In 2017, over 40 million people reported using cocaine, while over two million admitted using cocaine at least one time or more in the past month. Nearly 15 percent of the population over the age of twelve in the United States reported using cocaine in their lifetime.
Benzodiazepines, like Xanax, are prescribed to treat anxiety disorders. Over 13.5 million people were prescribed Xanax in 2013, an increase of 67 percent from 1996. This number continues to grow each year.
Cocaine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant, activating dopamine neurotransmitters in the brain, where Xanax is a CNS depressant and produces relaxation by impacting the gamma-aminobutyric (GABA) receptors on the neurotransmitters.
Taking cocaine and Xanax together can result in the drugs masking the effects of one another. This is dangerous and can lead to overdose and other negative consequences.
Mixing Xanax And Cocaine Side Effects
Combining Xanax and cocaine does not simply balance each other out. Taking Xanax while on cocaine does not just calm a person down, and taking cocaine while on Xanax does not only make a person less tired. There are additional, damaging side effects.
Cocaine and Xanax have many opposing effects on a person. Cocaine causes euphoria, high energy, sensory sensitivity (touch, sight, sound), as well as paranoia and anxiety. Xanax generally decreases anxiety, decreases energy, increases drowsiness, and can result in depression.
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Some similarities of cocaine and Xanax use are often irritability and restlessness. Coming down off cocaine commonly leads to depression and exhaustion (mental and physical). Because these are also effects of Xanax, combining Xanax and cocaine can intensify these effects.
Increasing the severity of depression in a person coming down off a cocaine ‘high’ can be dangerous and result in an increase of self-harming or suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Or it can trigger cravings for more cocaine, increasing risk factors for addiction.
Continually mixing cocaine and Xanax can also result in an accumulation of both drugs in the body, sometimes to levels of toxicity or overdose. When a person has excessive amounts of Xanax and cocaine built up in their system, a person is at risk for an increase of:
- paranoia
- heart attack
- stroke
- dependence
- addiction
- overdose
- death
Withdrawal Symptoms From Mixing Cocaine And Xanax
Xanax and cocaine withdrawal symptoms can be painful and uncomfortable on their own. Withdrawal from combining cocaine and Xanax can lead to very high blood pressure and painful physical discomfort.
Often times, people who combine cocaine and Xanax take more of both drugs in order to reach the desired effect, or ‘high’. These high levels can increase the intensity of the withdrawal, as well as increase risk for overdose.
Treatment Options For Polysubstance Use
Abusing more than one substance at a time can be unpredictable and dangerous. Mixing cocaine and Xanax can be especially dangerous because those two drugs can have opposite effects. A person can place themselves at risk for addiction or overdose before they even realize it.
Fortunately, many substance use treatment programs, like cocaine dependence treatment programs, offer treatment for polysubstance use. Most are equipped to help individuals detox off a number of drugs, including Xanax and cocaine.
Reach out to our treatment specialists today to explore rehabilitation options for Xanax ,cocaine or other drugs.
