Polysubstance dependence

Polysubstance dependence
Psychoactive substances
Specialty	Psychiatry
Symptoms	Frequent poly drug use
Complications	Combined drug intoxication, drug overdose

Polysubstance dependence refers to a type of substance use disorder in which an individual uses at least three different classes of substances indiscriminately and does not have a favorite substance that qualifies for dependence on its own. Although any combination of three substances can be used, studies have shown that alcohol is commonly used with another substance.^[1] This is supported by one study on polysubstance use that separated participants who used multiple substances into groups based on their preferred substance. The results of a longitudinal study on substance use led the researchers to observe that excessively using or relying on one substance increased the probability of excessively using or relying on another substance.^[2]