Poly drug use 3588536 223643397 2008-07-05T01:24:23Z 72.222.128.191 {{refimprove|date=September 2007}} '''Poly drug use''' refers to the use two or more [[psychoactive drug]]s in combination to achieve a particular effect. It is usual among ''problem drug users'' who have a multi-drug dependence. In many cases one drug is used as a base-, primary- or preferred drug, with additional drugs to leaven or compensate for the side effects of the primary drug and make the experience more enjoyable with [[synergy|drug synergy]] effects, or to supplement for primary drug when supply is low. The potentiating effect of one drug on another is sometimes considerable, and here the illicit drugs and medicines – such as alcohol, nicotine and antidepressants – have to be considered in conjunction with the controlled psychoactive substances. The risk level will depend on the dosage level of both substances. Concerns exist about a number of pharmacological pairings: alcohol and cocaine increase cardiovascular toxicity; alcohol or depressant drugs, when taken with opioids, lead to an increased risk of overdose; and opioids or cocaine taken with ecstasy or amphetamines also result in additional acute toxicity.<ref name="EEM"/> The risk for aggression and violent outbursts increase when some [[benzodiazepines]], for ex [[Flunitrazepam]], are combined with [[alcohol]]. Within the general concept of multiple drug use, several specific meanings of the term must be considered. At one extreme is planned use. On the other hand, the use of several substances in an intensive and chaotic way, simultaneously or consecutively, in many cases each drug substituting for another according to availability.<ref name="EEM">[http://ar2006.emcdda.europa.eu/en/page012-en.html?CFID=7908701&CFTOKEN=472a97577904fd31-16A12971-F8FA-A4BE-70FBED3F5065929B&jsessionid=2e30fd1d0c7948157239 EMCDDA Anual Report 2006 ch. 8]</ref> There are many common drug combinations, including, but not limited to: * [[tobacco]] and [[marijuana]] (inside a joint called a "spliff") * [[marijuana]] and [[alcohol]] (referred to as a "[[green dragon]]") * [[alcohol]] and [[tobacco]] * [[tobacco]] and [[caffeine]] * alcohol and caffeine * [[marijuana]] and [[coffee]] (known as "hippie speedball") * [[LSD]] and [[MDMA|ecstasy]] (known as "trolling" (a combination of tripping and rolling; tripping being the LSD effect and Rolling meaning the extacy high) and "[[candy flipping]]"<ref name=cesar>{{cite web|url=http://www.cesar.umd.edu/cesar/drugs/ecstasy.asp|title=Ecstasy:CESAR|author=[[University of Maryland, College Park|UMD]] Center for Substance Abuse Research|date=01-07-08}}</ref>) * [[Psychedelic mushrooms]] and [[MDMA|ecstasy]] (known as "hippie flipping" or "flower flipping"<ref name=cesar />) * [[marijuana]] and [[Psychedelic mushrooms]] (the marijuana as an anti-nausea) * [[cocaine]] and [[heroin]] or [[morphine]] (known as a "[[speedball (drug)|speedball]]") * [[cocaine]] and [[ketamine]] (known as "CK1"<ref>[http://www.coca.org.uk/showPage.asp?pageID=14 C.O.C.A.], [http://www.lftw.org/resources/drug-facts/ketamine.html Life for the world: Ketamine], [http://www.thegooddrugsguide.com/ketamine/basics.htm The good drugs guide: Ketamine] & [http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=ck1 Urban dictionary: CK1]</ref>) * ecstasy and [[viagra]] (known as "sextasy") * ecstasy and ketamine (known as "kitty flipping"<ref name=cesar />) * ecstasy and [[phencyclidine|PCP]] (known as "elephant flipping"<ref name=cesar />) * ecstasy and [[mescaline]] (known as "love flipping"<ref name=cesar />) * [[heroin]] and [[diphenhydramine]] (known as "[[Cheese heroin|cheese]]") * [[marijuana]] and [[Phencyclidine|PCP]] (known as a "wet daddy") * [[Crack cocaine|crack]] and [[Phencyclidine|PCP]] (known as "space basing"<ref>[http://www.cmcsb.com/pcpangel.htm PCP / Angel Dust]</ref>) * [[amphetamines]] and [[barbiturates]] Poly drug use often carries with it more risk than use of a single drug, due to an increase in side effects, and [[synergy#Drug abuse|drug synergy]]. The phenomenon is the subject of established academic literature (e.g., Scholey AB, Parrott AC, Buchanan T, Heffernan TM, Ling J, Rodgers J (2004). "Increased intensity of Ecstasy and polydrug use in the more experienced [[MDMA|Ecstasy/MDMA]] users: a WWW study." ''Addictive Behaviors'', 29, 743-752). ==See also== * [[Arguments for and against drug prohibition]] * [[Club drug]] * [[Drug injection]] * [[Drug paraphernalia]] * [[Hard and soft drugs]] * [[Illicit drugs]] * [[Recreational drug use]] * [[Responsible drug use]] * [[Overdose]] * [[War on drugs]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.quihn.org.au Fact sheets and harm reduction strategies concerning recreational drugs] [[Category:Drug culture]] {{med-stub}} [[de:Mischkonsum]] [[fi:Sekakäyttö]] [[sv:Blandmissbruk]]