Alcohol and Hallucinogens: A Dangerous Mixture

The Eagles’ classic song “Hotel California” sums up the way addiction lures us in and traps us. In the song, a weary traveler sees the alluring lights of the hotel and is welcomed in. Inside, others seem to be enjoying themselves: “How they dance in the courtyard / Sweet summer sweat / Some dance to remember / Some dance to forget.” And yet, this is no ordinary hotel. By the time the traveler wants to leave, he’s told, “You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.”

When we use substances to alter our reality, we are often looking for one of two basic things — stimulation and novelty (“some dance to remember”) or comfort and escape (“some dance to forget”). Stimulants (and sometimes hallucinogens) tend to fall into the first category, while depressants (such as alcohol) fall in the second.

But what happens when we mix them, trying to “dance to forget” while “dancing to remember,” so to speak? Specifically, what happens if we mix hallucinogens such as mushrooms and alcohol? In short, we get a much bigger mess than we would with either substance alone. We can find ourselves wrapped up in an altered reality that can quickly become confusing and even dangerous. Moreover, the physical interaction of alcohol and “shrooms” can put our health at risk.

Shrooms and Alcohol: Two Versions of an Altered Reality

Both mushrooms — “shrooms” — and alcohol affect our brain, body, emotions, and perceptions. Let’s take a look at how each affects our reality.

The Brain and Body on Booze

When it comes to alcohol, we’re dealing with three neurotransmitters (chemical messengers in the brain). Each one plays a different role.

• Alcohol creates a dopamine boost. That initial “fuzzy” sociable feeling we briefly experience after a few sips? It’s caused by the release of dopamine, the “reward” neurotransmitter that makes us feel good and keeps us coming back for more.
• Alcohol enhances GABA. Alcohol boosts the levels of GABA — an inhibitory neurotransmitter that slows down the nervous system. The result? We loosen up (and maybe end up falling asleep on a friend’s couch).
• Alcohol suppresses glutamate. At the same time, alcohol suppresses the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate, enhancing the overall “downer” effect.

While alcohol remains a “socially acceptable” drug, it is, indeed, a drug, and comes with certain dangers, especially when we drink too much. It affects our body in three main ways: 

• Nervous system. As a nervous system depressant, alcohol slows our brain down — sometimes to a dangerous degree. At high levels, it can even cause blackouts. According to NIAAA, blackouts “are gaps in a person’s memory for events that occurred while they were intoxicated.” These gaps happen when booze blocks the memory-making pathways of the brain, preventing the hippocampus (the part of the brain responsible for memory consolidation) from shuffling short-term memories into long-term storage. In the long term, alcohol can even lead to various forms of brain damage.
• Cardiovascular effects. Although alcohol is a depressant and initially lowers our blood pressure by widening our blood vessels, a rebound effect is quick to follow. Drinking also speeds up our heart rate and can cause potentially dangerous arrhythmias and other irregularities if we overdo it.
• Dehydration. Alcohol suppresses the hormone that tells our kidneys to hold on to water. The result? The floodgates open, sending us to the bathroom throughout the night and leaving us parched and depleted of electrolytes in the morning.

The Brain and Body on “Shrooms”

Hallucinogens — and “magic mushrooms” in particular — take a slightly different route. Psilocybin is the active ingredient that gives these mushrooms their “magic.” Also known as mushies, blue meanies, golden tops, and liberty caps, “shrooms” grow all over the world in over 200 species of fungi.

Psilocybin belongs to the same group of psychedelics as the commonly known hallucinogen LSD and is structurally similar to DMT. At certain dosages, psilocybin and it’s fellow psychedelic drugs can alter our perception and cause feelings of detachment and euphoria. 

Euphoria might sound pleasant, but shrooms have many adverse effects on the brain and body:

• They affect serotonin. The effects of mushrooms come down to the way psilocybin affects serotonin pathways in our brain. Hallucinogens resemble serotonin in structure and can attach to serotonin receptors. By latching onto these receptors, they mimic serotonin's natural effects but in a more amplified or altered way.
• They suppress the activity of certain brain regions. Studies show that hallucinogens such as mushrooms put some functions of the brain on hold (just as alcohol does). What does that mean? The cortex — the command center of the brain — has less “reach” when it comes to exchanging messages with other brain areas.
• They “flatten” the neural landscape. An fMRI study looked at shifts between brain activity patterns and found that psychedelics lowered the energy barrier of these pattern shifts. As a result, the transitions between states require less effort and the overall landscape (or map of activity) seems “flattened.”
• They affect the default mode network (DMN) of the brain. Psychedelic drugs tend to disrupt communication between the so-called default mode network (DMN) — a set of brain regions related to self-awareness we need to reflect on past events or make plans for the future. As a result, “psychedelic drugs can make a person’s thoughts less self-centered and more expansive, promoting a sense of connectedness with others and the world.”

