Drugs and alcohol never mix, especially when it comes to Kratom and alcohol. Kratom’s opioid-similar effects pose the same, and in many cases, greater harms. Though it is often utilized as an opioid withdrawal and cessation aid, it doesn’t make it any safer to consume in conjunction with alcohol. Here at Pathways Treatment Center, we want you to understand the dangers, risks, signs, and symptoms of Kratom abuse and coinciding alcohol use.
What is Kratom?
Kratom derives from tree leaves in South Asia. Its psychoactive properties, made up predominantly of alkaloids, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, bind to opioid receptors. How these psychoactive agents affect these receptors is heavily dependent upon the dosage. That’s what makes Kratom indulgence distinguishably unique from other drugs. In small doses, it has similar stimulating effects to those of opioid use. In larger doses, it has the opposite, sedative effects on your body. Therefore, you can achieve variable effects depending on your preference between stimulation and sedation.
Dangers of Mixing Kratom and Alcohol
Alcohol’s harmful effects in conjunction with drug use are well-documented. However, specifics related to Kratom use are made less clear. Bearing that in mind, here are the primary dangers of mixing the two.
Since Kratom in high doses has depressive effects on respiratory functions, alcohol ingestion magnifies these sedative impacts. This includes central nervous system depression. Hence, severe strains on the lungs and the central nervous system can result in life-threatening depression of these vital functions. In most severe cases, such as overdose, suffocation is common due to respiratory distress.
Alcohol alone takes a severe toll on your liver and kidneys. Add Kratom to the mix, and it places additional strain on liver and kidney functions. This includes negatively affecting how well your kidneys expel toxins from your body. Over time, this can lead to a variety of kidney and liver diseases. Heart problems are also common side effects of prolonged alcohol and Kratom abuse.
The combination of Kratom and alcohol induces drastic neurological effects that destabilize your brain’s natural frequencies. In turn, these impacts pose a danger to potentially acquiring a wide range of mental health defects. These potential conditions consist of, but are not limited to, anxiety, depression, and personality disorders. Thankfully, the extent of these mental afflictions can be reversed to some degree, though the full scope of mental recovery has variable factors.
Contrary to popular belief, Kratom can be very addictive. Couple it with a drinking problem, and you have a severe risk of developing a twofold addiction. Once that occurs, the only proper recovery route is detox followed by dual diagnosis therapy. These treatments in succession provide all the support you need to recover from polysubstance abuse. If you believe you or a loved one may be suffering from multiple substance use disorders, contact us today.
Combining Kratom and alcohol has counteractive heightening effects on their collective potency. When Kratom doses are high, it has sedative effects. Therefore, when these effects are heightened by drinking, it can lead to overdose. This ultimately means Kratom will bring your body to a fatal point of respiratory depression where breathing is dangerously slow or stops completely.
Why People Mix Kratom and Alcohol
People mix these two drugs for both intentional and coincidental reasons. Regardless of the cause, the following reasons people mix alcohol pose a serious threat to their long-term health.
Many people are unaware of the dangers of mixing Kratom and alcohol. So much so that people drink in excess without even considering how it may heighten or affect their recent intake of the drug. There’s a reason all drugs don’t interact well with alcohol. Even more so, Kratom’s contrary effects at low and high doses only magnify the danger of these unpredictable factors.
In cases of individuals with high tolerance levels, addiction sufferers will try to maximize drug potency. This is the most dangerous reason people mix Kratom with alcohol due to the unpredictable counteractive factors. Based on individual bodily variables, these potency impacts can be more drastic than anticipated, posing an overdose danger. If you are using alcohol or drugs to maximize the effects of one another, it’s vital to seek immediate help. Failure to do so could be the difference between life and death.
Individuals with a substance use disorder often have an uncontrollable urge to indulge in their strongholds. This means they will act impulsively with little or no restraint. This can feel like an out-of-body experience, meaning the individual literally feels not in control of their actions. This means addiction has reached a dangerous peak that can have life-threatening consequences. The only way to take control of these mental and physical urges is through professional treatment.
