ALCOHOL

We strongly recommend you avoid taking alcohol and ketamine together. Even mixing small amounts is likely to cause impaired coordination, nausea, vertigo, and “the spins”. There is a high risk of falling unconscious and vomiting which can be fatal if the person is not placed in the recovery position.

Alcohol and GHB is an unsafe combination. Even in very low doses this rapidly leads to memory loss, severe ataxia and unconsciousness. There is a high risk of vomit aspiration while unconscious.

Taking both these drugs together may produce unpleasant effects such as physical discomfort or overstimulation. High doses put you at risk. If you mix, start low and go slow

These combinations are not usually physically harmful but may produce undesirable effects, such as physical discomfort or overstimulation. Extreme use may cause physical health issues. Be careful when mixing these drugs. While the effects are not likely to be physically harmful, there is a higher chance of experiencing nausea and other unwanted side effects.

In combination with cannabis, ethanol increases plasma tetrahydrocannabinol levels, which suggests that ethanol may increase the absorption of tetrahydrocannabinol. It is recommended that users who wish to combine these two substances start by consuming cannabis first as this reduces the chances of experiencing nausea, dizziness and double vision.

Driving under the influence of alcohol significantly increases the risk of being involved in a car accident.  If you drive drunk, you are approximately 6 times more likely to be involved in a crash than sober drivers.

The risk of being involved in a car accident also increases when driving under the influence of cannabis, but the exact magnitude of the risk is less clear-cut compared to alcohol. Studies suggest that drivers who are under the influence of cannabis are approximately 1.5 to 2 times more likely to be involved in a crash than sober drivers.

Research indicates that drivers who are both drunk and stoned are much more impaired, with the risk of a car accident increasing exponentially. Although precise figures can vary, some studies suggest that the COMBINED USE OF ALCOHOL AND CANNABIS CAN INCREASE CRASH RISK BY UP TO 16 TIMES OR MORE COMPARED TO SOBER DRIVERS.

Heavy CNS depressants, risk of seizures. Both substances potentiate the ataxia and sedation caused by the other and can lead to unexpected loss of consciousness at high doses. Place affected patients in the recovery position to prevent vomit aspiration from excess. Memory blackouts are likely.

These two drugs potentiate each other strongly and unpredictably which might lead to memory loss, blackout and respiratory depression.

Combining kratom with such depressants is contraindicated.Depressants have the same general effects as opiates. Therefore, combining them with kratom can cause a synergy effect of severe sedation, which can feel like overdosing. More sedation and respiratory depression can occur as a result. Memory blackouts are also likely to occur.

Taking both these drugs together may produce unpleasant effects such as physical discomfort or overstimulation. High doses put you at risk. If you mix, start low and go slow

We strongly recommend you avoid taking alcohol and cocaine together. They will combine to form cocaethylene in your liver, which is harmful to your heart and liver and increases your risk of sudden death

Drinking when on stimulants is risky because the sedative effects of the alcohol are reduced, and these are what the body uses to gauge drunkenness. This typically leads to excessive drinking with greatly reduced inhibitions, high risk of liver damage and increased dehydration. They will also allow you to drink past a point where you might normally pass out, increasing the risk. If you do decide to do this then you should set a limit of how much you will drink each hour and stick to it, bearing in mind that you will feel the alcohol and the stimulant less. Extended-release formulations may severely impede sleep, further worsening the hangover.

Both MDMA and alcohol cause dehydration. Approach this combination with caution, moderation and sufficient hydration. More than a small amount of alcohol will dull the euphoria of MDMA

Alcohol may potentiate some of the pharmacologic effects of CNS-active agents. Use in combination may result in additive central nervous system depression and/or impairment of judgment, thinking, and psychomotor skills.

Tyramine found in many alcoholic beverages can have dangerous reactions with MAOIs, causing an increase in blood pressure.

Avoid alcohol if you are taking allergy medicines. Alcohol and Allergy medicines such as Benadryl, Piriton and Clarityn are depressants and both slow down your central nervous system. This can produce heightened side effects such as drowsiness, sedation and poor concentration. In extreme cases, loss of consciousness and may occur.

The hormones in the contraceptive pill may slow down your liver’s ability to metabolise alcohol, meaning the effects of alcohol may come on more strongly. Pace yourself and stay within your limits. There is no decrease in the effectiveness of the contraceptive pill when combined with alcohol. However, if the contraceptive pill you are taking is causing you any side effects, alcohol may make these worse.  Always use protection!

If you plan to get intoxicated on a given day take all necessary steps to ensure that you do not harm yourself or others. Planning can save lives.

If you habitually want to drive after you start drinking just make sure that this is impossible before taking the first drink. Give your car keys to a spouse or trusted friend before ever taking the first drink. Or somehow lock them away in such a manner that it is impossible to get at them until after you are sober. Do it before the first drink. If you are drinking outside the home then make sure to take public transportation there so that your car is not available to drive home with.

