People struggling with addiction may come across several types of drugs throughout their life that they may experiment with. One drug type that has grown in popularity recently is referred to as the “speedball drug.”
The speedball drug is a mix of drugs that was done in an attempt to create the “ultimate high.” This is usually used by those struggling with addiction, especially when they no longer feel the same type of high with just using one kind of drug. They would then create their own combination of drugs to create a greater type of high.
While this combination of drugs could give them a new effect of high that they may not experience when just using one drug at a time, the side effects could be worse. Not only are they exposing themselves to the risks of each individual drug at the time, but also to the risk of the dangerous interaction that the two drugs may have.
In this article, we will talk more about speedball, its dangerous effects, the signs of overdose, and seeking help. This article mentions drugs, drug abuse, and its negative side effects. If you are sensitive to these topics, or they may trigger a negative psychological response, we recommend you click away and seek help from a professional. Otherwise, keep reading to learn more.
What is Speedball?
Speedball is a type of drug that involves the mixing of two or more drugs. Its core ingredients are heroin and cocaine, and it is injected into the body through the use of a syringe.
However, speedball is now becoming a more widely used term to describe the mixing of two or more drugs—usually an opioid and stimulant. Although heroin and cocaine are most commonly used, others may substitute them for different types of drugs that they would then take.
The combination of these two drugs can create a great effect for the person struggling with addiction. However, this effect comes with a greater risk due to the interaction of the two drugs in addition to their own individual risks too.
What are the Risks of Speedball?
The injection of speedball into one’s body can bring about several risks for each person. While this may still depend on their tolerance, the most common side effects are:
- Anxiety and panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Hypertension
- Racing heartbeat
- Trouble thinking or speaking clearly
- Stupor
Aside from these side effects, there is also the potential risk of death from the use of speedballs. The combination is so fatal that it could cause death from any of the following:
- Stroke
- Aneurysm
- Cardiac arrest
One of the biggest dangers of speedball drugs is that cocaine wears off much faster than heroin. Heroin is such a dangerous drug that its overdose results in opioid overdose and respiratory failure. This becomes very dangerous to the user, which could then also result in their own eventual deaths.
What Are the Long-Term Effects of Speedball?
Aside from the immediate risks one is placing themselves into when using speedball, there are also long-term effects, just like with the use of other drugs. These long-term effects could be any, if not all, of the following:
- Skin and tissue damage from the use of injection
- Possible HIV infection or other bloodborne diseases from sharing of injection with others
- Vascular inflammation and clogging of the blood vessels due to the use of injection
- Anorexia and malnourishment
- Ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke
- The damage and failure of other organs
- Ulcerations in the GI tract
- Kidney and liver injury
- Heart muscle inflammation
- Aortic ruptures
- Heart attack
- Seizures
- Long-lasting cognitive impairments
- Increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease
- Problems with impulsivity
- Addiction
These long-term effects will be hard to recover from much later on in one’s life. While recovery is still possible when started immediately, some of these long-term effects may possibly stay if the path to recovery is continuously delayed.
What are Other Dangers of Drug Combination?
The combination, especially cocaine and heroin, increases dopamine production, activity, and release into the body. This results in a feeling of high that a lot of people may enjoy, especially as a release from stress. This high feeling may be something that a lot of people would want to replicate over and over again, which could prompt them to continuously use the drug and inject speedballs into their bodies repeatedly.
There is also the high risk of overdose from this due to the drug effects creating a feeling of canceling each other out. This may prompt the user to inject more into their bodies as they may not feel the effects immediately and would want to take more for them to feel something from the drug combination.
What are the Signs of Overdose?
While the usage of speedball and drugs is something that needs to be addressed, recognizing overdose from speedball could also potentially save the lives of others. This could help prevent the death of the user by bringing them to medical attention immediately once the symptoms have been recognized. These symptoms are:
- Irregular heartbeat
- Increased body temperature
- Anxiety
- Slow breathing
- Disorientation
- Clouded mental function
- Inability to move or cooperate motor functions
- Unresponsiveness
If you suspect that someone you know may be experiencing an overdose from the use of speedball or any other drug, then it is important that you call for immediate medical help. The first priority is to always help the person struggling with addiction at the moment, and then after, it is important to help them seek help to address their problem with addiction.
How Do I Seek Help for Drug Addiction or Abuse?
If you or anyone you love may be looking to seek help because they struggle with addiction, then it must be immediately addressed before it could result in more negative effects that could harm them. When seeking help, it is important to turn to medical professionals who are trained to address these issues in drug addiction and abuse.
Confinement in a facility is also important because it will place one in an environment specially made to accommodate those struggling with addiction. These facilities have the proper utilities and trained professionals who should be able to help one get on the path to recovery and get back on their feet.
However, the first step in doing this is to acknowledge the problem itself. Denial of substance abuse could lead to further risks and could just end up with the person struggling with addiction not being able to address the problem. Once you suspect that you or anyone you love is struggling with addiction, address the problem immediately by acknowledging it. This way, you can start searching for solutions.
The path to recovery is a difficult one that not everyone is willing to take. However, even just thinking about it is already a major step. Just make sure you are able to work with professionals who will also be able to work with you. Also, search for a facility that can meet and accommodate your needs to make the whole recovery process easier for you.
Conclusion
Drug addiction and abuse are something that should not be taken lightly. It is necessary to be able to understand its long-term effects, immediate risks, and what kind of help is needed. Now that you know more about speedball drugs, make sure to talk to people who you believe are struggling with addiction or talk to a professional yourself.
Source: https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/cocaine-abuse-and-addiction.page