Polysubstance Addiction: Mixing Different Types of Drugs

How Drugs Are Defined and Classified

A drug is any substance that changes how your body or brain works. In addiction treatment, “substances” usually include alcohol, prescription medications, over-the-counter products, and illegal drugs—anything that alters mood, thinking, or behavior when you take it.

When people ask, “What are considered substances?” or “What are illegal substances?” they are really asking about different ways experts organize and control drugs. There are three common approaches:

• By effect on the brain – for example, stimulants versus depressants.
• By medical use – such as pain relievers, sleep aids, or antidepressants.
• By legal schedule – the DEA places drugs into Schedules I–V based on medical benefit and abuse risk.

Many “drug charts” or “drug classification charts” you see online combine these systems into one picture. One widely used model in traffic-safety and law-enforcement training describes seven main types of drugs (sometimes called the “7 drug categories”):

• CNS depressants – alcohol, benzodiazepines (like Xanax or Valium), barbiturates.
• CNS stimulants – cocaine, methamphetamine, many ADHD medications.
• Hallucinogens – LSD, psilocybin (“magic mushrooms”), mescaline.
• Dissociative anesthetics – PCP, ketamine.
• Narcotic analgesics (opioids) – heroin, morphine, fentanyl, oxycodone.
• Inhalants – spray paints, solvents, nitrous oxide.
• Cannabis – marijuana, hash, THC concentrates.

Each of these drug groups includes both medicines and street drugs. Some are legal when prescribed but illegal when misused or sold without a prescription. Others—like heroin or many synthetic designer drugs—are illegal substances in any context.

Because new synthetic substances appear every year, there is no complete, static list of drugs or simple “list of illegal substances.” Instead, clinicians focus on how a substance works, how addictive it is, and how it interacts with other drugs.

The Main Types of Drugs People Commonly Mix

People sometimes talk casually about “hard drugs,” “hardcore drugs,” “bad drugs,” or even the “best drugs.” In practice, any substance can become dangerous or addictive—especially when mixed with others. Many polysubstance patterns involve a combination of legal medications, alcohol, and illegal drugs.

The table below works like a simplified drug classification chart. It shows several different kinds of drugs that are often combined, plus examples of common drug names and street drugs. It is not a complete list of drugs that are illegal or misused, but it highlights patterns clinicians see often.

Many “drugs that are white”—powders, pressed pills, or capsules—may look similar yet contain very different ingredients. A pill sold on the street under a familiar drug name can actually include a mix of fentanyl, stimulants, and other chemicals, making it impossible to know what you are really taking.

Because of this, chasing popular drugs or asking for a list of hard narcotics or hard core drugs is risky. Street supplies change quickly, and a single counterfeit pill can contain enough fentanyl to be fatal.

What Is Polysubstance Use and Polysubstance Addiction?

Polysubstance use means using more than one drug at the same time or within a short period—sometimes on purpose, sometimes by accident. A person might drink alcohol while taking pills, alternate between cocaine and heroin, or unknowingly take counterfeit tablets that contain several substances.

Public health agencies define polysubstance use broadly: any exposure to more than one substance of misuse, whether the person intends to mix them or not. When the pattern becomes compulsive, causes harm, and the person struggles to stop, it may meet criteria for polysubstance use disorder—a form of substance use disorder involving multiple drugs.

Someone with polysubstance addiction might:

• Switch rapidly between different types of drugs based on mood, money, or availability.
• Use one substance to boost the high from another or to ease the crash afterward.
• Rely on both legal and illegal drugs—such as combining pain pills, alcohol, and street stimulants.
• Experience withdrawal or cravings for several substances at once.

Polysubstance addiction often overlaps with other concerns like chronic pain, trauma, anxiety, or depression. In many cases, people start by misusing one drug, then add others as their tolerance grows or as life stress increases.

Why Mixing Drug Categories Is So Dangerous

Polysubstance use is not rare. According to CDC data on polysubstance use, nearly half of U.S. drug overdose deaths in 2022 involved more than one drug. Overdose deaths that involve both opioids and stimulants have also increased sharply in recent years.

Mixing different types of drugs multiplies risk in several ways:

• Stronger combined effects. Depressants like alcohol, benzodiazepines, and opioids all slow breathing. Taking them together can shut down breathing entirely, even at doses that might seem “normal” on their own.
• Masked intoxication. Stimulants (such as cocaine or ADHD medications) can make someone on alcohol feel less drunk, so they keep drinking. This “wide awake but very impaired” state sharply increases the chance of alcohol poisoning, heart problems, and dangerous behavior.
• Unpredictable chemistry. Hallucinogens, dissociatives, and inhalants affect perception and judgment. Adding opioids, stimulants, or alcohol on top makes it harder to recognize warning signs like chest pain, overheating, or slowed breathing.
• Hidden ingredients. Many counterfeit pills and powders contain multiple drugs—often fentanyl mixed with stimulants or other opioids—so people may experience polysubstance overdose even if they think they are taking just one drug.

Because of these interactions, there is no safe “hack” where mixing substances turns hard drugs into safer ones. Even combinations that look harmless—like drinking alcohol while taking prescription medications—can be as dangerous as using illegal drugs, especially when done repeatedly or in high doses.

How Polysubstance Addiction Starts and Progresses

Polysubstance addiction rarely begins with an explicit plan to juggle several drugs. Instead, it often develops gradually as people experiment with different types of drugs or as their original substance stops delivering the same effect.

