Polysubstance abuse - issues & experiences

[lostmente]

there really should be a thread for this

[infekt]

SWIM, at one time, was addicted to heroin and benzos, not to mention he smoked a lot of weed, smoked a lot of ciggarretes, smoked crack every once in awhile, and was literally obsessed with psychedelics (but alas they are scarce, so swim didn't have so many opportunities...but whenever he could do them, he would).

Of course heroin took over to the point where none of the other drugs mattered at all (except for the ciggarrettes).

heroin tends to do that I suppose.

[Swimster]

I believe it is QUITE common. Thinking about the pharmacology, All adictive substances are shown to affect the same Neurotransmitter- Dopamine. The more it is effected the more "Re-inforcing" the substance is. Supposibly of-course.

[moda00]

I do think it is very common. I think many people either use multiple substances but don't feel they are addicted to anything (use, or abuse) or use multiple substances and are addicted to one or more of them. I also think it is possible to be dependent on mind-altering substances without any specific drug of choice or chemical addiction.

Swim was addicted to heroin and cocaine. Her official diagnosis was "polysubstance dependent." She was also using ecstasy pills, benzos, other opiates, whatever, but this all took a back burner to heroin and coke. While she would consider heroin her "drug of choice" she also feels that her concurrent cocaine use was problematic to the point of an addiction, and that the use of these two substances created addictions which fed off one another. I think it is common when one is using an upper to also become dependent on a downer for "come-downs" or sleep, or vice versa, when using a depressant drug, to also start using uppers to add more euphoria and energy.

Does everyone think that there are certain recovery strategies or needs that are unique to polysubstance addiction?? Any other thoughts? I think it is clear that some pharmacological treatments take aim at only one substance, but then again it seems that the accompanying task of reevaluating one's life and making lifestyle changes could accompany addiction to one or multiple drugs equally. I also think that perhaps in cases of polydrug addiction it might make sense to use pharmacological treatments, if other options have failed, to address either the primary drug of choice and/or any drug which is treatable through such means and has physiological components. For example, swim was using heroin, coke, and other things. She tried multiple programs and eventually got on methadone. While methadone is technically for opiate addiction, she found it also helped to get off the coke, both by physically/neurologically stabilizing her, and also because the lifestyle changes and such are not drug specific but relate to overcoming all addictions. I think that is why it is so important to address both the physical and psychological components of addiction.

Love to hear others' experiences/opinions!

[Swimster]

Like swim said, most "addicting drugs" have huge similarities to one another. Dopamine.

In swim's experience, as soon as he started to use "Euphoriants", he learned about neuropharmacology. After then, he knew that Euphoric substances deal with pleasure utilizing the Neurochemical Dopamine, although Different drug classes (ie: heroin:cocaine) have different actions logically, especially to the Centeral Nervous System(duh, down:up), yet they are both abused do to their euphoric natures. As for swim, once he realized the fact, his mind was/is set on aquireing anything euphoric/dopaminergic, an addiction to pleasure which is even apparent for substances he has never even used.

Side Note: Swim believes that it is absolutely vital to learn pharmacology, at least basics. although not for swims addictive case.