UT Students Investigate Effects of Co-Abusing Meth and Alcohol

(The Blade, Oct. 10) Studies are underway to examine the effects of methamphetamines with alcohol. Students at the University of Toledo are looking at the brain after someone co-abuses alcohol and meth. Meth alone can cause physical attributes recognizable in photos: sunken cheeks, visible weight loss, sores and scabs. Internally, it is an antidepressant and increases heart rate and body movements. Alcohol is a depressant and slows brain function, causing lack of motor coordination and slurred speech. 77 percent of meth abusers also binge drink alcohol, and those who consume alcohol first increase the risk of using meth more than fourfold. As a result, more brain cells are destroyed from the co-abuse than if used alone. READ MORE.