A speedball is similar to a mixed drink you get at the bar, but it’s a cocktail of drugs you don’t have a standard recipe for. It is a potent and dangerous concoction that can have serious consequences, including death. Drugs are dangerous enough as is, but combining unknown substances can have lasting and irreversible effects. Let’s look at the dangers of speedballing to help protect more people. Before that, though, what is a speedball, exactly?

What’s a Speedball?

It’s easy to understand the dangers of speedballing when you know exactly what it is. A modern speedball (sometimes called a goofball) is the name given to the combination of two different drug types: an opioid and a stimulant. Opioids are drugs like heroin, hydromorphone, fentanyl, and oxycodone, while stimulants are drugs like cocaine, amphetamines, and Adderall.

But the classic speedball is heroin and cocaine. The two are mixed and injected directly into the bloodstream in one shot. That causes almost immediate and intense effects. The problem with speedballs is that the two drugs on their own are powerful, and when combined, even more so. When people speedball, they’re hoping to get the best sensations from each drug without the less pleasant effects, but it isn’t that simple.

The Effects of Speedballs

Everyone is a unique individual, so the effects of a speedball can vary widely from person to person. The combination is far more intense than either drug taken alone, which can be disastrous on a neurochemical level.

Speedballing further rewires the reward center of the brain, sinking people deeper and deeper into addiction. It affects multiple regions of the brain which is why even one speedball can be deadly.

The Dangers of Speedballs

Many risks accompany speedballs and goofballs. The modern speedball is extremely dangerous because there is no way to ensure the drug cocktail you’re taking or the ratio of components. If there are major contraindications between the two drugs, there can be serious mental and physical reactions.

What many people fail to realize and understand is that the effects of cocaine wear off far faster than the effects of heroin. When the cocaine wears off and there’s more heroin in the body than can be handled, an opioid overdose can result.

It is not uncommon for people to develop mental illnesses that were not previously present after speedballing. Some other risks include:

• Paranoia.
• Cognitive impairment.
• Hypertension.
• Aphasia.
• Racing heartbeat.
• Stroke.
• Heart attack.
• Aneurysm.
• Respiratory failure.

In addition to the previously named risks, there may be long-term effects as well. Organ damage due to decreased circulation, anorexia, ulcers throughout the GI tract, aortic ruptures are some examples. As are possible seizures, behavioral problems, heart inflammation, contracting HIV or other bloodborne diseases, addiction, and an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.

Concluding Words on Speedballing Dangers

Speedballing may seem like a good time to some, but it is extremely dangerous. The long list of dangers associated with speedballs puts those who indulge in them in a very unsafe position. If you or someone you know is suffering from addiction and substance abuse, there are many places to get help. You can consult with an addiction specialist, a mental health professional, or a healthcare provider.

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