Find out what happens when you mix pills with...

Alcohol: You may be surprised to learn that around 25% of all emergency room visits are related to mixing alcohol with medication. More than 150 different medications interact harmfully with alcohol, either inhibiting or increasing the effects of the alcohol and/or the drug or causing a harmful chemical reaction.

When it says “Don’t use with alcohol,” take it seriously. Alcohol even affects antibiotics. And if the label doesn’t warn against mixing with alcohol, call a pharmacist to ask. Even if it is in the middle of the night — find a phone number for a 24-hour pharmacy that you can call anonymously to find out what is safe and what might land you on a hospital gurney at 2 a.m.

Driving: Alcohol isn’t the only thing that shouldn’t be mixed with medications. A lot of drug labels come with a second warning — avoid driving or operation of heavy machinery. This standard warning is a reminder that medications can affect your reflexes, coordination, and alertness. This can make driving a problem for you, your passengers, and others on the road. Don’t assume you are fine just because the prescription or over-the-counter medicine is legal. You can still wreck your car — and your life.

Some Other Consequences: Prescription or OTC drug abuse can lead to destructive behavior, injury to yourself and others, and unwelcome run-ins with the police. Abuse can wreak havoc on your college life. It can also affect your sex life — you’ll increase your risk for sexual abuse and date rape as well as unsafe sex! Believe it or not, more than 100,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 report having been too out of it to know if they actually consented to having sex. And it doesn’t stop there. Students abusing legal drugs can suffer from school problems — missing class, low grades, and falling behind in reading and homework. There’s also legal trouble — abuse of some prescription drugs is a felony in many states.

If you want to talk about really serious consequences, how about overdoses. A fatal overdose is a real possibility when abusing any prescription or over-the-counter drug.