Addiction can complicate the lives of everybody in a household. But, when someone is addicted to more than one substance, it can greatly complicate their ability to overcome their addiction. If your teen has been using several types of drugs or drugs and alcohol, seeking help as soon as possible may be crucial to their continued success. It may ease both your minds as well as save you from complicated legal repercussions. At Venture Academy, our drug and alcohol treatment program can give your teen the compassionate care they need and deserve.
What Is Polysubstance Abuse?
Polysubstance abuse typically refers to the concurrent use of several illicit substances. In the practical application for a teen, this can look like simultaneous abuse of alcohol, amphetamines, stimulants, opiates, or benzodiazepines. There are many reasons why a teen may start mixing drugs and alcohol. Some of these reasons for polysubstance abuse include:
- To fit in with peers who are using substances
- As a way to deal with mental health disorders
- To lessen the symptoms of certain types of medication, such as treatment for disorders like anxiety, depression, or seizures
- The substance is used as a coping mechanism for trauma
Keeping these causes in mind when treating polysubstance use is important because a full picture of addiction can help professionals offer healing for all symptoms. What matters most for your teen is that you seek the best possible care to treat co-occurring substance issues. Venture Academy can help.
Risks of Mixing Drugs and Alcohol
It is dangerous to mix drugs and alcohol. Adding a second substance can enhance the effects of the first substance if an individual has built up a tolerance. In pharmaceuticals, this amplification of negative effects is often referred to as a drug interaction. All of these varying factors mean that there is no way to control two substances without the careful attention of a licensed professional. Managing prescriptions can be tricky, even for trained clinicians. Your teen does not have the education or experience to regulate symptoms of several substances. Some of the health risks of using substances together can include severe complications, such as:
- Excessive drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Fainting spells
- Nausea or vomiting
- Gastrointestinal issues
- Increased levels of depression and anxiety
- Heightened blood pressure
- Irregular heartbeat or cardiovascular issues
- Decreased ability for useful drugs to help conditions like seizures or migraines
- Suicidal or violent thoughts or actions
- Hallucinations and paranoia
- Unconsciousness and death
If you believe your teen is using two substances, the health-related consequences can be fatal. Getting them the right education to let go of their addiction in a judgment-free environment can help them move past substance use. The stigma of using two substances can be difficult to bear for young and impressionable individuals, but it is important to remember that there is help available. Reaching out to Venture Academy can help empower your teen to move on and find success.
Treat Polysubstance Abuse with Help from Venture Academy
The risks of mixing drugs and alcohol can be extremely hazardous. If your teen is engaging in polysubstance abuse, you can find them the help they need to fight addiction before it uproots their life and your home. Venture Academy’s 30-day assessment, intervention, and behaviour treatment programs can help them find more positive ways of grasping the learning tools they need for success.
These programs will offer your teen the support coping skills that will help them to grow. You can also contact us at 866.762.2211 to discuss options with our trained staff of caring and dedicated experts. Help reclaim your family life by getting your teen the help they need. Reach out to Venture Academy today.