If you tend to make embarrassing or problematic phone calls after you have started drinking, then make sure to unplug and lock away your telephone before you ever take the first drink. The same if you send weird emails when intoxicated--turn that computer off and hide it away first. Try to find a non-problematic habit such as listening to music while drinking to distract you from those things which might cause yourself or another person harm.

If there are any things which you tend to do which cause harm when you are intoxicated--make them impossible to do before you begin drinking.

The statement that "drinking alone is a sign of alcoholism" is a myth--because "alcoholism" is a myth. Drinking alone at home can be much safer than going out and drinking in public if you intend to get intoxicated. If you are alone there is no one else to worry about getting into a fight with. Moreover, there are no worries about getting lost on the way home getting rolled or attacked or being tempted to drive. Drinking constantly whether alone or in company can be problematic because it can lead to physical dependency, but for some people drinking alone can be smarter than getting intoxicated in public.

Going out drinking with a friend who you can trust to watch your back is safer than going out drinking alone. The back-watching can and should be mutual. However, beware of companions who will egg you on into crazy behaviors. Not only can you help keep each other awake on the subway ride home--predators who prey on drunks are more likely to go for people who are alone.

Male or female, straight or gay, ALWAYS carry condoms when you go out drinking. It is a good habit to always carry condoms period, whether drinking or not. When people drink their inhibitions are lowered, and people who would never have sex with a stranger when sober may suddenly decide that this is a good idea when drunk. So have a condom handy and use it.

As Alan Marlatt tells us, mindset is of major importance to one's behavior when drinking. Go into your intox day with plenty of planning ahead and a determination to be safe and this will help you go far towards reducing harm.

Alcohol causes vitamin loss. Replace them and safeguard your health.

Drinking in reaction to anger is particularly likely to lead to a bad drinking episode. Unplanned drinking episodes are also fraught with danger.

If your goal is reduced drinking then you have to start somewhere. If you have drank daily for a long time you may wish to start by doing just one abstinence day. Note: If you have been drinking heavily for a long time you may need to taper off gradually to get to the first abstinence day in order to avoid potentially dangerous withdrawals.The first day of abs in a long time with none is always a great achievement. One is better than none, and better is always better. Going from drinking 14 drinks a day to 13 drinks a day is also an improvement. Better is better. Switching from drinking straight booze to beer or wine is also better. Remember that you have to start somewhere and no change is too small to count. And any change for the better no matter how small is your first victory!

If you have done a few abstinence days then your abstinence muscle is getting strong--it is time to start scheduling abstinence days. Daily drinkers who want to reduce use should start by scheduling at least one abstinence day per week--although there is no limit on the amount you may start scheduling. You may choose to jump right in and schedule six abstinence days a week--or you may want to jump right into an abstinence period of 2 weeks or 30 days or even more. You know better than anyone else what you are ready for and what you want to do.

Schedule your intox days so that they do not interfere with important things like work or school.

Choose which and how many days each week you wish to abstain (try for at least one--although more is generally better). Choose which and how many days each week you wish to drink moderately (this may be zero if you don't like moderating). Choose which and how many days you wish to get intoxicated. This is the skeleton of the Harm Reduction Plan. Flesh this out by deciding where and under what circumstances you will do mods, abs, or intox--and you have a full fledged harm reduction plan.

This strategy is not for everyone, but some people who primarily drink at home choose not to have alcohol in their house on abstinence days--they buy it only on the days when they intend to drink. Some people with blue laws in their states even use Sunday--the day on which booze is not sold--as their sober up day--on purpose.

If you sometimes tend to drink the morning after then it is good to have a plan to avoid the eye-opener. One thing which can help is to buy only what you intend to drink and finish it that same night--it may be too much effort to go out and get more the next day then.

Instead of reducing the number of days you drink per week (or month) you may choose to reduce the number of drinks you drink per day. Or you may choose to do both.

Blackouts are no fun. People's behaviour often changes for the worse during a blackout and they do things which fill them with remorse when they are told of them the following day. However, most people can avoid blackouts by using the following tips.

If your stomach is full alcohol will enter your bloodstream much more slowly than if you drink on an empty stomach. Being well hydrated before you drink alcohol will help you to drink more slowly. Blackouts are caused by a rapid peaking of Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC). Both these strategies will help prevent this rapid peak.

Slow the pace of your drinking by switching from straight booze to wine or beer or by alternating real drinks with non alcoholic drinks. This helps stop blackouts.

If you drink when sleep deprived you are more likely to have a blackout than otherwise.

Things which may immediately kill yourself or someone else rank as such as drunk driving or drunk chainsaw juggling rank as MORE harmful than things which may eventually have a bad effect down the line such as bone loss from failure to take your vitamins. When you are sober stop and take the time to rank which of your drinking behaviors have the greatest potential harm to yourself or someone else and make it a priority to eliminate those FIRST.