Local Rehab Explores Effects of Fentanyl & Alcohol

Fort Sanders, Tennessee -

Knoxville, TN – ReVIDA® Recovery recently released a blog that explored the dangerous effects of mixing fentanyl and alcohol. Their program consists of flexible outpatient therapy as well as medication-assisted treatment (MAT).

“Fentanyl and alcohol are both depressants, which are sometimes referred to as “downers.” They can create feelings of euphoria and relaxation but also cause loss of motor coordination, low blood pressure, slow breathing, and reduced reaction time. Mixing them can result in overdose, death, or severe damage to the brain, heart, and other vital organs. Mixing them could mean taking them simultaneously or within hours of each other.

Several factors can increase someone’s risk of mixing fentanyl and alcohol. Males are more likely than females to use both together. Younger people and those with lower household incomes might combine fentanyl and alcohol. Binge drinking is also a reason people might use fentanyl and alcohol together,” the article reads.

It is also possible to accidentally mix fentanyl and alcohol if other substances are being taken with alcohol. Exposure to fentanyl can happen due to dealers mixing fentanyl with other substances, such as heroin. This is done because fentanyl is 50-100 times stronger than heroin, which makes it easy for dealers to use it to increase their supply and the strength of their product. It is also cheaper, which makes it easy to decrease the costs of other substances. If the person consumes heroin and alcohol together, there is a chance that they could be consuming fentanyl without knowing about it.

There are several short-term side effects of mixing alcohol and fentanyl including dizziness, stumbling, memory loss, low blood pressure, coma, and unconsciousness. In the long term, these effects can cause severe conditions including cancer, stroke, high blood pressure, hepatitis, heart failure, and ulcers. Consuming too much alcohol or fentanyl on their own can result in an overdose. However, consuming them together increases the risk of a potential overdose. While overdose is the most significant danger when combining alcohol and fentanyl, other risks can be potentially life-threatening. Alcohol and fentanyl can result in injuries or participating in violence or unsafe sexual behaviors.

“An overdose is a medical emergency that requires 911 to be called immediately. If someone is experiencing any symptoms of an overdose, medical attention is needed. Even if you have combined fentanyl and alcohol in the past, an overdose is still a risk each time you combine the two substances. Alcohol and fentanyl overdose have similar symptoms, and the risk increases when combined.

When an overdose is left untreated, it can lead to death. Narcan® (naloxone) is used to reverse the effects of a fentanyl overdose. In Tennessee, anyone can buy Narcan® (naloxone) and administer it to a loved one experiencing an overdose. If you or a loved one uses fentanyl, it’s a good idea to keep Narcan® (naloxone) on standby,” the article continues.

Combining substances can lead to dangerous outcomes, even if the person has taken both before. It is always best to seek treatment for substance use to prevent overdoses from either (or both) fentanyl and alcohol.

ReVIDA® Recovery has been helping many reclaim their lives through flexible outpatient programming. They believe in utilizing MAT for opioid use disorders because they have seen firsthand how beneficial it can be. Same-day appointments are also available, so there is no wait to begin treatment today.

To learn more about ReVIDA® Recovery, call 423-631-0432 or visit their website.