The Dangers of Mixing Kratom and Alcohol

Alcohol has become one of America’s favorite pastimes. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), 78.5% of people in the United States have consumed alcohol at some point in their lives. While occasional alcohol use is fine, sometimes people forget that it can interact with other substances they may be taking.

When you regularly drink alcohol, you might not think about how it interacts with other medications or supplements you take. For example, mixing alcohol with prescription medications like benzodiazepines can be dangerous.

One substance you might not expect to interact with alcohol negatively is kratom. Kratom is an herbal substance that can produce stimulant or depressant effects depending on the dose. Mixing kratom and alcohol can result in adverse mental health effects, addiction, overdose, and even liver damage.

What is Kratom?

Kratom comes from a plant known as Mitragyna speciosa. It is a tropical tree that is native to Southeast Asia. People consume its leaves to experience psychoactive effects.

In low doses, kratom can cause stimulant effects including fast heart rate, high blood pressure, and increased energy. High doses of kratom can result in central nervous system (CNS) depressant effects, like dizziness, drowsiness, and euphoria.

The common side effects of kratom include:

• Increased energy and alertness
• Chattiness and increased self-confidence
• Drowsiness or sedation
• Increased heart rate and high blood pressure
• A rush of euphoria and feelings of pleasure
• Nausea and vomiting
• Itchiness
• Dry mouth
• Loss of appetite

Kratom abuse can also cause adverse effects. According to NIDA, kratom can cause “mental and neurological symptoms (confusion, tremors and seizures), heart and lung problems (high blood pressure and slow breathing), gastrointestinal problems (nausea and vomiting) and liver problems.”

Because kratom can cause dangerous symptoms, you should avoid abusing it. While some people claim that kratom has medicinal benefits, there is limited evidence that kratom is helpful for conditions like pain or opioid addiction.

Can You Mix Kratom and Alcohol?

Kratom and alcohol are both legal to consume in the United States. As a result, you might be tempted to mix them. Unfortunately, these substances should never be taken together.

Combining alcohol and kratom can lead to dangerous side effects, like addiction, overdose, and more. Using them long-term can cause significant damage to your liver. For these reasons, it is just not worth it to mix alcohol and kratom.

If you or a loved one are addicted to the combination of kratom and alcohol, it’s time to consider your treatment options. Drug rehab programs can help you achieve sobriety and address the root causes of your substance abuse issues.

What are the Risks of Combining Alcohol and Kratom?

Alcohol and kratom are dangerous to combine. If you are taking low doses of kratom with alcohol, that means you are mixing a stimulant and a depressant. Doing so could confuse your system and lead to adverse effects.

On the other hand, high doses of kratom can act as a CNS depressant. Mixing two depressant substances can lead to respiratory depression and overdoses.

The main dangers of mixing alcohol and kratom include:

Mental Health Risks

On their own, alcohol and kratom can cause worsened symptoms of mental health conditions like depression or anxiety. When you combine them, your risk of experiencing negative psychological effects increases.

Mixing kratom and alcohol can lead to increased depression, anxiety, paranoia, and more. You can also develop substance-induced psychosis by combining alcohol and kratom.

Coordination and Judgment Issues

When you take high doses of kratom while drinking alcohol, you are combining two depressants. Taking large amounts of depressant drugs will lead to impairments in coordination and judgment.

The level of coordination and judgment issues that can develop when mixing alcohol and kratom can be dangerous. For example, you might believe you are safe to drive even though you are incredibly intoxicated. This could lead to a car accident that injures you or the people around you.

Addiction

Both kratom and alcohol are habit-forming. When you combine them frequently, you are at a serious risk of developing an addiction.

Signs that you are addicted to kratom and alcohol include:

• Having a hard time controlling how much alcohol and kratom you use
• Combining alcohol and kratom to experience a more potent high
• Wanting to quit using substances but being unsuccessful
• Getting into risky situations when you abuse kratom and alcohol
• Experiencing strong urges or cravings to abuse substances
• Losing interest in previously enjoyed activities to have more time to abuse alcohol and kratom
• Failing to meet responsibilities at home, school, or work
• Having to increase the dose of alcohol and kratom to experience the desired effect
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you stop using alcohol or kratom

Overdose

Mixing alcohol and kratom can lead to a life-threatening overdose. If you believe that you or a loved one is experiencing an overdose, you should contact 911 immediately. Emergency medical personnel can provide life-saving treatments to prevent the overdose from becoming fatal.

The signs of an alcohol and kratom overdose might include:

• Respiratory depression
• Kidney failure
• Rhabdomyolysis
• Cardiac arrest
• Seizures
• Coma and death

Liver Damage

Lastly, long-term abuse of kratom and alcohol can lead to liver damage. This is because both substances are metabolized in the liver. When there is too much kratom and alcohol in your system, your liver will not be able to metabolize and excrete it properly.

The signs of liver damage may include abdominal pain, easy bruising, swelling in the belly, and more. If you believe you have developed liver damage from kratom and alcohol abuse, it’s time to seek professional help.

Find Help for Kratom and Alcohol Abuse

If you or a loved one suffers from kratom and alcohol abuse, it’s time to consider addiction treatment. New You Sober Living can connect you with a drug and alcohol rehab program. Once you complete your treatment, you can transition into our sober living housing program.

Contact us today to learn more.