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Taking both these drugs should not be harmful. The effects of both drugs are likely to be reduced.

Combining these drugs should not be harmful. However, they will mask each other’s effects, which might increase the risk of overdosing either drug. This combination is also hard on the heart due to each drug’s opposing action (7).

The combination is unlikely to cause any adverse or undesirable reactions beyond those that might ordinarily be expected from taking these drugs individually. Users have reported diminished experiences, thus care should be taken with dosage.

This combination carries a low risk. Aspirin and cannabis are unlikely to cause an adverse or undesirable reaction when used carefully and within the recommended dose.

Cannabis and DMT is not usually a harmful combination, but cannabis has an unexpectedly strong and somewhat unpredictable synergy with psychedelics so beware when mixing these drugs.

There is no evidence to date showing interactions between paracetamol and 2C-B.

This combination is unlikely to cause an adverse or undesirable reaction when used carefully and within the recommended dose.

Taking both these drugs together is likely to cause an effect stronger than taking them individually. If used with care they are unlikely to cause an adverse or undesirable reaction.

We strongly recommend you avoid taking these drugs together, reactions are highly unpredictable and can be fatal. You will likely come to some degree of harm even if you take strong precautions.

Taking the combined oral contraceptive pill and cocaine together is not usually any more harmful than taking them individually. The drugs are not known to interact with each other, each positively or negatively46,47.

Taking both of these drugs together is not usually any more harmful than taking them individually. The drugs are not known to interact with each other, each positively or negatively.

Alcohol and GHB is an unsafe combination. Even in very low doses this rapidly leads to memory loss, severe ataxia and unconsciousness. There is a high risk of vomit aspiration while unconscious.

Be careful when mixing amphetamines and GHB. Stimulants increase respiration rate allowing a higher dose of sedatives. If the stimulant wears off first then the opiate may overcome the patient and cause respiratory arrest.

Avoid benzos if you are taking allergy medicines. benzos and allergy medicines such as Benadryl, Piriton and Clarityn are depressants and both slow down your central nervous system. This can produce heightened side effects such as drowsiness, sedation and poor concentration. In extreme cases, loss of consciousness and may occur.

These two drugs potentiate each other strongly and unpredictably which might lead to memory loss, blackout and respiratory depression.

Using these drugs together can cause an effect stronger than taking them individually, and they aren't likely to cause an adverse or undesirable reaction when used carefully. Additional research should always be done before mixing drugs.

Effects will be stronger than taking either drug alone, however, it’s unlikely that there will be any adverse health reactions to this combination.

The combination is unlikely to cause any adverse or undesirable reactions beyond those that might ordinarily be expected from taking these drugs individually. Users have reported diminished experiences thus care should be taken with dosage.

There is no evidence to date showing interactions between contraceptive pills and cannabis and generally this combination carries a low risk. However, cannabis will often intensify and alter your mood. If your contraception is causing significant changes in your mood, it is advisable to avoid cannabis as it may intensify mood swings.

This combination carries a low risk. Paracetamol and cannabis are unlikely to cause an adverse or undesirable reaction when used carefully and within the recommended dose.

There is no evidence to date showing interactions between paracetamol and LSD. This combination is unlikely to cause an adverse or undesirable reaction when used carefully.

There is no evidence to date showing interactions between allergy medicines and LSD. This combination is unlikely to cause an adverse or undesirable reaction when used carefully.

There is no evidence to date showing interactions between ibuprofen and 2C-B. This combination is unlikely to cause an adverse or undesirable reaction when used carefully.

There is no evidence to date showing interactions between ibuprofen and benzos. This combination is unlikely to cause an adverse or undesirable reaction when used carefully and within the recommended dose.

Using these drugs together can cause an effect stronger than taking them individually, and they aren't likely to cause an adverse or undesirable reaction when used carefully. Additional research should always be done before mixing drugs.

The effects of these two drugs are similar and synergistic, therefore mixing MDMA with 2C-B may increase the intensity of the experience.

