Can I Detox From Multiple Drugs at the Same Time?

If you struggle with drug and alcohol abuse, you are not alone. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 48.5 million people suffered from a substance use disorder in 2023.[1]

It is common for people suffering from addiction to abuse multiple drugs at the same time. For example, if you have alcoholism and abuse prescription drugs like Xanax, you are engaging in polysubstance use. Unfortunately, mixing substances can cause you to develop an addiction to multiple drugs and increase your risk of experiencing life-threatening overdoses.

The first step in addiction recovery is medical detox. Because your brain and body are dependent on the substances you abuse, you’ll experience withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking them. Medical detox centers use FDA-approved medications and treatments to lessen your symptoms and keep you stable.

While medical detox is an important first step, is it possible to detox from multiple drugs at the same time? Thankfully, reputable detox centers are equipped to treat polysubstance use. Your doctors will help you manage withdrawal symptoms from multiple drugs at the same time, making it possible for you to achieve long-term sobriety.

In this article, you will learn:

• What is polysubstance use?
• Can you detox from more than one drug at the same time?
• How does detox for polysubstance use work?

What is Polysubstance Use?

Polysubstance use is the act of abusing more than one drug at the same time. If you’ve ever drunk alcohol and smoked weed at the same time, you’ve engaged in polysubstance use. Another example of this would be combining cocaine and prescription opioids.

You might engage in polysubstance use on accident. For example, if you take a prescription drug like benzodiazepines or opioids, you might drink alcohol without thinking about how the substances interact. Accidental polysubstance use also occurs when you consume a drug that contains adulterants you are not aware of.

On the other hand, some people engage in polysubstance use intentionally. Mixing certain drugs with alcohol might provide you with the high that you are seeking. Sadly, taking multiple substances at the same time can be risky.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “In 2022, nearly half of drug overdose deaths involved multiple drugs.”[2] In other words, polysubstance use increases your risk of experiencing a life-threatening overdose.

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Can You Detox From Multiple Drugs at Once?

Addiction treatment centers offer detox programs to keep their clients safe and comfortable during the withdrawal phase of recovery. Usually, people are detoxing from only one drug at a time. This makes it easy to prescribe medications to control withdrawal symptoms.

While it is most common to detox from one drug, the medical professionals at detox centers understand that polysubstance use occurs. If you are addicted to more than one drug, it is possible to detox from both of them at the same time. Doing this will lessen the amount of time you have to spend detoxing, getting you into therapy and counseling for addiction recovery faster.

Even though detoxing from multiple drugs at once can be complicated, the outcome of overcoming withdrawal faster is worth it. Thankfully, many withdrawal medications can be prescribed together. Additionally, some drugs use similar medications to treat withdrawal symptoms, making it easier for your treatment team to manage your medication.

How Does Detox for Multiple Drug Addiction Work?

If you are entering detox for polysubstance use, knowing how it works can lessen some of your anxiety. The first step of medical detox is an in-depth assessment where the admissions counselors ask you questions about your physical health, mental health conditions, and history of substance abuse. The information gathered will be used to create an individualized detox treatment plan.

Once your detox plan is created, your doctor will assess your symptoms and prescribe a medication to keep you safe and comfortable. If you are experiencing alcohol withdrawal, you might be given benzodiazepines to control your symptoms. On the other hand, opioid withdrawal is treated with opioid-related medications like Suboxone and methadone.

If you abuse two drugs that can be treated with one medication, your treatment team will do so. However, you might need multiple medications to control all of your symptoms. As you progress through detox, the dose of your medications will be lessened until you no longer experience withdrawal symptoms.

In addition to medication, your vital signs will be monitored consistently. Medical professionals might check your blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, and breathing rate to ensure you are stable. If you need fluids or vitamins, you will be given IV infusions.

Once you overcome withdrawal, you will transfer into an inpatient or outpatient addiction treatment program where you can overcome the root causes of your polysubstance use disorder.

Get Connected to a Polysubstance Detox Center

If you or a loved one suffers from polysubstance use, it’s time to seek professional help. The longer you abuse multiple substances, the more likely it is that you’ll experience an overdose. Attending a multiple drug detox center will keep you safe and help you begin your recovery journey.

At the Mandala Healing Center, we offer polysubstance detox services. Contact us today to learn more about how our program works.

References:

1. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Highlights for the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health
2. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Polysubstance Use Facts