Weed and alcohol: What happens when you mix them

Patients with certain medical conditions, such as liver disease or mental health disorders, should also exercise caution when consuming both substances. It is always recommended to consult with a healthcare provider before consuming alcohol and cannabis together. It is not advised to combine alcohol and cannabis if you have a history of substance abuse or are currently taking medication that can interact with either substance. Additionally, combining the two can increase the risk of potentially harmful or distressing side effects, such as dizziness, nausea, and impaired judgment. This is because both alcohol and THC, the active psychoactive compound in cannabis, are two different kinds of substances.

Weed and alcohol together can also impair reaction times and other cognitive functions necessary for safe driving. Research indicates that there is an association between frequent heavy alcohol use and poor mental health, including psychological distress and low life satisfaction. It might seem harmless to mix alcohol and weed, but doing so can be a slippery slope toward getting overly intoxicated. Both weed and alcohol, together and on their own, are also potentially addictive and can lead to dependence and misuse. If you take medication, talk to your doctor before using weed, alcohol, or both. They may weaken the effectiveness of your medication or increase your risk for certain side effects.

Since marijuana helps prevent vomiting, the body may be unable to rid itself of dangerous toxins, or an individual may choke on the vomit that is produced. Greening out is a term used to describe a situation where a person may feel sick after smoking marijuana. The individual may go pale and sweaty, feel dizzy with “the spins,” get nauseous, and may even start vomiting.

What Mixing Weed and Alcohol Does to Your Mind

What I normally do is drink one beer that has 8.8% alcohol content (since I don’t have a very high tolerance to alcohol) and smoke a few joints and I get a very relaxed vibe from them. The researchers recruited 19 adult participants who received either a placebo or low amounts of alcohol before vaping 500mg of placebo, low-strength cannabis, or high-strength cannabis. After taking blood samples, the researchers found that the presence of alcohol significantly increased the amount of THC and 11-hydroxy-THC in the blood.

• Smoking weed during a hangover is anecdotally known to possibly have the relieving effects of reducing feelings of anxiety, nausea, or general pain.
• For context, many people consider beer and wine to be relatively equivalent drinks.
• But mixing marijuana and alcohol is not recommended even for those with prescriptions.
• If you do not have access to a phone contact Web Poison Control Services for online assistance.
• Alcohol withdrawal can begin within hours of ending a drinking session.

If you only want a couple hits, you can have some more drinks as long as you watch your intake. If you do want to mix the two substances (a practice known as “crossfading”), you might as well go about doing it the right way. If you’re experiencing alcohol poisoning, you need immediate medical help. An alcohol overdose can lead to serious health consequences or even death.

What to Do if You Have a Bad Reaction

Just make sure you inform your primary doctor and psychiatrist so they can make the best decision with you. Self-medicating with other substances can make it difficult for your medical team to determine whether medications are working. If you or someone you know is struggling with https://soberhome.net/ addiction, reach out to your primary care provider or a substance abuse specialist as soon as possible. Also, your state’s Health and Human Services department should have links to local and national resources for drug and alcohol addiction, similar to this one for Minnesota.

Yet, research shows that combining alcoholic drinks with other substances, for example, antidepressants like Cymbalta and alcohol, can be lethal. Similarly, consuming cannabis-infused alcohol puts a person at considerable risk. The combination of alcohol and weed is the most frequently used mixture of drugs and alcohol abuse. Both substances cause intoxication and impairment of judgment and motor skills.

Within minutes of ingesting weed, the individual likely experiences a sense of relaxation or euphoria. Other common effects include heightened sensory perception (brighter colors, louder noises, etc.), an altered perception of time and an increased appetite. Used alone, either substance can eco sober house complaints be used in moderation without significant long-term effects. However, when you mix alcohol and marijuana, they can lead to unpleasant or even dangerous side effects. Too much of a good thing can be a real bummer, even if the worst thing that happens is a bad hangover (or a bad “weedover”).

Mixing Weed and Alcohol: Effects and Risks

The researchers reported that combining THC and alcohol consistently impaired driving performance, with worse performance during nighttime simulations. For example, you might feel like you’re good to drive, but your blood alcohol level may be well over the legal limit. Covering up symptoms with medications or drugs will only result in a need to increase the amount of medication you are taking over time to have the same therapeutic effect. If you are currently taking stimulants or have been diagnosed with psychosis, you should refrain from marijuana use altogether. If you have another mental health disorder, it is also best to avoid marijuana use.

As long as you keep track of what you’re taking, getting crossfaded can be a wonderful time. However, if you end up going overboard, greening out becomes a real possibility. This isn’t a cannabis overdose, but it’s a sensation that comes with nausea, paranoia, and general discomfort. If you’re able to get yourself to relax, you can get over it quickly.

Drinking alcohol before smoking weed can make you feel high more intensely and quickly. Although the chemical effects are the same for everyone, alcohol and marijuana both affect different people differently. Don’t assume just because your friend does fine getting faded that you will have the same results.

Alcohol + weed is seriously underrated.

Those who are sensitive to weed or who don’t have much experience using it may want to avoid mixing weed and alcohol, as they’re more likely to experience unpleasant side effects. It is recognized that when treating an individual for any substance use disorder, all mental health conditions must be treated at the same time as the treatment for the substance abuse issue. For many of these individuals, this results in a long, complicated, and intense treatment program. If weed use does slow down the increase in blood alcohol levels, this may cause people to drink more than usual. In turn, this could increase risky behavior and the likelihood of alcohol poisoning.

DON’T MIX STRAINS OR DRINKS

Brian has a bachelor’s degree in Microbiology from the University of Benin and has worked as a Lab Scientist and as a public healthcare officer. His hobbies include physical fitness, reading, and social entrepreneurship. Using weed and alcohol together can intensify the effects of both drugs. It is safer to use either drug without the other, although the safest option is to use neither.

This combo can lead to the most severe impairment and the highest risk of accidents and injuries. Therefore, you should be especially cautious about combining liquor and weed. As the cannabis industry continues to grow, there has been a rise in the popularity of infused beverages, which offer a unique and potentially safer way to consume both weed and alcohol. Throw in some pot and your risk of dehydration increases, especially if you vomit during a green out.