Effects & Dangers of Mixing Cocaine and Methamphetamine

Polysubstance use, or the use of more than one substance at a time, can be dangerous.¹ Combining stimulant substances can result in additive or amplified drug effects, increasing the risk of overdose and other potentially lethal health effects.²

In this article, we will discuss the effects and dangers of the combined use of cocaine and meth, along with what types of treatment are available and how to get help. 

Combining Cocaine & Meth

A cross-sectional study that examined nearly 200,000 participants in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that methamphetamine and cocaine co-use increased by 60% from 2015 to 2019.¹ Also reported from the 2019 NSDUH, 32% of people who used methamphetamine also used cocaine within that past year.³

Cocaine and methamphetamine are both potently addictive stimulant drugs, but they work with slightly different mechanisms.^4,5 Cocaine is a drug made from the leaves of the coca plant and is commonly found as a white powder or in its freebase, rock-like form (known as crack cocaine). In its various forms, cocaine can be snorted, smoked, injected, or inhaled.⁴ It works quickly and powerfully to stimulate the reward and reinforcement systems in the brain, causing intense pleasure and a desire to take the drug again.⁴

Methamphetamine is a synthetic drug that is commonly sold as a powder or in a crystalline form that can be smoked or taken intranasally, through injection, or orally.⁵ Though there are pharmaceutical formulations of methamphetamine, much of the drug used in the U.S. is illegally manufactured.⁵

Dangers of Mixing Cocaine and Meth

Mixing cocaine and meth together can be extremely dangerous and may increase certain health risks, including the risk of potentially catastrophic cardiovascular effects.² Both drugs can raise a person’s heart rate and blood pressure, and together, they can greatly increase the risk of brain injury, liver damage, heart attack, and stroke.²

The exact symptoms and dangers a person experiences when taking meth and cocaine, either alone or combined, depend on a variety of factors.⁴ The amount of each drug taken, the method of consumption, personal health details, and other factors all influence the effects a person may experience.⁴

Effects of Cocaine

Once used, cocaine works quickly to elicit an intense high, which usually wears off within a few minutes to an hour.⁴ While intoxicated, however, a person may experience a wide variety of short-term effects, including:⁴

• Euphoria.
• Increased energy and alertness.
• Dilated pupils.
• Restlessness.
• Irritability.
• Anxiety.
• Paranoia.
• Increase in body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure.

Using cocaine from time to time, or even just once, can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening medical complications, including heart arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, and seizures.⁴ It is also possible to experience constricted blood vessels, heart attacks, stroke, and even sudden death.⁴ 

Ongoing, chronic cocaine use can have serious long-term effects, including:⁴

• Tears and/or ulcerations in the gastrointestinal tract.
• Stroke, aortic ruptures, and inflamed heart muscle.
• Bleeding in the brain.
• Movement disorders, such as Parkinson’s Disease.
• Cognitive problems with attention span, memory, and impulse control. 
• Nosebleeds and loss of smell from snorting cocaine.
• Respiratory problems as a result of smoking crack cocaine.
• Increased risk of contracting viruses such as HIV and hepatitis from injecting cocaine.
• Substance use disorder, or cocaine addiction.

Effects of Meth

The effects of methamphetamine may develop within seconds or as quickly as 20 minutes after use, depending on the route of administration.⁵ Some short-term effects of using meth include:⁵

• Euphoria.
• Feeling more awake.
• Increased confidence.
• Increased energy.
• Increased libido.
• Decrease in appetite.
• Paranoid thoughts or feelings.
• Rapid heart rate.
• Irregular heartbeat.
• Increased blood pressure.
• Risk of meth overdose.

The short-term euphoria produced by meth wears off quickly and often leads to a “crash” after use, which can drive a person to repeatedly take the drug to continue feeling the high.⁴

With chronic or heavy use, methamphetamine can have serious long-term health effects, including:⁵

• Heart failure.
• Insomnia.
• Anxiety.
• Mood disturbances. 
• Slower reaction time.
• Psychotic symptoms, including hallucinations and delusions. 
• Stroke and related neurological complications.
• Infection of the heart when using intravenously (endocarditis).
• Increased risk of HIV or hepatitis when using intravenously.
• Tooth decay or tooth loss, known as “meth mouth”. 
• Decrease in sexual function for men.
• Substance use disorder, or meth addiction.

Interactions Between Cocaine & Meth

With both substances working in a manner that increases heart rate, blood pressure, and stroke, cocaine mixed with meth can quickly have life-threatening cardiovascular effects.^2,4,5

Both drugs work similarly by blocking dopamine reuptake and ultimately increasing dopamine activity in certain areas of the brain.⁶ Though the exact effects of the combination depend on factors such as the dose of each drug and how they are taken, the combined stimulant effects of cocaine and meth can quickly lead to overdose, especially in a person with little to no prior stimulant use.⁶

Cocaine & Meth Addiction Treatment

Cocaine and methamphetamine use can increase the risk of developing a substance use disorder, in addition to many other health issues.^4,5 When cocaine and meth are used together in an attempt to prolong or otherwise amplify the high felt from either substance alone, these risks may be even greater. 

Addiction to cocaine, meth, or both may make getting sober feel like an insurmountable achievement, but helpful, effective treatment is available. With time and commitment to recovery, a person can have a new life after addiction. Addiction treatment is often given on a continuum of care, with movement from one level of care to the next as a person progresses. Common levels of addiction treatment include:

• Medical detox allows a person to detox with medical supervision and and therapeutic support to ensure a safe and comfortable detox.⁹
• Inpatient addiction treatment consists of 24/7 care in a hospital or residential setting that provides an intensive level of supervision and treatment for relatively severe substance use disorders and any co-occurring mental or medical health conditions.⁹
• Partial hospitalization rehab programs (PHPs) offer the most intensive level of outpatient care, with a range of treatment offerings comparable to those available in inpatient or residential treatment settings. Also referred to as high intensity outpatient programs (HIOPs), a person may receive more than 20 hours per week of treatment while they continue to live at home or other sober living setting.¹¹
• Intensive outpatient addiction treatment programs (IOPs) allow a person to live at home or other sober residence outside of treatment hours. Programs may require 9 or more hours of weekly treatment, but are adjusted based on need.¹⁰
• Traditional outpatient addiction treatment programs are relatively less time intensive compared to inpatient/residential, PHPs, and IOPs. Through regularly scheduled office visits and counseling throughout the week, traditional outpatient care can provide flexibility around work or school while in recovery.⁹
• Rehab aftercare, or continuing care helps a person maintain their commitment to recovery after completing a formal treatment program. Different options for continuing care include community-run mutual aid groups, such as Narcotics Anonymous (NA), sober housing options such as sober living, or a variety of other programs designed to help support a person in recovery and prevent relapse.¹¹

Getting Help for Cocaine & Meth Addiction

If you or a loved one are struggling with cocaine and meth addiction, it is not too late to get help. At AAC, our compassionate and qualified substance use disorder professionals can help your loved one make their way to recovery.

Call today to talk to an admissions navigator about what treatment may be like, health insurance coverage for addiction treatment, and how to talk to your loved one about addiction. All calls are free and no-obligation.