What Is a Speedball? Heroin & Cocaine Drug Combo

Overdosing on heroin alone is far more likely than most people understand. A 2001 study done in Australia found that 54% of people who used the drug regularly reported at least one non-fatal overdose in their lifetime. When someone falls into a pattern of using the drug everyday it can cost them upwards of $200 USD per day to maintain their addiction. And withdrawal symptoms can occur within a few hours of the last dose of heroin taken, making it very easy to develop a tolerance to. A speedball combines a stimulant drug, such as cocaine or amphetamines, and a depressant drug, such as heroin or benzodiazepines. If you or someone you know is dealing with polydrug abuse, including speedballing, it’s important to seek help immediately.

Side Effects of Combining Cocaine & Heroin

Nonpharmacological treatments for speedball abuse may also exist. A 2014 study published in the journal Life Sciences showed that exercise decreased speedball administration in enabling vs helping animals. Researchers found that overall physical activity, not a specific exercise, reduced drug self-administration by rodents. Black tar heroin, white heroin or brown heroin can be combined with cocaine or other stimulants and abused in various ways.

Because the effects of cocaine subside more quickly than the effects of heroin, speedball use can result in heroin-induced slowed breathing that can lead to respiratory depression. Treatment for speedball addiction usually starts with medically supervised detox, which is crucial for managing withdrawal symptoms. Following detox, comprehensive addiction treatment is necessary to address underlying issues and aid long-term recovery. This can be done via an inpatient, partial hospitalization, or intensive outpatient mary jane meaning drug program. Some purposely took fentanyl because they knew of its deadly, potent properties. However, many people were not aware of the presence of fentanyl in counterfeit pills (like oxycodone) and heroin.

What are the side effects?

Speedballing can also lead to addiction, mental health issues, and social problems, such as job loss, financial problems, and legal issues. These prescription medications help to ease withdrawal symptoms, lessen cravings, and prevent relapse. Mixing different types of drugs can result in unpredictable interactions, causing negative side effects or worsening pre-existing conditions. whippets balloons The combined effects of the stimulant and depressant create a push-pull effect on the body, straining the central nervous system and other organs.

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2. In 2014, cocaine was involved in the second-most number of overdose deaths; use has increased each year.
3. There are reports of individuals who experience manic episodes, paranoia, or depression after speedballing as well.

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When taken together with heroin in a speedball, the effect can be deadly. The concoction is responsible for the demise of several celebrities, including comedian John Belushi and actors River Phoenix and Phillip Seymour Hoffman. Heroin and cocaine commonly come in powdered forms and can be dissolved into a liquid. The term “speedballing” refers to injecting this potentially lethal combination into the bloodstream. Sometimes speedballs are snorted, but the high isn’t as intense as when it’s taken intravenously.

While a speedball habit is incredibly dangerous, quitting isn’t easy. Opioids can alter brain chemistry in persistent ways.16 People can feel sick when they try to quit. And they can experience deep cravings that increase their risk of relapse. People rarely know exactly what’s included inside the speedballs they’re about to use. Dealers may say that the opioids they’re using are heroin, but they may include fentanyl instead.

Detoxification from speedballing can be difficult and potentially dangerous, especially without medical supervision or support. Polydrug use can also mask the symptoms of overdose or withdrawal, making it harder for the user to seek medical attention in an emergency. These numbers highlight the serious public health issue of drug abuse and overdose, affecting millions of people and their loved ones yearly.

The combination of these two drugs creates a dangerous cocktail that can have severe and often fatal consequences. However, getting help for speedball use and addiction is just as viable as finding help for any other substance abuse. Buprenorphine produces some heroin-like effects, while indatraline causes effects similar to those of cocaine. Buprenorphine and indatraline minimize and prevent cocaine and heroin withdrawal symptoms, have a long duration of action and have a lower potential for abuse when compared with heroin or cocaine.