Some people seem to use cocaine only when they’re drinking alcohol. You may be one of them, or you may know one of them. They may seem to get through the week without touching the stuff. But when the weekend rolls around and they hit the clubs or bars and get a few drinks deep—all of the sudden they are on a mission to find some coke or crack. So, what’s going on here exactly and what can be done about it?
This Tribe Intensive NJ article explains the phenomenon of cocaine cravings while drunk or under the influence of alcohol.
Why Drinking Alcohol Can Cause You to Crave Cocaine
The short answer is that cocaine and alcohol form a third compound in the body as they are metabolized. This third chemical is called cocaethylene. Cocaethylene is more addictive than either alcohol or cocaine alone. Once a person has experienced a cocaethylene high, they often feel compelled to seek it out again. After they’re already drinking, their inhibitions are also lowered—making it more likely they will use cocaine, if they can.
Why do I crave cocaine when I’m drunk?
- Cocaethylene Formation: Alcohol and cocaine combine to produce cocaethylene, a potent, addictive compound.
- Counteracting Alcohol Sedation: It helps offset alcohol’s depressant effects so users can stay awake and drink more.
- Lowered Inhibitions: Alcohol reduces inhibitions, prompting even non-users to try cocaine.
The Cycle of Alcohol Consumption and Cocaine Use
You or someone you know may seem to keep a lid on their partying during the week, but when the weekend comes and they head into Philly or Asbury Park—all bets are off. Once the Ketel One starts flowing, they are off to the races. Sooner or later, a quest to use or find cocaine is the mission of the evening. But why?
Does alcohol actually trigger cocaine cravings in individuals who don’t normally use it?
The Deadly Call of Cocaethylene
The answer is YES. Alcohol use can trigger cravings for cocaine, especially once someone has used the two drugs together. Cocaethylene, the compound the body creates as it metabolizes cocaine and alcohol together is the biggest reason for this cocaine craving when you drink.
Cocaethylene has a powerful euphoric effect and is more addictive than either alcohol or cocaine are by themselves. Unfortunately, cocaethylene is also toxic and very dangerous.
How Dangerous is Combining Alcohol and Cocaine?
Combining alcohol and cocaine is far more dangerous than most people probably realize. Not only is the compound cocaethylene more addictive than coke or alcohol, it’s also far more toxic to the heart, brain and liver. In addition to that, using cocaine while you drink makes alcohol poisoning or overdose more likely. As a stimulant, cocaine off-sets the depressant effects of alcohol. This makes people potentially less aware of how drunk they are and makes it possible to drink even more.
5 Reasons Why Combining Alcohol and Cocaine is More Dangerous Than You Think
- Heart Risks: Cocaethylene, the chemical created when alcohol and cocaine are metabolized together is not just very addictive, it’s cardiotoxic, meaning it kills heart tissue, it raises blood pressure and increases the risks of heart attack or stroke exponentially.
- Alcohol Overdose Risk: Because cocaine counteracts the depressant effects of alcohol, it makes it easier to drink more because you don’t get drowsy. That makes alcohol overdose or poisoning more likely.
- Brain Damage: Both alcohol and cocaine abuse cause neurological damage over time, but cocaethylene is more toxic than either of them and stays in the body longer, doing more damage to the brain and nervous system.
- Liver Damage: Alcohol is very hard on the liver as it is. Cocaine puts slightly less stress on the liver. But the combination of the two, metabolized into cocaethylene is especially hepatoxic (toxic to the liver) and can lead to premature liver failure.
- Increased Aggression: Both cocaine and alcohol have been shown to increase aggression in some people. Together they can be especially dangerous, potentially making violence, drunk driving and other high risk behaviors that can end in injury or death more likely.
A Brief History of Alcohol and Cocaine Combination
People have been aware of the unusual synergy between cocaine and alcohol when they are combined in the body for a long time. One of the earliest examples was a product called Vin Mariani, marketed as a “health tonic” back in 1863. Vin Mariani was a blend of Bordeaux with coca leaf extract.
But it wasn’t until the late 1970s that scientists did additional research into the combination of cocaine and alcohol. This research was partly prompted by the disco-era surge in cocaine popularity as massive amounts of the drug began entering the U.S. through Florida and California.
What they discovered is that a highly addictive third compound called cocaethylene was formed by the body when cocaine and alcohol are metabolized together. Later research determined just how addictive and toxic cocaethylene really is.
The history of mixing alcohol and cocaine:
- People have been purposely combining the two since at least the 19th century.
- Cocaine and alcohol were combined in so-called “health tonics” in the late 1800s.
- Cocaethylene was discovered by scientists in the late 1970s.
- Later research revealed that cocaethylene is more addictive and toxic than either drug alone.
Tribe Intensive: Where NJ Overcomes Addiction
You or the person you love does not have to let alcohol, cocaine or any other substance lead them down the road to ruin. The choice is clear. Continuing to suffer in addiction is no choice at all—it’s a suicide pact. It makes no sense when the help you need to turn it all around is just a phone call away.
Tribe Intensive is where NJ overcomes addiction. We’ve helped thousands of people put addiction to bed for good. We can help you too—-but you have to make the first move. Pick up the phone and you will have the whole Tribe behind you.
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