Combining kratom with such depressants is contraindicated.Depressants have the same general effects as opiates. Therefore, combining them with kratom can cause a synergy effect of severe sedation, which can feel like overdosing. More sedation and respiratory depression can occur as a result. Memory blackouts are also likely to occur.

_Users report that the two herbs go well with each other, however, moderation is important when combining them. Keeping both doses low helps ensuring that you derive the highest possible positive effects without crossing the line to negative side-effects. You should go particularly light on cannabis dosage. Although rarely, some users report mild effects, such as feeling nauseous, sick and uncomfortable. Stronger side effects include anxiety and dizziness._

Be careful when taking paracetamol and cocaine. Paracetamol may increase the harmful effects of cocaine on the liver4.

Taking both these drugs together may produce unpleasant effects such as physical discomfort or overstimulation. High doses put you at risk. If you mix, start low and go slow

_Kratom leaves produce complex opioid-like analgesic effects, which could be potentiated with the use of ibuprofen._

Amphetamines and DMT is not usually a harmful combination but stimulants generally increase anxiety levels and the risk of thought loops which can lead to negative experiences.

Tricyclics (Amitriptyline, Anafranil, Asendin, Aventyl, Elavil, Endep, Norfranil, Norpramin, Pamelor, Sinequan, Surmontil, Tipramine, Tofranil, and Vivactil) is consistently reported as being very bad in combination with LSD. People attempting this combination are unable to communicate with others, they go into a fugue state where they wander away from home and don't know how they got there, and they are generally in a terrible state psychologically. Life-threatening seizures and at least one death have been reported to be triggered by the combination of LSD and tricyclics. If you are prescribed tricyclics for mental health problems, it is not a good idea to try LSD outside of a supervised medical setting, as it might worsen the symptoms.

Effects are additive. The combination is unlikely to cause any adverse or undesirable reactions beyond those that might ordinarily be expected from taking these drugs individually.

This drug can have anxiogenic (anxiety-creating) effects which may create an unpleasant thoughts and discomfort.

Using these drugs together can cause an effect stronger than desired though they aren't likely to cause a serious adverse reaction if used carefully. Additional research should always be done before mixing drugs.

Using these drugs together can cause an effect stronger than taking them individually, and they aren't likely to cause an adverse or undesirable reaction when used carefully. Additional research should always be done before mixing drugs.

This combination is relatively safe and is unlikely to cause any unwanted effects.

Stimulants should not be combined with kratom, as they further increase the level of stimulation provided by the kratom. This results in the development of potentially severe side effects: anxiety, heart palpitations, excessive sweating, and general agitation. More life-threatening side effects that may result include: increased blood pressure. The lowering of the seizure threshold may also be observed.

Cannabis and mushrooms is not usually a harmful combination, but cannabis has an unexpectedly strong and somewhat unpredictable synergy with psychedelics so beware when mixing these drugs.

The combination is unlikely to cause any adverse or undesirable reactions beyond those that might ordinarily be expected from taking these drugs individually. Benzos lessen the effects of nitrous oxide due to both drugs acting on common receptors.

This combination carries a low risk. Ibuprofen and cannabis are unlikely to cause an adverse or undesirable reaction when used carefully and within the recommended dose.

Cannabis and LSD is not usually a harmful combination, but cannabis has an unexpectedly strong and somewhat unpredictable synergy with psychedelics so beware when mixing these drugs.

These combinations are not usually physically harmful, but may produce undesirable effects, such as physical discomfort or overstimulation. Extreme use may cause physical health issues. Be careful when mixing these drugs.

The effects of mixing these two drugs together can be unpredictable.

There is no evidence to date showing interactions between aspirin and benzos. This combination is unlikely to cause an adverse or undesirable reaction when used carefully and within the recommended dose.

There is a low risk when drinking a moderate amount of alcohol when using the recommended dose of aspirin.

Avoid alcohol if you are taking aspirin for a headache. Alcohol is likely to make a headache worse as it causes dehydration.

