The effects of taking cocaine and alcohol together are far more dangerous than taking either drug alone. Cocaethylene is formed when alcohol and cocaine meet in the liver. This metabolite remains in the body much longer, subjecting the heart and liver to a prolonged period of stress. This extended period of stress has caused deaths up to 12 hours after the user has mixed alcohol and cocaine.

Cocaethylene is the only known example of the body forming a third drug following the ingestion of two others. It is toxic in the liver and is also blamed for causing heart attacks. The risk of sudden death is 18 times greater when alcohol and cocaine are used together. You could be feeling completely fine for hours after taking both drugs and then find yourself quickly in serious trouble.

Many who consider themselves social users, taking a line or two of cocaine coupled with a few drinks on a weekly or monthly basis, usually do not consider the health implications of their drug taking. These recreational drug users need more awareness of the dangers of mixing cocaine with alcohol as they tend to feel under control with their drug use. There is a real problem out there where people don’t understand that mixing drugs is one of the biggest factors in drug-related deaths. Mixing drugs and alcohol increases toxicity and significantly increases risk of poisoning and overdose.

The number of people under 25 who have sought help for cocaine abuse has doubled in the past four years and in all demographics it has been on the rise. The number of people going to hospital after overdosing on cocaine has doubled over the past five years, with one person now admitted every 10 hours. Alcohol is thought to play a significant part in many of these admissions.

Surveys show people who drink regularly in bars and clubs are more likely to be using alcohol and drugs. This presents challenges to health professionals about how to raise awareness of the health risks because combining the drugs is not seen as taboo, it is simply a lifestyle to the users.