5 Dangers of Mixing Weed and Alcohol

Mixing weed and alcohol is a slippery slope that pushes you towards the decline of cognitive function and a higher risk of addiction. One of the main dangers is the effects of alcohol and weed on the brain. These two alter the functional and structural regions of the brain, disturbing its cognitive activity.¹ If you are thinking about taking this duo, here are the 5 dangers of mixing alcohol and weed in detail.

Mixing weed and alcohol is a telltale sign of substance use disorder. ChoicePoint offers accessible and insurance-covered outpatient substance abuse treatment in NJ. Call 844.445.2565 to get the support you need!

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What Does Mixing Weed and Alcohol Do to Your Body

Mixing weed and alcohol translates into doubling the odds of danger. Weed or marijuana releases THC in the bloodstream. Regardless of the dose, when taken with weed, alcohol increases the amount of THC in your blood.²

THC and alcohol may give a feel-good effect at the beginning, but after some time, the nauseous sensation gets the person sick and overwhelmed.

4 Harmful Short-term Effects 

Below are the effects of mixing alcohol and weed that you may notice right after consumption:

1. 1. Blackouts: Interfere with brain functioning, disturbing short-term memory retention.
   2. Vomiting: They cause inflammation in the kidneys and gut.
   3. Disorientation: They affect coordination, clarity, and judgement, resulting in stumbling, etc.
   4. Poor Impulse Control: Disability in decision making and judgment leads to aggressive decisions, such as gambling, unprotected sex, etc.

5 Threatening Long-Term Effects 

The effects of mixing weed and alcohol for a long time lead to: 

1. 1. Organ Damage: These substances cause heart, liver, and kidney dysfunction.
   2. Higher Risk of Addiction: The cycle of mixing and heavy use leads to dependency.
   3. Worsen Psychological Disorders: High THC levels amplify the symptoms of paranoia, depression, anxiety, and psychosis.
   4. Stomach Issues: Weed triggers cyclical nausea, and alcohol increases acid production. Mixing them severely disturbs the gastrointestinal system.
   5. Weakens the Immune System: Alcohol elongates immune responses, and weed may suppress them more.

Triggering Greening Out by Mixing Weed and Alcohol

What Are the 5 Dangers of Mixing Alcohol and Weed?

The weed and alcohol mix increases the absorption of THC in the blood than taking marijuana separately. 

1. Impaired Driving 

If you need to drive somewhere afterwards, mixing alcohol and weed is surely a bad idea. According to a study published in NCBI, it affects driving performance as it elongates the reaction times, increasing the chances of accidents or crashes.³ Additionally, driving errors were more prevalent in frequent users of weed as compared to those who use cannabis irregularly.

2. Elevated Dependency and Overdose Risk 

If you mix weed and alcohol to achieve the ‘perfect high’, the potential for heavy drinking increases.4 The higher and more frequent utilization of these two most addictive drugs can cause dependency and overdose. Cannabis overdose worsens mental health disorders, causing harm to you and others.

3. Decline in Cognitive Function

Alcohol and cannabis stunt your decision-making ability, leaving you to act recklessly. This can create problems in your relationships and work life. The deadly spiral of bad decision-making can cause you to consume other illicit drugs or other unsafe situations. 

4. Dehydration

After drinking, it is common to produce more urine. Weed and alcohol mixing may amplify it. Thus, it is important to rehydrate yourself. Especially if it causes vomiting, you should increase fluid intake to prevent dehydration.

5. Alcohol Poisoning 

This is a condition in which alcohol affects the parts of the brain responsible for regulating heart rate, breathing, and body temperature. As all of these functions are integral to the body, any disturbance can lead to fatal outcomes. And, alcohol poisoning results in their shutdown.

How to Minimize Risks Before Mixing Marijuana and Alcohol

Those who are using marijuana for medical reasons and may have an instance of drinking with it can take the following into account:

1. Even if you have to drink, don’t go above one drink to use marijuana after it.
2. Limit the amount of both when you expect marijuana and alcohol co-use.
3. Before taking marijuana after alcohol, wait for at least sixty minutes.
4. If you notice alcohol use disorder and marijuana use disorder symptoms, consult a professional immediately.

What 5 Actions to Take After Having a Bad Reaction From Mixing Weed and Alcohol?

To minimize the risk of an accident, here is what you should do if your group plans to consume alcohol and weed:

1. Try not to panic 
2. Drink more water to avoid dehydration
3. Have some lemon juice to decrease the THC levels in the body⁵
4. Consume a snack or drink to increase the blood sugar level 
5. If an alcohol overdose is suspected, call the Alcohol abuse hotline 

If your drinking problem is the reason for you to try a combination of various drugs, then you must attempt to quit alcohol safely or get help from a drug and alcohol rehab in NJ for medically supervised weed detox and quickly get alcohol out of your system. Call us at 844.445.2565 to connect with our clinical staff today.

