As we learn more and more about addiction and how it affects each person in unique ways, it changes how we view addiction. Today, polysubstance abuse is a real concern as it makes treating addiction more difficult and puts the patient at an increased risk of unpredictable withdrawal symptoms and cravings. What is polysubstance abuse? It is a form of abuse that involves two or more different substances to increase the high. For men and women who are taking multiple drugs and want to stop, polysubstance addiction treatment is available to break their addiction and get control of their lives back.
At Swift River, we give men and women a safe and discreet facility to focus on their recovery from addiction to multiple substances. We work to uncover the root cause of the addiction and teach patients healthy coping skills to process their feelings instead of hiding from them with drugs and alcohol. If you suspect a friend or loved one is abusing multiple drugs, call 413.570.9698 today for more information about our polysubstance addiction treatment program.
What Is Polysubstance Abuse?
Drug and alcohol abuse is a serious mental health crisis that affects over 42 million men and women in the U.S. today. As people seek more ways to increase the euphoric effects and escape reality, they begin to mix different drugs and alcohol. This can cause significant problems in treating addiction and uncovering the root cause of it.
The signs of polysubstance abuse are similar to other addiction symptoms, which can include:
- Mood swings
- Withdrawing from friends and family
- Changes in weight
- Insomnia/Hypersomnia
- Lying about their drug use
If left untreated, polysubstance abuse can worsen mental health, seizures, permanent brain injury, heart attack, and stroke. At Swift River, we have experience treating all types of addiction, including addiction to multiple substances, through our residential and outpatient treatment programs.
Facts About Polysubstance Abuse
You can find plenty of polysubstance abuse information online that can give you the facts about addiction and its devastating effects on your physical and mental health. It can help you understand the dangers of mixing different substances and find various resources that are available to help.
Here are several facts about polysubstance abuse that you should know:
- Mixing stimulants – Stimulants increase your heart rate and blood pressure. If you take several different types of stimulants, you are increasing your risk of permanent brain injury, liver damage, heart attack, and stroke.
- Mixing depressants – Opioids and benzodiazepines are types of depressants that lower your heart rate and breathing. Combining depressants can lead to serious damage to your organs, as well as coma and death.
- Mixing stimulants and depressants – You cannot take a stimulant to counteract a depressant and vice versa. Instead, you create an unpredictable experience where you may not feel anything. If they are not careful, it can lead to an overdose and death.
- Drinking alcohol while using other drugs – Many people will combine drugs with alcohol to increase the euphoria that comes with intoxication. They also increase the risk of forming a severe dependence and addiction that can take several months or longer to recover fully.
Swift River Is Your Best Resource for Polysubstance Addiction Treatment
At Swift River, our compassionate and experienced team will go over what polysubstance abuse is and the types of treatments available to ease the recovery process. We work with each patient one-on-one to understand what led to the addiction and teach them healthy coping skills to stop the abuse. We use proven behavioral therapies to address their symptoms, such as:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Group and individual therapy
- Motivational interviewing
- Family therapy
For more information about polysubstance abuse and the dangers of mixing substances, call 413.570.9698 or fill out our online form today, and we will get back to you within 24 hours.
