Both drugs act on the mesolimbic dopaminergic system (the brain's reward center), creating a powerful cycle where alcohol stimulates the urge for crack, and crack encourages more drinking. Why Users Combine Them
Simultaneous use is linked to significantly higher levels of irritability and anger. Studies on PubMed Central have even modeled the link between this combination and increased incidents of partner violence.
Alcohol is often used to reduce the "edginess" or paranoia sometimes caused by crack.
Users often report that alcohol gives them the "courage" to seek out and purchase illegal drugs. The Human and Social Cost