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6 Top Reasons Why Choose ChoicePoint to Get Help for Weed and Alcohol Use Disorder

In the long run, weed and liquor affect vision, hearing, touch, smell, and taste. Usually, those who take alcohol and weed together have dependence on either of the substances. With supportive care and medical attention at Alcohol and Drug Rehab Hackettstown, NJ,  you can mitigate the risk of harm these two drugs might cause. 

Outpatient Detox Program

Outpatient detox eliminates the set of risks associated with alcohol or weed dependence with the right medications. We help you slowly cut down their use while managing cravings and agonizing withdrawals. After the clinical evaluation, your doctor can advise you to other levels of care like IOP, PHP/Partial Care, Inpatient program. 

Our drug and alcohol detox program has the following benefits for people who use alcohol and weed repeatedly:

1. Easy admission at the Outpatient detox NJ facility
2. Quick drug and alcohol evaluation in NJ
3. Online MAT program (FDA-approved) for coping with alcohol withdrawal, like Naltrexone, Acamprosate, and Disulfiram. 
4. Online and in-person Alcohol therapists NJ
5. In-Network with Major Commercial Insurance Programs
6. Behavioral Therapies to manage psychological withdrawal symptoms

If quitting addiction is beyond your control, and financial challenges are stopping you from getting help, our Alcohol and drug detox centre that accepts Medicare in NJ has got you covered! We are accepting various commercial insurance plans like Blue Cross Blue Shield Outpatient Rehab,​ so verify your insurance here to get started!

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FAQs: Mixing Weed and Alcohol

Here are some more questions related to the effects of smoking and drinking at the same time:

Am I going to be okay if I passed out and uncontrollably vomited while being high and drunk for the first time?

Even though it is not a medical emergency, and these effects wane after a few minutes to some hours, it is best to have someone around for safety. Mixing alcohol and weed increases the THC levels in the blood, which causes uncontrollable nausea. And during upright posture, weed is likely to cause postural hypotension that results in fainting or dizziness.⁶

Why do weed and alcohol not mix?

Mixing alcohol and weed is an intense process that puts strain on the brain and body. This often causes the person to drink alcohol in larger amounts. This may further lead to alcohol poisoning, blackouts, and nausea. 

Can alcohol and weed cause a seizure?

Yes, if you have had seizures in the past, mixing alcohol and weed can trigger them. Alcohol abuse in this manner affects the seizure threshold in the brain and the alcohol withdrawal timeline.

Why did I feel like I was dying when I mixed alcohol and weed?

Death from combining alcohol and weed is rare. Mixing exaggerates the effects of both substances; you may feel sleepy, lose the perception of time, experience slowed reflexes, etc., making you think that you won’t survive.

What would happen if I mix alcohol, weed, and Xanax? 

Mixing weed, Xanax and alcohol can cause dangerous side effects. It increases the likelihood of addiction to either or all of these substances. Weed, benzodiazepine and alcohol can suppress the neurotransmitters in the CNS, causing severe panic attacks, seizures, and unresponsiveness.

References 

1. Bedillion MF, Blaine SK, Claus ED, Ansell EB. The Effects of Alcohol and Cannabis Co-use on Neurocognitive Function, Brain Structure, and Brain Function. Current Behavioral Neuroscience Reports. 2021 Nov 18;
2. Any dose of alcohol combined with cannabis significantly increases levels of THC in blood [Internet]. ScienceDaily. 2015. Available from: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/05/150527112728.htm
3. Lenné MG, Dietze PM, Triggs TJ, Walmsley S, Murphy B, Redman JR. The effects of cannabis and alcohol on simulated arterial driving: Influences of driving experience and task demand. Accident Analysis & Prevention [Internet]. 2010 May 1;42(3):859–66. Available from: 
4. Metrik J, Gunn RL, Jackson KM, Sokolovsky AW, Borsari B. Daily Patterns of Marijuana and Alcohol Co-Use Among Individuals with Alcohol and Cannabis Use Disorders. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. 2018 May 8;42(6):1096–104.
5. Russo EB. Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid entourage effects. British Journal of Pharmacology. 2011 Jul 12;163(7):1344–64.
6. Mathew RJ, Wilson WH, Humphreys D, Lowe JV, Wiethe KE. Middle cerebral artery velocity during upright posture after marijuana smoking. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. 1992 Aug;86(2):173–8.