Drug Education Teacher Booklet

34 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 e.g. cocaine and ecstasy SEROTONIN SYNDROME* PSYCHOSIS* ANXIETY OR PANIC ATTACKS HEART PROBLEMS COMBINING STIMULANTS AND DEPRESSANTS e.g. speed and alcohol HEART PROBLEMS RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS AND BRONCHITIS DEHYDRATION, OVERHEATING, AND KIDNEY FAILURE COMBINING DEPRESSANTS e.g. benzodiazepines and alcohol ACCIDENTS OR INJURY THROUGH BEING ‘OUT OF IT’ FATAL OVERDOSE NON-FATAL OVERDOSE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN PERMANENT BRAIN DAMAGE * See Glossary on page 36 POLYDRUG USE