Methadone and Alcohol

About Alcohol:

Alcohol is made from fermenting and distilling fruits, vegetables and grains. Fermented alcoholic beverages include wine and beer while distilled alcoholic beverages comprise of rum, whisky, vodka which have higher alcohol content.

In 2011, 78% of Canadians reported drinking in the past year and the most common criminal offense is impaired driving. Impaired driving deaths occur at age 19.motor vehicle crashes are the leading causes of death among 16-25 year olds; alcohol and drugs are a factor in 55% of those crashes.

Alcohol is a Drug:

Alcohol is a psychoactive drug.  This means that it affects your senses, thoughts and emotions as well as your breathing and heart rate.  Methadone slows down the pulse, lowers blood pressure, and slows the breathing rate. Alcohol, like methadone, is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant and it slows respiration and is capable of causing numerous health problems.

Mixing Alcohol with Drugs:

Mixing CNS depressants intensifies each other’s effects so feeling more drunk or stoned is the result. It also means that the slowing effect of breathing is intensified. Other risks include loss of consciousness, vomiting, overdose, coma and even death.

Combining methadone and alcohol can cause serious harm. Methadone is a depressant and a narcotic pain killer and taking it with alcohol can kill.

If you think that you have a problem with alcohol please speak with your physician.