All of these effects are detrimental on their own. So what happens when we add alcohol to the mix?

Hallucinogens and Alcohol: Altering the Altered Reality

The psychological effects of mixing hallucinogens and alcohol range from mildly uncomfortable to downright dangerous:

• Anxiety and panic attacks. Also known as a “bad trip,” the use of psychedelic drugs can often cause fear, confusion, or panic. Likewise, alcohol can amp up our anxiety all on its own. Taken together, the results can be unpredictable and might last longer, making for a very uncomfortable or downright terrifying experience.
• Unpredictable mood shifts. While the goal of taking either substance is usually to experience joy or transcendence, that is never a guarantee. Both substances are known to stir up our mood in unexpected ways. Mixing them together can make for even more unpredictable results.
• Greater risk of injury or death. Both alcohol and hallucinogens decrease our mental clarity, increase risk-taking, and alter our perception of reality. According to the United States Department of Transportation, about 37 people die in drunk driving accidents every day — that’s one every 39 minutes! Likewise, as many as 1 in 10 hallucinogen users report having driven under the influence, increasing the likelihood of fatal car accidents.

The physical side of mixing hallucinogens and alcohol is also quite serious. Let’s take a look.

• Harmful chemical interactions. Alcohol and hallucinogens may affect each other's absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME), leading to unpredictable plasma levels.
• Dangerous effects on serotonin. The synergistic or antagonistic effects on neurotransmitter systems, particularly the risk of serotonin syndrome with the combo can be very dangerous and even life-threatening. Medical care is often required for rehydration and addressing respiratory and cardiovascular complications that come with it. 
• Increased toxicity. Combining substances can lead to higher toxicity levels, potentially leading to acute poisoning or long-term harm.

Given this concerning list of side effects, we can see that the risks far outweigh any potential benefits or enjoyment of using shrooms, LSD, DMT, and alcohol together (or independently!).

A Note on Therapeutic Mushroom Use

“Magic mushrooms” have been in the public eye recently due to their use in therapeutic settings. Anecdotally, some people swear by psychedelics as a way to cure everything from persistent pain to depression and, yes, even alcohol misuse itself.

While it might sound a bit too good to be true, these are not just the “shrooms talking” — there are studies to back up the claims.  

Still, what’s right for one person might not be right for another, and health-related decisions always have to be made with the help of a qualified professional. What’s important to note, though, is that using hallucinogens by yourself can be dangerous — overdose, adverse effects, and the possibility of becoming dependent or trading in one substance for another (known as transfer addiction) are all potential risks. Moreover, it’s never a good idea to mix them with alcohol — no matter what the context might be.

Tips To Stay Safe From Harmful Substances

• Recognize the signs of danger. Watch for symptoms of overdose and adverse reactions — especially signs of serotonin syndrome or alcohol poisoning, which can cause confusion, severe nausea and vomiting, seizures, hypothermia, and loss of consciousness,
• Pay attention to patterns. If you find yourself tempted to mix mushrooms and alcohol or use either substance in a way that feels unhealthy, start by taking a close look at your patterns. Don’t judge — just observe. How do you feel before, during, or after? Do the substances actually deliver the relief or excitement they promise? Most of us find that over time they don’t — much of the effect is actually an illusion. It might make you uneasy to realize this at first, but don’t worry: it’s actually good news! You’re on your way to finding authentic excitement, connection, and relaxation that can only happen when you’re fully present. And that’s something to look forward to!
• Expand your options. It might feel awkward at first, but start exploring some sober activities that resonate with you. Maybe it’s a martial arts class at your local gym, maybe it’s a weekend hike with a friend or an online digital photography class. Whatever it is, approach it with a spirit of exploration and curiosity.
• Ask for help. There’s no shame in asking for help; in fact, it’s a sign of strength. There are plenty of resources and people willing to help, and Reframe is a great place to start.

Summing Up

Mixing “magic” mushrooms and alcohol is dangerous for both our body and our mind. The combination can wreak havoc on our brain and lead us to make potentially deadly decisions. In the end, even the most enjoyable “trips” can lead to a trip to the emergency room or the morgue.