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Mixing Marijuana and Alcohol: Dangers & Risks

Using alcohol or marijuana may lead to side effects and risks for the user. Mixing alcohol and marijuana together can intensify certain effects of both, leading to increased health risk and dangers over using either alone. Similarly, people who use both substances (though not necessarily at the same time) may be at increased risk of other consequences, including, increased risk of alcohol use disorder (AUD), and higher rates of mental illness.1 This article will explore the health effects of both alcohol and marijuana, explain additional health risks when using both substances, and discuss how to get help.

Can You Drink Alcohol and Smoke Marijuana?

Among people who drink alcohol, marijuana is the most frequently used substance alongside alcohol.1 It can be potentially dangerous for individuals to drink alcohol and smoke marijuana at the same time or one after the other. 

Concurrent use of cannabis with alcohol can amplify certain effects of both and in some cases can increase consumption of one or the other, or both, potentially increasing the consequences of substance use.2

Side Effects of Marijuana

Marijuana is derived from the cannabis plant. The psychoactive component of cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).3 It has been used medicinally for many years, and a growing number of states have legalized it for recreational use.3 Marijuana affects the brain in a variety of ways.3

Common short-term effects of marijuana use include:3

  • Mood changes.
  • Physical impairments.
  • Altered sense of time and senses.
  • Diminished problem-solving capabilities.
  • Increased heart rate.

More extreme effects can occur at higher doses and include hallucinations, delusions, and psychosis.3

Side Effects of Alcohol

Alcohol can have a potentially devastating impact on a person’s health.

Alcohol makes it harder for the brain areas controlling balance, memory, speech, and judgment to do their jobs, resulting in a higher likelihood of injuries and other negative outcomes, including:4,5

  • Increased injuries from falls or car accidents.
  • Increased risk of violence, suicide, and sexual assault.
  • Alcohol poisoning.
  • High-risk behaviors like unprotected sex.
  • Complications like fetal alcohol syndrome in pregnant women.

Mixing Alcohol with Marijuana

Consuming alcohol and marijuana simultaneously may lead to higher subjective effects of intoxication than when either substance is consumed alone.1

Using marijuana and alcohol, either simultaneously or within close proximity of each other, may cause negative social consequences and increase the prevalence of mental health issues. There is also an increased risk of developing an AUD for those who have a cannabis use disorder.1

For young adults specifically, alcohol and cannabis consumption during the same occasion can also lead to increased quantities of both substances being used, as well as the substances being used more often.1

Health Risks of Taking Marijuana and Alcohol Together

The use of both marijuana and alcohol, whether used concurrently or simultaneously, has potential consequences that an increase in overall consumption, as well as more alcohol-related consequences, particularly motor vehicle accidents.1

With more states legalizing the use of cannabis, increased dosage and frequency of use have also seen the significant rise of car accidents.1 Compared to those who have only imbibed alcohol, those who use both alcohol and marijuana have a greater risk of driving under the influence.1 Used separately, alcohol and marijuana considerably increase the risk of fatal car accidents. When used together, the combined effect is significantly greater than when the substances are used alone, which may lead to greater risk of injury or death from vehicle crashes.1

The dual use of marijuana and alcohol is associated with depression and impulsivity and, for adolescents, heavier dual use is associated with  an increased likelihood of developing a substance use disorder in adulthood.1

Overdose Risk of Drinking While Taking Marijuana

Overdose from cannabis is on the rise due to an increase in availability. The major effects observed are sedation and confusion, tachycardia, chest pain, and hypotension with the potential for severe respiratory depression.6

Groups most admitted for treatment are those under 5 years old and those in the 15- to 19-year-old group.6

About a third of all drug-related emergency room visits are for overdose with cannabis resulting in anxiety, confusion, and depression. A small number of people experienced sudden cardiac death when ingesting cannabis in combination with other drugs, especially alcohol.6

Get Help for Alcohol and Marijuana Addiction

Treatment for addiction to alcohol and marijuana, like any type of addiction treatment, should address the specific needs of each person, and it may look different for different people.7 An effective rehab or treatment facility will likely include a combination of treatment modalities.

The first step may be detox. A medically supervised detox can provide patients with around-the-clock care to manage acute symptoms of withdrawal and help them transition to additional treatment to control their substance use.7 This can be crucial for people with severe alcohol use disorders, as withdrawal symptoms from intense alcohol use has the potential to be life-threatening.

The appropriate level of care for treatment should be determined on an individual basis, with your doctor.

Treatment options may include:7-9

  • Inpatient treatment. This type of treatment is for people who require medically managed care. It provides people the opportunity to fully focus on recovery and receive intensive therapeutic services while living in a drug-free environment and can be helpful for people with severe substance use disorders or co-occurring medical or psychiatric disorders.
  • Residential treatment. This is for people who need longer-term clinically managed treatment. Patients live in a home-like treatment setting for some time while they begin their recovery process under supervision.
  • Partial hospitalization or intensive outpatient treatment. These types of treatment 
  • programs allow a person to continue to live at home but provide several hours of treatment programming each day. PHP typically involves 6 hours per day, and IOP is often about 3 hours per day.
  • Outpatient treatment. This offers structured substance use disorder therapy multiple times per week but does not involve on-site living. It is less intensive, requiring fewer hours per week than partial hospitalization or intensive outpatient programs. Outpatient substance use treatment can be a good option for people with less severe addictions, those who have recently completed residential programs, people with reliable transportation, and those with stable home environments and supportive family and friends.
  • Relapse prevention/Aftercare. An aftercare plan is intended to minimize relapse and sustain abstinence after completing an inpatient or outpatient rehab program. It can involve different interventions, such as sober living or self-help groups like Alcoholics Anonymous.

If you or someone you care about needs help with addiction treatment, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of American Addiction Centers admissions navigators at . They are available 24/7 to provide you with the information, guidance, and support you need, as well as verify your insurance benefits.

Concerns of Mixing Alcohol with Other Drugs

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