While many individuals are familiar with the term “substance abuse,” the majority are unfamiliar with the term “polysubstance abuse.”
Until consensus is reached, it’s important stressing that addiction is a convoluted and complex brain disorder. Individuals develop an addiction for a variety of causes, making it extremely difficult for physicians, patients, therapists, and other healthcare professionals to devise an effective treatment method.
Having said that, addiction therapy continues to advance and become significantly more successful for all types of patients, including those struggling with polysubstance abuse in Pennsylvania. If you are suffering from this ailment, Caron’s review is an excellent resource for information.
What is polysubstance addiction?
Though the diagnosis of polysubstance addiction is commonly misinterpreted and under-diagnosed, the DSM-IV, widely referred to as the bible of psychiatry, states that polysubstance abuse occurs when someone uses three or more drugs without demonstrating a preference for any of them.
The DSM-5 eliminates the diagnostic of polysubstance abuse due to its infrequent use and widespread misinterpretation.
Nonetheless, polysubstance abuse is a form of dependency that some regard as distinct. This is in contrast to someone who is physically and psychologically reliant on heroin and uses it solely to prevent withdrawal symptoms. Consult caron reviews for additional information on withdrawal symptoms.
When an addict abuses many substances, he or she becomes more addicted to the mind-altering and mood-altering effects of substance abuse than to alcohol or other illicit drugs alone.
Polydrug abuse can be psychological
Polydrug abuse is frequently more than a psychological misuse of drugs than it is a physical one caused by taking the same drug repeatedly until the body develops a tolerance.
Many polydrug users seek the optimal drug synergy. A “drug synergy” is a combination of two or more drugs taken concurrently that amplifies the effects of each drug to the point that the combined effect exceeds the effect of each substance taken alone. Poly addicts want drug synergy and use to achieve this high.
It is customary for poly addicts to try with a variety of substances to discover their optimal synergism, and once discovered, they frequently use this combination.
For some users, the optimal synergy may consist of marijuana, alcohol, and acid consumed concurrently. If they are unable to obtain LSD, they may substitute psychedelic mushrooms.
Young adults and teenagers are typically more prone to polydrug use since it can be difficult to obtain a consistent supply of the drugs they desire, and they tend to explore as they seek new ways to get high.
Why is polydrug abuse dangerous?
While polydrug misuse is not the same as traditional addiction, in which an individual becomes reliant on a single drug, it can nonetheless be dangerous for a variety of reasons. Listed below are a handful of them:
1. Risk of overdose
Overdose is a concern for everyone who is taking multiple medications, but especially for those who are experimenting with new drugs. Purchasing drugs on the street from a variety of sources increases the danger of obtaining a fentanyl-containing substance. Heroin laced with fentanyl aided in the exponential growth of the opioid epidemic.
2. Mental health problems
Numerous polydrug users take drugs to mask the symptoms of underlying mental health problems and are primarily interested in getting high to avoid depression or other forms of mental disease. Using medicines for this purpose can exacerbate their mental health problems over time.
3. Health issues
When we take a single type of drug, our bodies struggle, but taking three or more medicines at the same time complicates matters and places additional strain on our organs, especially the brain. Prolonged usage of this sort of medicine can result in major health complications over time.
4. Medical emergencies
When someone gets ill or unconscious and medical assistance is required, it can be challenging for first responders or physicians to comprehend how to treat the symptoms of numerous medicines. While naloxone is extremely powerful against opioids, it is ineffective against cocaine and other stimulants.
5. Treatment can be hard.
It can be challenging to treat individuals who abuse many substances in Pennsylvania, as they do not meet the standard requirements for someone dependent on a single type of drug. If you or someone you care about is struggling with three or more drugs, contact Caron reviews.