This is because both alcohol and THC, the active intoxicating compound in cannabis, are two different kinds of substances. Alcohol is one of the most widely consumed substances worldwide, with millions of people drinking it daily. But while beer and weed may seem like a match made in heaven, combining the two can lead to unpredictable effects, including increased impairment and heightened risks of dangerous behavior. However, as more and more states continue to legalize cannabis, combining these two substances has become more common. “Acute and residual effects of alcohol and marijuana, alone and in combination, on mood and performance.” Psychopharmacology (Berlin), July 1994.
What Really Happens When You Mix Alcohol and Weed?
If you or a loved one suspects an alcohol overdose, call for help right away. While marijuana combining alcohol and marijuana produces overdose is usually treated with supportive care, there are rare instances of death citing marijuana as a contributor. Alcohol has been shown to increase the absorption of THC, the chemical in marijuana responsible for feeling “high,” and its effects.
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Still, there’s some evidence to suggest that regularly combining alcohol and weed may have some concerning effects over time. When users experience an overdose of their drug of choice, it’s advised that they seek some form of treatment. Like alcohol, the legal treatment of cannabis can lend the substance an air of deviance and rebellion which may feed over-use. When users start seeking more extreme effects, the potential for alcohol poisoning and addiction rise precipitously. Even if you use medical marijuana, it is safest to avoid combining it with alcohol.
Alcohol and cannabis can potentially be enjoyed together responsibly. The feeling of being cross-faded can vary widely from person to person, with some describing a sense of euphoria and heightened effects. This combo can lead to the most severe impairment and the highest risk of accidents and injuries.
Is a weed hangover the same as an alcohol hangover?
In a survey of young adults aged 18 to 23, being cross-faded “was seen as moderately risky and not desirable by most.” However, over 18% of respondents stated that being cross-faded was desirable. Typically, 1 or 2 drinks will produce feelings of relaxation and reduced inhibitions; more drinks can lead to negative side effects. Marijuana contains THC that gives users a high feeling. We do not receive any commission or fee that is dependent upon which treatment provider a caller chooses. This treatment may include formal treatment, such as rehab, and community resources, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA).
Short-term Effects
68% of people with cannabis use disorder also meet the criteria for alcohol use disorder). Make sure you eat before you drink since drinking on an empty stomach makes blood alcohol level rise quickly and may result in more adverse effects. Additionally, you may want to avoid weed edibles since these may increase your risk of unpleasant symptoms, Lonano says. Ideally, you shouldn’t mix alcohol with other substances, Lonano says. In people who already have depression, weed might cause worsened depressive symptoms.
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Chronic heavy drinking can mess with the chemical messengers in your brain that regulate anxiety, leading to heightened anxiety in general. Although alcohol may initially lead to a decrease in anxiety, it ultimately can result in more anxiety. This can cause hallucinations or delusions after you consume cannabis. Although rare, cannabis-induced psychosis is a possibility. A depressed mood is also a symptom of marijuana withdrawal. Panic attacks are short-lived, intense episodes of panic consisting of troubling symptoms like a choking sensation, chest pain, and a feeling of impending doom.
Mixing Alcohol and Weed: Why and How Alcohol and THC Interact
Weed use before alcohol may slow down the rise in blood alcohol levels, which can reduce or delay the sensation of being drunk. The American Psychological Association suggest that adolescents’ developing brains are especially vulnerable to long-term damage from weed use. In rare cases, chronic marijuana use can result in cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, which causes severe nausea, vomiting, and dehydration. Alcohol is a diuretic, which means that it causes people to produce more urine. Their combined use can cause blackouts, memory loss, and an increased likelihood of engaging in risky behaviors.
If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use, Charlie Health’s virtual IOP can help. Alcohol can also cause people to feel more hungry than usual, which may lead them to overindulge on edibles. There may be additional risks because it is easy to overconsume edibles. Edibles are foods that contain marijuana or its active ingredients, such as THC. However, this finding comes from older research, and some people have questioned this study.
Additionally, alcohol can lead to addiction, which can subsequently devastate a person’s health and well-being. The short-term effects of alcohol can include impaired cognitive function, slowed reaction times, and altered mood. As the cannabis industry continues to grow, there has been a rise in the popularity of infused beverages, which offer a unique and potentially safer way to consume both weed and alcohol (or CBD and alcohol).
- For those with a family history of mental health conditions, cannabis use may increase the risk of developing or triggering these conditions.
- Www.medicalnewstoday.com.
- Because more alcohol is usually consumed when using alcohol and marijuana at the same time, users are at risk for alcohol poisoning and should pay close attention to how much they are consuming.
- The study authors found that people who felt “stressed, angry, tired, and/or out of control” were more likely to use both substances at the same time.
- Alcohol overdose is often called alcohol poisoning, but they mean the exact same.
It is important to seek emergency medical help if you suspect a person is experiencing alcohol poisoning. Although using too much marijuana isn’t usually life-threatening, inhalation burns and asthma attacks from smoking cannabis can be deadly. Combining the two substances also leads to a greater degree of impairment than taking either one on its own. This is the best time of year to begin treatment. In fact, marijuana is the most frequently used substance among drinkers. Addiction Center is not a medical provider or treatment facility and does not provide medical advice.
- However, younger and inexperienced drinkers are also known to overdose on alcohol when they fail to understand their own limits or succumb to peer pressure to drink far more than is prudent.
- When someone uses alcohol and marijuana together, they might start to notice they feel the effects of one (or both) much more quickly and more pronounced than otherwise.
- Further, when drinking is treated as a deviant, criminal behavior, teenagers may turn to binge drinking as a form of rebellion.
- The cannabis market is constantly evolving, but as of 2023, THC-infused alcoholic beverages are still hard to find in most markets.
- Occasionally mixing alcohol and weed — also known as crossfading — likely won’t lead to major health problems.
- Although alcohol may initially lead to a decrease in anxiety, it ultimately can result in more anxiety.
The reason behind this is that alcohol increases the absorption of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the main psychoactive component in cannabis. The order in which a person uses weed and alcohol may affect the outcome. A 2019 study supports this, finding that those who use alcohol and weed simultaneously are likely to drink more alcohol more frequently. The results also showed that regular cannabis users displayed more driving errors than those who did not regularly use the drug.
If alcohol or marijuana is negatively impacting your life and you seem unable to quit on your own, help is available. It is possible to experience marijuana withdrawal, where a person experiences cravings, restlessness, mood and sleep disturbances, and irritability when they don’t use the drug. It is commonly known that alcohol is addictive, but there is debate over whether marijuana can be considered addictive. An addiction to alcohol is something that should be taken seriously, and it is important to know the signs of alcohol addiction to determine if you or your loved one is struggling.
Addiction Center does not endorse any treatment facility or guarantee the quality of care provided, or the results to be achieved, by any treatment facility. Find rehab for yourself or a loved one by speaking with a treatment provider. Contact a treatment provider today to learn more about available treatment options. A craving for alcohol, wanting to cut back but being unable to, having your professional or personal life affected by alcohol, and developing a tolerance to alcohol are all signs of an alcohol use disorder. Psychological symptoms may occur such as anxiety and distress. Physical symptoms like nausea and vomiting are common, as well as sweating and dizziness.
Common Side Effects of Marijuana
Www.medicalnewstoday.com. Mental effects can include heightened anxiety, confusion, or feeling significantly more intoxicated than your consumption would typically cause. The early warning signs of overconsumption often begin with physical symptoms such as dizziness. This becomes particularly important with cannabis edibles, which can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours to reach full effect.