Polysubstance use explained

Polysubstance use
Field:Psychiatry[1]
Complications:Combined drug intoxication, drug overdose

Polysubstance use or poly drug use refers to the use of combined psychoactive substances. Polysubstance use may be used for entheogenic, recreational, or off-label indications, with both legal and illegal substances. In many cases one drug is used as a base or primary drug, with additional drugs to leaven or compensate for the side effects, or tolerance, of the primary drug and make the experience more enjoyable with drug synergy effects, or to supplement for primary drug when supply is low.[2]

Combination drugs

Some common combinations that are used recreationally include

Drug synergy

Ayahuasca

Some substances, such as the powerful psychedelic drug DMT, are not psychoactive when ingested alone. Ayahuasca, or pharmahuasca, notably consists of DMT combined with MAOIs that interfere with the action of the MAO enzyme and stop the breakdown in the stomach of chemical compounds, which make the DMT psychoactive. The MAOIs are also psychoactive and thus produce a polysubstance effect with the DMT. However, the MAOIs may cause combined drug intoxication with the majority of all psychoactive substances and are therefore usually only combined with DMT.

TOMSO

TOMSO is a lesser-known psychedelic drug and a substituted amphetamine. TOMSO is inactive on its own; it is activated with the consumption of alcohol.

Proprietary blends

Pre-workout

See main article: Pre-workout.

Some ingredients such as caffeine, creatine and β-alanine are found in nearly all pre-workout blends, but each branded product is a "proprietary blend" with an average of 18 different ingredients, the exact composition and proportions of which can vary widely between different products.[3] [4] Additionally legal psychoactive substances occasionally used in these proprietary blends that are typically legal include 5-HTP, tyrosine, and yohimbine. Although these products are not banned, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns consumers to be cautious when consuming pre-workout.[5]

Combined drug intoxication

Combined drug intoxication use often carries with it more risk than use of a single drug, due to an increase in side effects, and drug synergy. The potentiating effect of one drug on another is sometimes considerable and here the licit drugs and medicines – such as alcohol, nicotine and antidepressants – have to be considered in conjunction with the controlled psychoactive substances. The risk level will depend on the dosage level of both substances. If the drugs taken are illegal, they have a chance of being mixed (also known as "cutting") with other substances which dealers are reported to do to increase the perceived quantity when selling to others to increase their returns. This is particularly common with powdered drugs such as cocaine or MDMA which can be mixed with relative ease by adding another white powdery substance to the drug. This cumulative effect can lead to further unintended harm to health dependent on what is being covertly added.

Common combinations of drug classes

Dangerous combinations of drug classes

Concerns exist about a number of pharmacological pairings, especially:

Scheduling

Within the general concept of multiple drug use, several specific meanings of the term must be considered. At one extreme is planned use, where the effects of more than one drug are taken for a desired effect. Another type is when other drugs are used to counteract the negative side effects of a different drug (e.g. depressants are used to counteract anxiety and restlessness from taking stimulants). On the other hand, the use of several substances in an intensive and chaotic way, simultaneously or consecutively, in many cases each drug substituting for another according to availability.[10]

Research

The phenomenon is the subject of established academic literature.[11]

A study among treatment admissions found that it is more common for younger people to report polysubstance use.[12]

See also

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Anthony . James . Barondess . David A. . Radovanovic . Mirjana . Lopez-Quintero . Catalina . 2017 . Part 1: Psychiatric Comorbidity – Polydrug Use: Research Topics and Issues . https://books.google.com/books?id=_MySDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA27 . Sher . Kenneth J. . The Oxford Handbook of Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders: Volume 2 . . . Oxford Library of Psychology . 27–59 . 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199381708.013.006 . 9780199381708 . 2016020729.
  2. Web site: Polydrug use | www.emcdda.europa.eu. www.emcdda.europa.eu.
  3. Harty PS, Zabriskie HA, Erickson JL, Molling PE, Kerksick CM, Jagim AR . Multi-ingredient pre-workout supplements, safety implications, and performance outcomes: a brief review . Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition . 15 . 1 . 41 . August 2018 . 30089501 . 10.1186/s12970-018-0247-6 . 6083567 . free .
  4. Jagim AR, Harty PS, Camic CL . Common Ingredient Profiles of Multi-Ingredient Pre-Workout Supplements . Nutrients . 11 . 2 . January 2019 . 254 . 30678328 . 10.3390/nu11020254 . 6413194 . free .
  5. Office of the Commissioner . 2019-02-09. FDA 101: Dietary Supplements. FDA. en.
  6. Serfaty M, Masterton G . Fatal poisonings attributed to benzodiazepines in Britain during the 1980s . Br J Psychiatry . 163 . 3. 386–93 . 1993 . 8104653 . 10.1192/bjp.163.3.386. 46001278 .
  7. Buckley NA, Dawson AH, Whyte IM, O'Connell DL . [Relative toxicity of benzodiazepines in overdose.] . BMJ . 310 . 6974. 219–21 . 1995 . 7866122 . 10.1136/bmj.310.6974.219. 2548618.
  8. Drummer OH . Ranson DL . December 1996 . Sudden death and benzodiazepines . Am J Forensic Med Pathol . 17 . 4 . 336–42 . 8947361 . 10.1097/00000433-199612000-00012.
  9. Pergolizzi . Joseph . Breve . Frank . Magnusson . Peter . LeQuang . Jo Ann K. . Varrassi . Giustino . 2022-02-22 . Cocaethylene: When Cocaine and Alcohol Are Taken Together . Cureus . en . 14 . 2 . e22498 . 10.7759/cureus.22498 . free . 35345678 . 8956485 . 2168-8184.
  10. Web site: EMCDDA Annual Report 2006 ch. 8.
  11. Scholey AB, Parrott AC, Buchanan T, Heffernan TM, Ling J, Rodgers J . Increased intensity of Ecstasy and polydrug usage in the more experienced recreational Ecstasy/MDMA users: a WWW study . Addict Behav . 29 . 4 . 743–52 . June 2004 . 15135556 . 10.1016/j.addbeh.2004.02.022 .
  12. "Polydrug Use Among Treatment Admissions: 1998." OAS Home: Alcohol, Tobacco & Drug Abuse and Mental Health Data from SAMHSA, Office of Applied Studies. Web. 29 Sept. 2011. http://oas.samhsa.gov/2k1/polydrugTX/polydrugTX.htm

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Polysubstance use".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.