Speedballing typically refers to the phenomenon of mixing an opioid, typically heroin, with a stimulant, mostly cocaine. In 2021, 75% of the overdoses occurred due to heroin and other synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Likewise, from 2019 to 2021, overdose deaths due to cocaine increased by 54%. Now, think what the concoction of the two most fatal substances can do. Read the article to understand the dangers of speedballing.
Table of Contents
What Is Speedball? Is It Only a Mixture of Heroin and Cocaine?
As mentioned above, speedballing is the phenomenon of mixing a stimulant and an opioid. Both substances work in contrast to each other. Opioids are central nervous system (CNS) depressants, which means that they slow down the brain’s functions.
On the other hand, stimulants speed up the working of the central nervous system, making a person hyper-focused and hyperactive. Stimulants can take heart rate to a dangerously high level, while opioids can bring heart and blood pressure to a fatally low level.
Overdosing on speedball is a common phenomenon. Contact us at 844.445.2565 or fill out this form to contact our addiction specialists.
What Does Speedballing Feel Like?
When the contrasting effects are given to the brain in the form of heroin and cocaine, the rush produced is highly pleasurable but just as dangerous. Individuals engaging in speedballing have affirmed that the high is better than when heroin and cocaine are taken on their own.
On the other hand, speedball is less pleasurable for some people, and the high may be more agonizing than amazing. This is because substances react differently according to age, tolerance, usage of existing substances, etc.
Side Effects of Speedballing
Speedballing has short-term and long-term side effects, which are not always pleasurable. Those engaging in speedballing are likely to experience the following side effects:
- Drowsiness
- Paranoia
- Involuntary movements
- Lack of sleep
- Distorted or blurred vision
- No spontaneity
- Impaired consciousness
Speedballing affects most of the organs. So, it is not only the brain that is being overstimulated. Anytime permanent damage from speedballing may occur. The dangers of consistent use of different substances together are explained below.
Did you know? that several celebrities, including River Phoenix, tragically lost their lives to speedballing?
Did you know? that several celebrities, including River Phoenix, tragically lost their lives to speedballing?
Risks Associated With Polysubstance Substance
There is a myth surrounding speedballing that the media perhaps exaggerates the dangers. However, in reality, it is quite true. An experiment showed that the combination of stimulants and opioids, especially cocaine and heroin, could result in increased risk.
Common Stimulants and Opioid That Are Mixed
- MDMA
- Meth
- Cocaine
- Heroin
- Fentanyl
Speedball poses a ton of hazards, including death by overdose. Some other dangers are explained below.
Unintentional Overdose
Stimulants and depressants do not cancel out each other’s effects. They only mask them, meaning that taking a stimulant over a depressant may feel like the latter is not working. In reality, the body is overwhelmed with substances. Stimulants can counter the high produced by opioids, making a person take more amount than intended. This may result in overdose.
Risk of Abusing Multiple Drugs
Studies show that those who abuse a drug have a risk of developing addiction to other illicit drugs as well. Polysubstance gives rise to several health issues. For instance, if a person taking oxycodone decides to abuse fentanyl, it can result in death by overdose because both of them are depressants.
Please note this assessment is an initial self-screening, and it is not meant to be a medical assessment or clinical diagnosis of addiction. For proper diagnosis and treatment, schedule an appointment with ChoicePoint.
Failed Naloxone Administration
Naloxone is a drug used to reverse the effects of opioids. While naloxone takes a few minutes to undo the risk of overdose, it does not work for cocaine. So unless professional care is available, overdose may result in fatal consequences.
Typically, cocaine is responsible for creating toxicity in the body that causes the system to collapse. It is also harmful in other ways, such as inducing seizures, hyperthermia, or stroke. Calling 911 instantly is very important so that appropriate medical intervention is administered and the overdose is reversed.
Respiratory Failure/Depression
Excessive cocaine use can result in respiratory complications. Likewise, heroin is also responsible for depressing the respiratory system, which gives rise to a ton of health issues, which can also cease normal heart functioning. When both toxins enter the body, they can result in respiratory depression. If a person is expressing the signs, it is important to call 911 as it can become fatal instantly. Some signs of respiratory depression include:
- Tiredness
- Shortness of breath
- Headaches
- Unconsciousness
- Cold or clammy skin
These are also some symptoms of opioid overdose as well. Even if someone is not overdosing on heroin, you may administer naloxone.
Cardiovascular Issues
The combination of cocaine’s stimulant effects and heroin’s depressant effects can put a strain on the cardiovascular system, increasing the risk of the following health issues:
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Arrhythmia
Heart issues are prevalent among most of the people with substance use disorders (SUDs). However, these are exacerbated due to the use of hard drugs.
Dangerous Drug Combinations
Countering Speedballing With ChoicePoint
Treating it is imperative if you have ever engaged in dangerous behaviors like speedballing. ChoicePoint is a leading rehab center in Fairlawn, New Jersey, that offers diverse treatments.
Our approach
There is a Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) approved for opioid addiction. However, there are currently no medications to treat stimulant addiction; for issues like polysubstance abuse, a comprehensive and personalized treatment is required.
Here’s How We Treat Polysubstance Abuse
Getting over a drug on your own is not only difficult but also fatal. Also, it poses unique challenges because drugs with contrasting mechanisms are in question. Our specialists follow an appropriate treatment plan that involves:
Assessment: A detailed evaluation is conducted by a primary doctor. During the examination, the specialist will ask about your medical history and devise a plan accordingly.
