Polysubstance use or poly drug use refers to the use of combined
psychoactive substances. Polysubstance use may be used for
entheogenic,
recreational, or
off-label indications, with both legal and
illegal substances. In many cases one drug is used as a base or primary drug, with additional drugs to leaven or compensate for the
side effects, or
tolerance, of the primary drug and make the experience more enjoyable with
drug synergy effects, or to supplement for primary drug when supply is low.[3]
Some substances, such as the powerful
psychedelic drugDMT, are not psychoactive when ingested alone.
Ayahuasca, or
pharmahuasca, notably consists of DMT combined with
MAOIs that interfere with the action of the MAO enzyme and stop the breakdown in the stomach of chemical compounds, which make the DMT psychoactive. The MAOIs are also psychoactive and thus produce a polysubstance effect with the DMT. However, the MAOIs may cause
combined drug intoxication with the majority of all psychoactive substances and are therefore usually only combined with DMT.
TOMSO
TOMSO is a lesser-known psychedelic drug and a substituted amphetamine. TOMSO is inactive on its own; it is activated with the consumption of alcohol.
Some ingredients such as
caffeine,
creatine and
β-alanine are found in nearly all
pre-workout blends, but each branded product is a "proprietary blend" with an average of 18 different ingredients, the exact composition and proportions of which can vary widely between different products.[4][5] Additionally legal psychoactive substances occasionally used in these proprietary blends that are typically legal include
5-HTP,
tyrosine, and
yohimbine. Although these products are not banned, the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns consumers to be cautious when consuming pre-workout.[6]
Combined drug intoxication
Combined drug intoxication use often carries with it more risk than use of a single drug, due to an increase in side effects, and drug synergy. The potentiating effect of one drug on another is sometimes considerable and here the licit drugs and medicines – such as
alcohol,
nicotine and
antidepressants – have to be considered in conjunction with the controlled psychoactive substances. The risk level will depend on the dosage level of both substances. If the drugs taken are illegal, they have a chance of being mixed (also known as "cutting") with other substances which dealers are reported to do to increase the perceived quantity when selling to others to increase their returns. This is particularly common with powdered drugs such as
cocaine or
MDMA which can be mixed with relative ease by adding another white powdery substance to the drug. This cumulative effect can lead to further unintended harm to health dependent on what is being covertly added.
Common combinations of drug classes
Alcohol combined with
cannabis – known as cross-fading; may easily cause
spins in people who are drunk and use potent cannabis.
GHB combined with alcohol can lead to a long-lasting coma-like state (‘G-sleep’) or even death, because it is hard to dose GHB.
Depressants combined with
stimulants. For example:
Alcohol and
cocaine (for example
coca wine) increase cardiovascular toxicity;[10] alcohol or depressant drugs, when taken with opioids, lead to an increased risk of overdose
Opioids or cocaine taken with
ecstasy or
amphetamines also result in additional acute toxicity.[11]
Scheduling
Within the general concept of multiple drug use, several specific meanings of the term must be considered. At one extreme is planned use, where the effects of more than one drug are taken for a desired effect. Another type is when other drugs are used to counteract the negative side effects of a different drug (e.g. depressants are used to counteract anxiety and restlessness from taking stimulants). On the other hand, the use of several substances in an intensive and chaotic way, simultaneously or consecutively, in many cases each drug substituting for another according to availability.[11]
Research
The phenomenon is the subject of established academic literature.[12]
A study among treatment admissions found that it is more common for younger people to report polysubstance use.[13]
^Serfaty M, Masterton G (1993). "Fatal poisonings attributed to benzodiazepines in Britain during the 1980s". Br J Psychiatry. 163 (3): 386–93.
doi:
10.1192/bjp.163.3.386.
PMID8104653.
S2CID46001278.
^"Polydrug Use Among Treatment Admissions: 1998." OAS Home: Alcohol, Tobacco & Drug Abuse and Mental Health Data from SAMHSA, Office of Applied Studies. Web. 29 Sept. 2011.
[1]
Hernández-Serrano, Olga; Gras, Maria E.; Font-Mayolas, Sílvia; Sullman, Mark J. M. (2016). "Part VI: Dual and Polydrug Abuse – Chapter 83: Types of Polydrug Usage". In Preedy, Victor R. (ed.). Neuropathology of Drug Addictions and Substance Misuse, Volume 3: General Processes and Mechanisms, Prescription Medications, Caffeine and Areca, Polydrug Misuse, Emerging Addictions and Non-Drug Addictions.
Cambridge, Massachusetts:
Academic Press, imprint of
Elsevier. pp. 839–849.
doi:
10.1016/B978-0-12-800634-4.00083-4.
ISBN978-0-12-800634-4.