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What is Polysubstance Abuse?

Polysubstance abuse accounts for potential increased risk of serious consequences from drug use, including altered mental state, overdose, or death. What is polysubstance abuse? Why is it so dangerous? Promises Behavioral Health recognizes the signs and symptoms of polysubstance addiction and welcomes you or your loved one into an individualized treatment program.

What is polysubstance abuse, and what are the risks associated with it? Discover how to get help with your polydrug addiction and learn to live a healthy lifestyle. To learn more, contact Promises Behavioral Health today.

What is Polysubstance Abuse?

Polysubstance abuse sometimes referred to as ‘polydrug abuse,’ occurs when an individual uses two or more drugs. Do you hide your polydrug use because you believe that there are few people that experience this type of addiction? Actually, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) describes polysubstance abuse as ‘common,’ saying that many individuals ‘develop multiple comorbid substance use disorders.’

Promises Behavioral Health addiction treatment programs can treat individuals that have an addiction to one drug or need treatment for polysubstance abuse.

What is polysubstance abuse in regards to the combination of drugs used that lead to this diagnosis? The misuse of any combination of drugs potentially leads to polydrug abuse.

PsychCentral article calls the misuse of benzodiazepines, opioids, and Z-drugs a ‘newly emerging threat,’ and says that combining these drugs poses the risk of a deadly combination.

Similarly, NIDA indicates that among people that use heroin, nearly 25 percent also have an alcohol use disorder (AUD), and approximately 20 percent have a cocaine use disorder.

Therefore, it does not matter which drugs that you use in combination, because any combination possibly leads to polydrug abuse risks.

What Does Research Show About Polysubstance Abuse?

Several studies have attempted to determine facts about polysubstance abuse to better understand it, to determine the risks, and to determine effective treatment protocols. This is confirmed by a statement issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which indicates that there is ‘increasing research’ going on regarding this topic.

One example, cited by NIDA, reveals that the majority of cocaine users are ‘likely’ to be polysubstance users. Researchers in a study published on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) site concluded that among 4,580 college-age students, polysubstance abuse involving alcohol and any other drug was almost 57 percent.

Many people that use cocaine or that have polysubstance abuse issues sometimes have co-existing mental health issues. Promises Behavioral Health provides a comprehensive assessment and provides the ideal treatment for your specific treatment needs.

Risks and Dangers of Addiction

You likely want to know the risks and dangers of polydrug addiction after getting answers to your question, ‘what is polysubstance abuse? There are multiple risks and dangers associated with polydrug abuse. First, you face the side effects and dangers associated with each drug and the dangers associated with using the multiple drugs together. Some risks and dangers include:

  • Respiratory depression
  • Increased toxicity
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Increased or decreased heart rate
  • Brain damage
  • Sedation or coma
  • Death

Get Treatment at Promises Behavioral Health

You do not have to experience the dangers associated with polysubstance abuse. Start with medical detox and then a comprehensive treatment program at Promises Behavioral Health. At Promises, we treat the whole person, not just the addiction. Furthermore, we tailor your treatment to your unique needs, so you always get the treatment you need, rather than the treatment your neighbor needs. We offer a wide array of addiction treatment options, such as:

It’s time to put an end to your polysubstance abuse. Contact us today at 844.875.5609.

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