Detox: Detox is the most important step. Going cold turkey on drugs can result in overdose and painful withdrawal symptoms. With a medical professional on-site, the risks can be mitigated. It is important to eliminate toxins from cocaine and heroin (or any other opioid+stimulant concoction).
Medications: Medications are prescribed to treat opioid addiction (Suboxone, Subutex, Naltrexone). While there are no FDA-approved medications for stimulants, some of them may be prescribed (Modafinil, disulfiram, etc) off-label to ease withdrawal symptoms like aches.
Therapy: Individual or group therapy sessions are used to address psychological withdrawal and relapse prevention. CBT has even shown effectiveness as a monotherapy for cocaine, which shows that therapy is also an apt treatment for stimulant addiction.
Aftercare: Aftercare is an essential part of recovery. It holds as much effectiveness as any other addiction treatment. We take consistent follow-ups from our patients to ensure their recovery goes smoothly. Enrolling in an aftercare program is essential for maintaining sobriety and preventing relapse.
Our Insurance Policy
We have a highly inclusive insurance policy. We accept insurance from most public and private providers, such as Medicaid, Medicare, Clover, Humana, Cigna, etc.
We also partner with nursing homes and businesses to increase the reach of addiction treatment. All you need to do is contact us at 844.445.2565 or fill out this form to undergo an addiction treatment program.
Did you know? that 54% of opioid overdose deaths in 2019 also involved a psychostimulant?
Did you know? that 54% of opioid overdose deaths in 2019 also involved a psychostimulant?
Concerns Regarding “What Is Speedball?”
Since both drugs are dangerous alone, they are even more hazardous when taken together. Not knowing what the actual ingredients are is even riskier, which is the case with street-sold drugs. Some common questions regarding speedballing are answered below.
What Is the Difference Between Heroin and Cocaine?
Heroin is a depressant, while cocaine is a stimulant. This means that CNS is sped up with cocaine use and slowed down with heroin use. Both offer different kinds of rushes. Due to the different natures and mechanisms of intense euphoria that happen due to the mixture, individuals get addicted to this dangerous concoction.
Is Speedball Dangerous?
Speedballing is very dangerous. Many people, including celebrities, have lost their lives to this combination. Giving your brain drugs that have contrasting effects can cause serious damage physically and even psychologically.
What Are Speedballing Drugs?
The drugs in speedballing include one opioid and one stimulant. Typically, an opioid is heroin, while the stimulant used in speedball is cocaine. The push and pull effect of the two drugs is what makes it more pleasurable and also highly fatal.
What Are the Top 5 Dangers of Cocaine?
Long-term or short-term dangers of cocaine may manifest themselves in physical as well as behavioral forms. These are:
- Stroke
- Overdose
- Addiction
- Respiratory failure
What Happens When Two Drugs Are Mixed?
Contrary to the common belief, mixing a stimulant and depressant does not result in canceling each other’s effects. It can be more fatal and may not be pleasurable for everyone. Many people have reported feeling bad instead of experiencing euphoria.
Can You Die From Cocaine Withdrawal?
Cocaine withdrawal is extremely uncomfortable. However, it is not as fatal as opioid or alcohol withdrawal. Still, rather than undergoing extreme pain, it is better to get help from a professional to detox from the drug.
Sources
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2023, June 30). Drug Overdose Death Rates. National Institute on Drug Abuse; National Institutes of Health. https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/trends-statistics/overdose-death-rates
- Abuse, N. I. on D. (2023, February 9). Drug Overdose Death Rates. National Institute on Drug Abuse. https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/trends-statistics/overdose-death-rates#:~:text=%2C%201999%2D2021.-
- CDC. (2022, August 8). Drug overdose deaths – Health, United States. Www.cdc.gov. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus/topics/drug-overdose-deaths.htm
- Negus, S. S., Gatch, M. B., & Mello, N. K. (1998). Discriminative stimulus effects of a cocaine/heroin “speedball” combination in rhesus monkeys. The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 285(3), 1123–1136. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9618415/
- Butelman, E. R., Chen, C. Y., Lake, K. J., Brown, K. G., & Mary Jeanne Kreek. (2022). Bidirectional influence of heroin and cocaine escalation in persons with dual opioid and cocaine dependence diagnoses. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 30(1), 31–38. https://doi.org/10.1037/pha0000401
- Perper, J. A., & Van Thiel, D. H. (1992). Respiratory complications of cocaine abuse. Recent Developments in Alcoholism: An Official Publication of the American Medical Society on Alcoholism, the Research Society on Alcoholism, and the National Council on Alcoholism, 10, 363–377. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1648-8_18
- Kampman, K. M. (2005). New Medications for the Treatment of Cocaine Dependence. Psychiatry (Edgmont), 2(12), 44–48. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2994240/
- Cognitive-Behavioral Approach: Treating Cocaine Addiction; Manual 1 | Office of Justice Programs. (n.d.). Ojp.gov. Retrieved May 30, 2024, from https://ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/cognitive-behavioral-approach-treating-cocaine-addiction-manual-1#:~:text=Cognitive%2Dbehavioral%20coping%20skills%20treatment
Medical Disclaimer:
ChoicePoint aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with substance use disorder and mental health issues. Our team of licensed medical professionals research, edit and review the content before publishing. However, this information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For medical advice please consult your physicians or ChoicePoint's qualified staff.