Illegal Drugs - Student Booklet

28 poLydrug use what is it ? Mixing drugs or taking one drug when under the influence of another drug is known as polydrug use. Combining drugs in this way carries extra risks and can be extremely dangerous. The more drugs a person takes (or is affected by) at a time, the more chance there is of something going wrong. An example of polydrug use would be smoking cannabis while under the influence of alcohol. Mixing alcohol with drinks that contain caffeine is another example. The effect of mixing drugs depends on which drugs are mixed together. Combining drugs that have the same physical effects (e.g. two or more stimulants or two or more depressants) is especially dangerous. This is because it increases the impact on normal functioning of the brain and body. combining stimulants Serotonin syndrome Psychosis anxiety or panic attacks Heart problems accidents or injury through being ‘ out of it ’ Nonfatal overdose , which can result in permanent brain damage combining depressants combining stimulants and depressants heart problems , Fatal overdose as a combination of depressants work together to slow down both the heart and brea the heart and breathing rate e.g. cocaine and ecstasy e.g. speed and alcohol e.g. benzodiazepines and alcohol Dehydration , overheating , and kidney failure Respiratory infections and bronchitis