Local Rehab Releases Blog on Speedball Dangers

Duffield, VA – ReVIDA® Recovery is a local rehab center that recently published an article informing about what is a speedball. Their program treats opioid use disorder specifically through medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and outpatient therapy.

“Speedballs get their name from the result of mixing heroin and cocaine at the same time. Commonly, you will hear people say they are ‘speedballing.’ Dealers don’t sell a physical speedball product; instead, they typically sell both substances separately for the person to mix themselves. Both cocaine and heroin have been around for years, and taking both at the same time is not a new concept. The goal of speedballing is to maximize the effects of each substance,” the article reads.

Both cocaine and heroin have their own side effects, and mixing them together can result in even more. This is because cocaine is a stimulant while heroin is a depressant. Side effects of cocaine include increased body temperature, heightened senses of touch and seeing light, anxiety and agitation, paranoia, and changes in heart rhythm. Side effects of heroin include drowsiness, dizziness, slow or shallow breathing, brain fog, slowed heart rate, and nodding in and out of consciousness. Taking the substances together will amplify these effects.

The long-term effects of speedballing can cause many health problems. The method of use can influence where long-term damage occurs. Cocaine can be snorted, injected, or swallowed while heroin can be injected, snorted, smoked, or ingested. Snorting either substance can result in damage to the nasal cavity and eventually lead to nasal collapse. While cocaine can’t be smoked as a powder, its counterpart crack can be used in speedballing as well. Smoking crack or heroin will lead to long-term lung problems including infections, pneumonia, and COPD.

“Injecting any substance comes with risks, and speedballing is no different. If the needle or syringe is not sterile, it can cause infections and transfer bloodborne illnesses such as HIV. Scarring and vein collapse are common with long-term intravenous substance use. While one study found it uncommon, there is always the possibility that a needle can break underneath the skin, leading to a foreign-body embolization. The same study found that this occurred in a 49-year-old man who had been speedballing. The needle fragment lodged in his heart, which would have been the cause of death had he not first experienced an overdose,” the article continues.

Heroin and cocaine alone can each cause overdoses, but speedballing increases the risk exponentially. This is because the effects of each substance are being counteracted by the other, letting the person take more together than normal. Though the substances counteract each other, cocaine is not a way to stop a heroin overdose and vice versa. Medical attention is necessary for overdose situations no matter the cause.

Medications like Narcan® (naloxone) can help reverse a heroin overdose, but there are no medications to reverse a cocaine overdose. Medical professionals will know what to do in the situation, but be sure to be honest about all substances taken. Signs that someone is experiencing a speedball overdose include losing consciousness, slowed or stopped breathing, blue tint to the skin, fast heart rate, and body temperature increase or decrease.

ReVIDA® Recovery has been helping many to reclaim their lives from opioids and move forward in recovery. Their program has flexible scheduling to help ease access to treatment and therapy. They accept commercial insurance as well as Medicaid and offer same-day appointments.

To learn more about ReVIDA® Recovery, call 423-631-0432 or visit their website.