2C-X and GHB is not usually a harmful combination, it will tend to decrease the effects of both drugs.

_Reactions and side effects are rare, but using these drugs together can cause an effect stronger than taking them individually, and they aren't likely to cause an adverse or undesirable reaction when used carefully. Kratom’s effects are due primarily to its interaction with mu-receptors in the brain, while SSRIs produce their effects by interacting with the serotonin receptors. It is hypothesized that, since both act on receptors that can sometimes be involved with each other in certain processes, an interaction may or may not occur. Interactions include risks such as_ [_serotonin syndrome_](https://www.mdedge.com/ccjm/article/120386/neurology/serotonin-syndrome-preventing-recognizing-and-treating-it)_. Additional research should always be done before mixing drugs._

[**Tramadol**](https://www.drugs.com/tramadol.html) can result in seizures when taken with LSD, as Tromadol lowers the seizure threshold.

There is no evidence to date showing interactions between ibuprofen and modafinil. This combination is unlikely to cause an adverse or undesirable reaction when used carefully.

Taking aspirin and cocaine together is not usually any more harmful than taking them individually. Aspirin is sometimes [used](https://www.the-hospitalist.org/hospitalist/article/125897/how-should-patient-cocaine-associated-chest-pain-be-treated) by doctors in response to cocaine associated chest pains51,52.

There is no evidence to date showing interactions between ibuprofen and ketamine. This combination is unlikely to cause an adverse or undesirable reaction when used carefully.

Caffeine and GHB have low risk and decreased synergy. Caffeine will mildly hide the depressant effects of GHB leading to a slightly increased risk of overdose.

In this section we have curated a list of interesting articles, talks and videos for you to use as conversation starters. Peruse freely and definitely look at the related media on the hosting websites for more ideas.

Learn about the "war on drugs"!

First a word on how to use this guide: every parent-child relationship is unique and thus this guide is intended to provide you with ideas for you to reflect on and use to create a safe, ongoing conversational space. Don’t give up too easy! It takes time to reap the rewards. If your child is not being receptive, take a step back and think about why that may be and how you might reach them differently. Remember that if it works with one child, it may not necessarily work with their siblings. This guide applies more to teenagers. However, the principles discussed below apply just as well to other topics such as sex, knives and paracetamol. We encourage you to have these conversations with your children early as it will help them form healthy relationships towards risk-taking in all aspects of their lives.

#### 1. Preparation: get clued up!

-   Knowledge is power. If you know all there is to know about drugs, we salute you! However, for the uninitiated, [drugsand.me](https://drugsand.me/en/) is a great place to start; we also recommend [DrugScience](http://www.drugscience.org.uk/). The more you know about drugs, the more you can communicate with your child in a meaningful way. Use your child's interests to engage your child in a discussion rater than just repeating what you know or have found online (eg. Policy, science, recreation, addiction etc). Drug information changes all the time, so it's important to stay up to date.

#### 2. Setting: relaxed and casual

-   Initially bringing up the topic may be rather tricky. Make it as relaxed and as casual as possible. Choosing the right time and environment is key. Good examples are in the car, at the dinner table or on a walk. On the way to an exam is not what we have in mind...
-   In the same vein, choosing the right moment is just as important as the environment. Make sure that there isn't a big load on your child's mind, nor yours. Reaching out to them at the optimal moment. can make all the difference. A relaxing Sunday afternoon perhaps.
-   To keep it casual, don't bomb in with a statement like "Let's talk about drugs!". Use one of our conversation starters below to subtly bring in the topic.

#### 3. Style: non-confrontational and objective

-   Avoid accusatory questions such as "Are you taking drugs?" These invariably trigger a defensive response and can burn bridges.
-   Try to avoid personal pronouns such as "you" and replace them with phrases such as "they" or "someone" or "I heard that this person did..." This style ensures that you're simply presenting information to your child which they can pick into without feeling personally interrogated. - Keep it objective by presenting facts neutrally; try not to taint them with your vision and if possible try and tease your emotions apart from the facts!

