate, irregular heartbeat, and increased blood pressure.

Continued use of meth can cause even more health effects, some of which may be far more serious in nature.

Long-term effects of meth can include:⁷

• Severe dental problems, such as tooth decay, often called “meth mouth”.
• Decreased sexual function in men.
• Decreased cognitive function.
• Mood disturbances, anxiety, and insomnia.
• Symptoms of psychosis, such as hallucinations or delusions.
• Cardiovascular problems such as stroke and heart failure.
• Increased risk of contracting bloodborne diseases and bacterial infections, specifically a heart infection known as infective endocarditis, when using meth intravenously.

Interactions Between Alcohol and Meth

When alcohol and meth are being misused simultaneously, several interactions can occur.⁸ For example, research indicates that alcohol may slow down how meth is metabolized, or processed, in the body, meaning that it can increase the concentration of meth in the bloodstream, elevating one’s overall risk of toxicity.⁸

Consuming alcohol with stimulants like meth can also cause interactions that compromise the functioning of the cardiovascular system, such as increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, and decreased blood flow to the heart.⁸

Using both alcohol and meth can increase the likelihood of an overdose, which can be fatal.¹ Since alcohol is a depressant and meth is a stimulant, both of these substances can mask each other’s desired effects, often causing a person consume more in order to achieve the desired effects.¹ This can lead to high levels of alcohol and/or meth consumption, making it easier to overdose.¹

If someone you know or love is experiencing an overdose, call 911 right away.¹ Try to keep the person awake and wait with them until help arrives.¹

Alcohol and Meth Addiction Treatment

Effective addiction treatment is available and can help address polysubstance use disorders like those that involve alcohol and meth. If you are in need of professional care, know that there are a variety of different levels of treatment that can meet you where you are at in your addiction. These typically include:⁹

• Medical detoxification.Medical detox is the supervised process of withdrawing from addictive substances. Patients will be made as comfortable as possible by medical professionals until they are stable enough to continue on with further care.
• Inpatient treatment.Inpatient drug and alcohol rehab requires the patient to live at the facility while they are receiving treatment. During that time, they will have access to 24/7 care and will be able to participate in a variety of therapeutic activities.
• Partial hospitalization rehab programs (PHPs). Partial hospitalization rehab programs, which are also referred to as high intensity outpatient programs (HIOPs), require patients to spend 4-8 hours each day of the week in treatment, however they are allowed to continue living at home.
• Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs). Intensive outpatient programs for drug and alcohol addiction offer similar outpatient support as PHPs, but typically on a less intense level. For example, most IOPs offer 9-20 hours of care a week for patients.
• Outpatient treatment. Standard outpatient addiction treatment programs allow patients to live at home while they attend anywhere from one to three sessions of therapy a week on average.
• Aftercare.Rehab aftercare includes services that help sustain the progress made in rehab and help prevent relapse. This can include participation in peer recovery groups like Alcoholics Anonymous or SMART Recovery, outpatient counseling, or sober living.

Getting Help for Alcohol and Meth 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!