Final answer:
Mixing alcohol with opioids can lead to severe central nervous system depression, increasing the risk of respiratory failure and overdose. Symptoms include drowsiness, confusion, and impaired coordination. Methadone can be used to manage opioid withdrawal under medical supervision.
Step-by-step explanation:
Combining alcohol with narcotic pain relievers like fentanyl, morphine, oxycodone, and heroin can exacerbate the sedative effects of these drugs, leading to dangerous symptoms that may include drowsiness, confusion, impaired coordination, respiratory depression, and can increase the risk of overdose and death. Given that these substances can depress the central nervous system, using them together can severely impair breathing and heart rate, resulting in life-threatening situations. Heroin itself is a major opioid drug of abuse and can lead to a physical dependence characterised by a need for continued intake to avoid withdrawal symptoms, such as severe flu-like symptoms. Withdrawal from opioids can be managed with medically supervised treatments like methadone, which helps to alleviate symptoms.
Individuals experiencing withdrawal from high doses of alcohol and/or barbiturates along with opioids should seek medical supervision due to the potentially life-threatening nature of this process. Professional treatment programs may include psychotherapy and the support of organizations like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) to help maintain sobriety and manage withdrawal.