party-drugs

Party Drugs You Should Stay Away From

Let’s face it, after a year of lockdown everyone is ready to blow off a little steam and party. But as you come out of your wintertime hibernation mode and start to re-engage with your social scenes remember to be safe.

Some of the most destructive lures in any party scene are the various party drugs. While these drugs can seem fun at first, they will ruin your life if you begin to use them habitually.

Take a look at a few common party drug pitfalls to watch out for. That way your spring blossoming won’t ruin your life.

Alcohol

Alcohol is one of the most popular drugs in the United States with 85% of Americans admitting to the fact that they have drunk it. It can also be one of the most devastating especially when you mix it with other drugs.

What can start as an innocent social drinking habit can turn into a devastating addiction that can ruin your life and leave you a broken person.

Dangers of Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol, along with heroin, is one of the few drugs whose withdrawal symptoms are so severe that they can kill you. Alcoholism is a common condition that plagues countless people worldwide.

Alcohol-Related Party Safety Tips

The best way to keep a handle on your booze is to not start drinking in the first place. If you do decide to drink, make sure that you set boundaries and rules to keep yourself in line.

Avoid binge drinking at parties as this can lead to risky behavior and even alcohol poisoning.

If you plan on having a few drinks, alternate a glass of your favorite alcoholic beverage with a glass of water to give your system a chance to process the alcohol.

Use the buddy system to keep tabs on your friends and also keep from getting taken advantage of yourself. 

Don’t mix drugs with alcohol. These can cause an adverse reaction that may even kill you. Also, know when your drinking is getting out of control and get help when you need it.

Mixing Drugs and Alcohol

Never mix alcohol with other drugs such as prescription pills. This can lead to an adverse chemical reaction and in some cases death.

Countless American icons in art and music have died from consuming a deadly cocktail of drugs and alcohol. Don’t end up as another statistic because you decided to pop a couple of pills while you were already drunk. 

Mixing drugs and alcohol is never worth it and can be a perfect storm of catastrophe. Alcohol lowers your inhibitions, so you may be more inclined to take a drug under its influence. Resist the urge to prolong your life.

Cocaine

Cocaine starts from the innocuous origins of the Coca leaf indigenous to western South America. Native’s chew this leaf or mix it into a tea to alleviate the effects of altitude sickness. 

The leaf and its immediate bi-products provide a mild buzz such as that of a cup of coffee. However, this harmless leaf can be processed into a much more dangerous drug: cocaine.

Users snort cocaine in its powdered form for a strong but fast-lived buzz. They smoke it in the form of crack cocaine for a more intense and dangerous experience as well.

Dangers of Cocaine

First of all, cocaine is a very illegal substance capable of netting you jail time in all 50 states. If you want to ruin your life, there are few faster ways than getting caught with cocaine by authorities.

Also, cocaine is one of the most addictive substances out there. The high does not last very long, so as soon as you come down you will want more. It is also expensive, causing you to spend all of your money to seek out more.

Cocaine can cause lasting damage to your cardiovascular and nervous systems. Too much cocaine can cause you to overdose and die in a matter of minutes. Avoid the snare of this drug if you want to keep your money and life.

Prescription Drugs

Prescription drugs are widely available due to their proliferation and mass distribution at the hands of the pharmaceutical industrial complex. Many people get prescribed heavy prescription drugs legally from their doctor.

This makes them one of the most common party drugs around at social gatherings near you. It also makes them one of the most common things that people overdose on nationwide.

Xanax

Xanax is used to treat anxiety and panic disorders and provides users with a calming effect. If it is abused it can make users act like a zombie, especially when it is mixed with alcohol.

This includes slow movements, slurred speech, and trouble focusing, or standing. Abusing Xanax can also lead to overdose, addiction, and death.

Opioids

Prescription opioids are responsible for the ongoing opioid epidemic across the nation. Drugs like Oxycontin, Vicodin, and Fentanyl are some common opioids.

They provide relaxing sedative effects at first but can leave you catatonic or dead if you take them in excess. They are one of the most common causes of death for people overdosing on drugs.

Stimulants

Prescription stimulant drugs, such as those used to treat ADHD like Adderall and Ritalin are very dangerous when taken in excess. They cause your heart to race and can lead to lasting cardiovascular damage.

Most prescription pill stimulants are based on Amphetamines so they are in essence a synthetic version of Meth. If you take them in excess they can lead to overdose and death.

Party Smart

You don’t need party drugs to enjoy a party. You may think you are the life of the party when you are on drugs or alcohol, but to everyone else, you seem like a blubbering fool. Be the life of the party, not the laughing stock of it.

Party smart and avoid dangerous substances taken in excess. If you or someone you know is developing a substance abuse problem, contact us to get the help you need.

Clinically Reviewed By

Dawn Masick, LMFT

Dawn has experience dealing with various relational, emotional, and psychological struggles. Dawn’s training has prepared her to work with children, teens, young adults, adults, couples, and families. She has undergone training in DBT, TF-CBT, and Family Therapy.  Other competencies include dealing with ADHD, mood/anxiety disorders, parenting challenges, addiction, PTSD, co- dependency, and relationship issues. I have experience in residential, school-based mental health, children’s community mental health, victims of crime (VOC), and private practice settings.

Dawn has been committed to guiding clients through their trauma, coming alongside them in their healing, and supporting them as they navigate life changes. Dawn’s passion is working with clients struggling with trauma in substance abuse and mental health.