Common pathways into polysubstance use include:

• Chasing a stronger high. As tolerance builds, someone might add another substance—say, mixing opioids with benzodiazepines—to recreate an earlier level of euphoria.
• Self-medication. A person might use stimulants during the day to cope with fatigue or focus problems, then rely on alcohol or sedatives at night to sleep.
• Balancing side effects. Some people use one drug to “smooth out” anxiety, insomnia, or agitation caused by another, creating a cycle of pills and powders that becomes hard to control.
• Social and party culture. In nightlife or festival settings, mixing cannabis, alcohol, MDMA, and other club drugs can feel normal—until consequences like blackout, overdose, or legal trouble pile up.
• Contaminated supply. People who think they only use “softer” drugs (like cocaine or counterfeit pain pills) may be exposed to fentanyl or other potent substances, pushing them into unintended polysubstance use.

Over time, the brain adapts to these constant chemical swings. Cravings become more frequent, withdrawal symptoms become more intense, and life narrows around finding and using different drugs. What began as experimenting with different kinds of drugs can turn into a pattern where stopping feels impossible without help.

Warning Signs of Polysubstance Use and Addiction

Because multiple substances are involved, the signs of polysubstance addiction can shift from day to day. Someone might look sedated and slowed one week and agitated or euphoric the next. Still, there are consistent red flags to watch for.

• Physical signs
  • Rapid shifts between drowsiness and extreme energy.
  • Unsteady walking, slurred speech, or unusually slow breathing.
  • Dilated pupils one day, pinpoint pupils the next.
  • Frequent nausea, sweating, tremors, or complaints of “dope sickness.”
• Behavioral and emotional signs
  • Using several medications or street drugs together, often with explanations like “this one fixes the crash.”
  • Doctor-shopping, borrowing pills, or buying drugs with different names from various sources.
  • Blackouts, memory gaps, or not recalling conversations or events.
  • Continuing to mix drugs after overdoses, accidents, or warnings from family, employers, or medical staff.
• Life consequences
  • Trouble keeping up with work, school, or parenting because of hangovers, crashes, or withdrawal.
  • Legal problems related to DUI, possession of illegal drugs, or prescription fraud.
  • Failed attempts to quit “everything” at once, followed by quick relapse.

If these patterns sound familiar, it’s important to know that polysubstance addiction is treatable. Medical professionals now recognize it as a serious condition that often requires a structured plan rather than simple willpower.

Treatment for Polysubstance Addiction at Nova Recovery Center

Because polysubstance addiction involves more than one drug, treatment needs to be carefully planned and medically supervised. Stopping several substances at once can cause overlapping withdrawal symptoms and medical complications.

At Nova Recovery Center, clients with polysubstance use typically move through a full continuum of care:

• Medically supervised detox. Many people start with a stay at a 24/7 medical detox program, where clinicians monitor vital signs, manage withdrawal from alcohol, opioids, benzodiazepines, and other substances, and design protocols specifically for polysubstance use. Drug and alcohol detox in Austin includes specialized support for clients using more than one substance.
• Residential inpatient rehab. After detox, many clients transition into a structured 90-day residential program. A residential inpatient rehab program provides 24/7 support, evidence-based therapies, and relapse-prevention education tailored to people who have depended on several drugs at once. Clients who want treatment close to home can attend inpatient rehab in Austin, TX for a structured, 90-day residential program, while those seeking a quieter, retreat-like setting may choose residential treatment in Wimberley, TX to focus fully on recovery from polysubstance addiction.
• Intensive outpatient and step-down care. Once stabilized, clients can continue therapy, skills training, and accountability through an intensive outpatient program in Austin or other step-down services. These levels of care help people practice sober living while staying connected to professional support.

Throughout treatment, clinicians address not only the list of drugs a person has used but also their mental health, trauma history, medical needs, and support system. Medication-assisted treatment, individual counseling, group therapy, and family involvement all play roles in long-term recovery from polysubstance addiction.

How Many Types of Drugs Are There, Really?

From a strict chemistry standpoint, there are thousands of psychoactive substances—and new synthetic drugs appear every year. That makes it impossible to create a permanent list of drugs or list of illegal substances that stays accurate for long.

Instead of counting every individual drug, health agencies organize substances into broad drug categories. Models that focus on impairment often talk about the 7 types of drugs: CNS depressants, CNS stimulants, hallucinogens, dissociative anesthetics, narcotic analgesics (opioids), inhalants, and cannabis. Other systems may group drugs by medical purpose (pain relievers, sleep medications, antidepressants, etc.) or by legal status (prescription, over-the-counter, or illegal drugs).

The National Institute on Drug Abuse publishes a detailed chart of commonly abused drugs and maintains an extensive “Drugs A–Z” overview, both of which show how many different substances can lead to addiction when misused.

So when someone asks, “How many drugs are there?” or looks for a list of drugs that are illegal or a list of hard narcotics, the most honest answer is: far more than you think, and the lineup keeps changing. What matters most is not whether a drug seems mild or extreme, but how it affects your life—especially when several substances start to take control at once.

If you or someone you love is mixing different types of drugs and feels unable to stop, reaching out for help now can prevent overdose, health complications, and further loss. Polysubstance addiction is complex, but with specialized care and ongoing support, long-term recovery is possible.