What Are the Dangers of Mixing Alcohol With MDMA?
Drinking alcohol while on MDMA intensifies the drug’s dangerous side effects, which can lead to shaking, sweating, confusion, rapid heart rate, dehydration, overheating, stroke, organ damage, and overdose leading to coma or death.
Also known by its street names, Molly and Ecstasy, MDMA is a hallucinogenic drug found on the Schedule I list, which means it has a high potential for severe side effects, addiction, and death. Drinking alcohol while on MDMA only makes matters worse.
Since young adults often use MDMA at clubs, concerts, and rave parties, alcohol is usually within close reach. People who take MDMA and alcohol say it gives them energy and makes them feel happy, relaxed, and connected to those around them. However, the combination also has dangerous side effects.
If you or someone you know needs assistance with an addiction to MDMA or alcohol, please call Zinnia Health at (855) 430-9439 to speak with a substance use specialist. We can help you find the treatment and support you need to recover.
Can You Drink on MDMA?
MDMA’s status as a party drug means that it is commonly mixed with alcohol, but this combination can lead to intense and unpredictable side effects.
The effects of MDMA include euphoria, increased energy and pleasure, and distorted sensory perceptions, and drinking alcohol amplifies these sensations. However, alcohol also heightens the risks associated with MDMA, leading to a higher potential for organ damage, overdose, and addiction.
How Long After Taking MDMA Can You Drink Alcohol?
MDMA alters perception and produces feelings of euphoria, increased energy, and empathy. It is often used recreationally at parties or clubs and has become increasingly popular among young people. It’s usually taken in pill form but can also be snorted, smoked, or injected.
Meanwhile, alcohol is a depressant that slows the body down. When you mix MDMA and alcohol, they have opposite effects on the body. While some people believe they cancel each other out, they actually lead to a dangerous and potentially fatal combination.
As such, it’s never safe to drink alcohol while taking MDMA.
Why Do People Mix Alcohol With MDMA?
People who take MDMA often combine it with other substances, such as marijuana and alcohol, in an attempt to feel sociable, euphoric, and loose. However, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) warns that this practice may increase the risk of harmful health effects, and you should avoid combining drugs in all cases.
Alcohol is often mixed with MDMA since it’s highly accessible, especially in the clubs and party atmospheres where MDMA is typically used. The idea is that MDMA will help cancel out the sedative effects of alcohol while intensifying the sensation of being buzzed, high, or intoxicated. While it might do so temporarily, as the amount of alcohol a person drinks goes up, so does the risk for serious side effects.
Are you or a loved one struggling with alcohol or ecstasy abuse? It can feel impossible to overcome addiction on your own. If you have questions, reach out to Zinnia Health at (855) 430-9439 to speak with one of our admissions navigatorsand discuss the next steps in getting help.
Why Is It Dangerous to Mix MDMA with Alcohol?
Drinking alcohol can cause drowsiness and slowed reflexes, while MDMA can cause hyperactivity and impulsive behavior. This combination can lead to accidents and risky behavior. Additionally, since alcohol dehydrates the body, it can increase the risk of dehydration and raise body temperature for people using MDMA in hot environments, such as dance clubs. This can be life-threatening.
Combining alcohol with MDMA also makes it difficult to know how much MDMA is in your system, increasing the risk of accidental MDMA overdose. The effects of alcohol and MDMA together can also lead people to drink more alcohol than they intended, which can be very dangerous. Too much alcohol can lead to blacking out, vomiting, and even death.
Additionally, alcohol consumption can slow MDMA removal from the body, increasing the risk of organ damage. The effect of drinking alcohol and taking MDMA together is unpredictable and potentially dangerous. The combination can lead to impaired judgment, recklessness, and accidents.
What Can Happen if You Drink on MDMA?
Ecstasy remains one of the more popular club drugs because of the sensations it induces, but it is not without risks. Someone taking MDMA may experience overheating (hyperthermia), dehydration, and serotonin syndrome.
The long-term effects of mixing these substances are not well-known because research on the topic is limited. However, we do know the effects of ecstasy and alcohol when taken separately, and these effects can be amplified when the two are taken together.
Regularly drinking too much alcohol can lead to:
- Liver damage
- Brain damage
- Heart disease
- Increased risk of cancer
- High blood pressure
- Stroke
- Mental health issues
Taking MDMA on a regular basis can lead to:
- Memory problems
- Mental illnesses such as depression or anxiety
- Sleep problems
- Drug cravings
- Tooth grinding
- Loss of appetite
- Shaking, cramping, and muscle tension
- Sweating
- Chills
- Confusion
- Blurred vision
What Are the Symptoms of Drinking Alcohol with MDMA?
Suppliers often cut MDMA with other dangerous substances. For example, cocaine, ketamine, and amphetamines are all commonly found in pills sold as ecstasy. In addition, synthetic cathinones (“bath salts”) are often added to Molly powders. These additives can increase the risk of adverse effects, such as heart attack or stroke.
Both regular MDMA and alcohol use can lead to tolerance, dependence, and addiction. This means, when someone tries to quit, they’ll experience withdrawal symptoms like:
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Difficulty concentrating
- Headaches
- Intense cravings
Due to the way that these substances change your brain chemistry, it can be challenging to break the addiction without professional help. It can also be very dangerous due to the risks of relapse and overdose.
If you’re struggling with addiction, it’s essential to seek help from a professional treatment program. With the right support, you can overcome your addiction and get back on track to living a healthy, drug-free life.
How to Get Help for an MDMA Addiction
Getting help for addiction to MDMA or alcohol abuse is possible. Your treatment options vary depending on the severity of the addiction. Services provided to you may include detox, inpatient or outpatient programs, counseling, and medication — but it’s best to talk to a healthcare provider about the right next steps.
When looking for a treatment facility, pay attention to what matters:
- Look for a facility that offers a combination of inpatient and outpatient treatment to help you with the transition in and out of the facility
- Find an environment that feels safe, confidential, and welcoming so that you can focus fully on the recovery process
- Ask if the team has experience with the substances you’re using and any conditions, like depression, that you’re experiencing
- Seek out a facility that accepts your insurance provider or offers payment plans to help you cover the cost of treatment
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, our team at Zinnia Health can help. We offer a variety of addiction treatment programs, including detox services and individual counseling. Our team of caring professionals will work with you every step to help you achieve your goals for recovery. Contact us today at (855) 430-9439 for more information about our service.
Related Articles
- MDMA (Ecstasy) Abuse Treatments
- MDMA Overdose: What You Need to Know
- What Are the Side Effects of MDMA (Ecstasy) Abuse?