POLYAMOROUS –
July 7, 2025 – Polysubstance use has become a defining feature of the U.S. overdose crisis in the past decade. While not every overdose involves multiple substances, a significant and growing proportion includes drug combinations.
Fentanyl is the primary factor, but other substances are also involved, including xylazine, medetomidine, alcohol, benzodiazepines, cannabis, “gas station” heroin or weed, cocaine, methamphetamine, and others.
Why Polysubstance Abuse Is on the Rise
Bob DuPont, founding director of the National Institute of Drug Abuse, says there are multiple reasons for rampant polysubstance abuse, such as drug suppliers, users, and the quest for more intense drug experiences. DuPont told me, “The drug dealers are engaged in a remarkable brain research project no laboratory or NIH research could match in finding the maximum stimulus of brain reward.” DuPont says drug suppliers don’t want their customers to die—that would be bad for business. According to DuPont, drugs are driven by vast sums of money from drug users. Furthermore, research suggests that younger individuals are more likely to experiment with polysubstance use.