Signs of Problematic Use
Several indicators are unmistakable signs of problematic substance use. Here are just a few of the most common signs and symptoms of an addiction problem.
Anybody exhibiting little or no control over drug use or alcohol intake needs to seek professional treatment. These impulses only accelerate drug and alcohol consumption until it reaches lethal levels. You can gain control of your impulses and your life simply by reaching out to a therapeutic professional today. Pathways Treatment Center is a haven for individuals seeking to gain control of these difficult vices that have controlled them.
One of the most evident signs of drug addiction is a change in priorities. Most notably, diminishing one’s focus from more important priorities at the expense of substance use. When this level of problematic use has occurred, it means drug and/or alcohol use has become the main priority in one’s life. This is what ultimately leads to the upcoming symptom as a result of drug-induced priority alterations.
When priorities become distorted, so do the finances. That is to say, when addiction takes hold, financial strains soon follow. This is because one’s priority becomes seeking that next high over all else. Eventually, this can lead to several serious problems, up to and including homelessness in the most severe cases. If addiction-induced financial hardships have come upon you, we offer several payment plan options through our insurance verification portal.
Getting a tolerance to something means your body has grown accustomed to a drug’s presence. When this occurs, higher doses are required to achieve the same desired effects. This becomes a perpetual escalation with prolonged drug or alcohol use that increases the likelihood of overdose with each tolerance level. If you find your drinking or Kratom intake requires higher intake to feel similar effects, get addiction help now.
How Pathways Treatment Center Can Help
Pathways Treatment Center is home to the most innovative, state-of-the-art treatment models in the country. Those factors considered, here are just a few of the many ways we can help you overcome your addiction struggles.
Our treatment programs are all about taking control away from your strongholds and putting you back in the driver’s seat. That means putting you in complete control of your life again through personalized training methods. These training methods are independently implementable, so you can stay strong and handle your battles head-on. Take control of your life again by connecting with our empowering professionals.
Compassion is an overlooked yet vital trait that treatment experts must possess for their treatment to be effective. Why? Because only true compassion motivates and encourages people to open up while dealing with the issue at hand. Compassion means having a genuine concern for one’s struggles and having a fervent and sincere desire to resolve those struggles. People can tell when this compassion is fake. When it is genuine, as is the case with our dedicated professionals, it revives a deep-rooted desire and confidence in people to achieve sobriety.
We touched briefly on our insurance verification process earlier. However, it is important to point out that many don’t receive the help they need because costs often obstruct access to treatment. That’s why we work hard with a wide range of providers to ensure top-quality treatment that fits your budget. While this is largely dependent on the structure of your personal insurance coverage terms, we weigh all of your options. Even if you don’t have insurance, we help you get the coverage that makes the most sense for you.
One of the most important assets of every recovery is the atmosphere. Rest assured, you’ll have no greater atmosphere than the culture we instill at our on-site location. The people you meet and the therapists you interact with are the greatest, most encouraging company you could ask for. Most importantly, the friends you make in recovery are often the friends you’ll have for the rest of your life.
Make the Safe and Right Choice by Choosing Pathways Treatment Center
Our atmosphere, professionals, and residents make up an experience unmatched by any other treatment center. We’ll leave no doubt that you’re equipped with the greatest tools, most qualified professionals, and most adequate influences for recovery. Connect with our team today to begin your most memorable journey toward achieving true sobriety.
Michele is the Clinical Director at Pathways Treatment Center. Michele has over 20 years of experience in various settings including agencies, in-home, partial hospitalizations and private practice. While seeking to provide a warm, healing, and nonjudgmental environment, Michele has worked with individuals, couples and groups to help them manage stress/heal emotional wounds. She has a strong desire to gently motivate, educate, inspire and empower individuals to establish healthy emotional boundaries.
phone