#### 4. Maintain that safe conversational space

-   A safe conversational space is one where your child feels comfortable in expressing themselves and can talk freely without fear of judgement or reprisal. Show kindness. A kind mentality is the ultimate creator of safe spaces and you'll get the most out of your conversations this way.
-   To maintain the space, it is essential you engage in the conversation when you are calm and do not have external pressures yourself. It is important to hold back your judgements and praise moments where your child opens up and maybe even shows some vulnerability. Be a sponge, absorb what they have to say.
-   The idea of your child taking drugs may trigger a knee-jerk emotional response. It's important not to go on the offensive as this will only make your child retract.

#### 5. "The safest way to take drugs... is not to take them."

-   Make it clear to your child that the safest way to take drugs is to not take them at all. However, children will be exposed to them at some point, so it is essential they feel prepared when confronted with them.
-   Think carefully about the narrative you adopt with your child. Disparity between scaretactics and reality tends to decrease credibility. If a young person's initial experimentation proves to be much more innocuous than they were led to believe, they may continue to experiment further and more recklessly without appreciating the risks.
-   But remember that sometimes you need to sit down and have a serious conversation, especially in the event of a serious incident. Drugs can be harmful, and it is important to not approach the subject with too much levity.

#### 6. Learn together

-   A lovely way to approach the whole conversation is to engineer it so you can learn about drugs together instead of lecturing your child. They will pay more attention if the dynamic is one in which you are both learning rather than you telling them how it is.
-   Sometimes your child will let on that they know more about the subject than you do. Take this is as a positive sign; the more knowledgeable your child is, the safer they are. If this is the case, allow the roles to switch and let them take the stage to inform you about what they know.

#### 7. Patience and perseverance

-   Regardless of how hard you have tried to be non-confrontational, sometimes the conversation just does not pan out the way you expected. In which case, retreat, leave some space and try again at a later date, maintaining all the principles mentioned thus far.
-   Always remain calm and say things that are gentle and non-reactive. A list of phrases of supportive things to say when things get tricky can be found below, however, like most things, it is often not what is said that is effective, but how it is said.

When things get difficult, let them know you're on their side.

![supportive-words-speech-bubbles.png](https://dnm-storage.s3.amazonaws.com/supportive_words_speech_bubbles_a85ca18109.png)

We hope you have found this guide useful and have taken away our key messages. There are some great conversations to be had and we hope that there is never a 'final word' between you and your child. Rather, we encourage a productive, ongoing conversation on not only drugs and alcohol, but risk-taking behaviour in general. These ongoing conversations will be key to your child's development and awareness on these controversial and tricky issues and will put them in good standing when they face real-life scenarios.

Perhaps the two most common phrases young people are indoctrinated with are drugs are bad and drugs kill. Whilst it is true that all drugs carry risks, and indeed some are very dangerous, lecturing hormonally-fueled teenagers in this way is unlikely to stop them from consuming, nor will it keep them safe. Think carefully about your feelings towards this topic. Above everything, it is likely that your most primary concern is your child's safety. There are many dangerous things that people do every day, whether that's driving fast, having unprotected sex or looking down at their phone whilst crossing the road. People will continue to do these hazardous things and simply telling them that they these activities are bad and could kill them is not going to stop them. Providing more insight and education on these topics is far more likely to induce positive behaviours than commands and rules. Let's create a sensible, safe discussion with young people and ensure they have the tools and knowledge to make more measured and wise decisions.

As a parent, you cannot fully control what your child chooses to consume - you are not with them all hours of their day - thus, we recommend you adopt a different approach. We must accept that children will be exposed to drugs at some point. It therefore follows that children are more likely to be safer if they have discussed drugs in a truthful and transparent way, as opposed to scaremongering and fabricated claims. Only then will you start to have a greater peace of mind.

We would like to wish you the very best of luck in your journey of talking with your child about drugs and alcohol and we hope that you spread this guide to family and friends!

Parents

{Start early, progress slowly, make a difference}

Conversation starters