This type of circumstance under which these two types of substances are mixed are fairly common, however, many drug users mix the two types of substances for the explicit purpose of experiencing the effect of the drugs interactions. .
As aforementioned, recreational drug use has started becoming more prevalent in the younger ages. This is especially true for the consumption of alcohol. With that, there is a rising trend in mixing alcohol, a depressant, and caffeine, a stimulant. Often times, alcohol is mixed with caffeinated substances such as sodas that have small amounts of caffeine, and sometimes even with drinks which contain a much higher caffeine concentration. Mixing alcohol with energy drinks has become commonplace and ubiquitous, especially amongst young adult drinkers. The purpose of doing so is mainly to get the boost an energy drink gives in order to negate the depressant effects of alcohol. The drinker either preloads, which means that he or she drinks energy drinks in anticipation of the alcohol they will be consuming, or drinks alcohol and the energy drink simultaneously[ CITATION Mar10 l 1033 ]. Mixing the two inhibits the drinker's ability to judge the extent of their intoxication. This has severe negative reciprocations, as the drinker is more likely to overdose on alcohol. Alcohol, by itself, is not extremely fatal, as the drinker is likely to pass out before reaching the lethal dose. However, when mixing with energy drinks, the drinker can keep on consuming alcohol passed the point at which they would usually pass out or feel some sort of adverse effect[ CITATION Lei08 l 1033 ]. This pretense of feeling more sober than one actually is increases the likelihood of events involving a state of intoxication such as car accidents or sexual victims, of happening. .
Mixing alcohol with amphetamines, a stimulant, can be as dangerous or even more than mixing alcohol with caffeine.