What is a Speedball?

Polysubstance use is a term used to describe misusing more than one substance at a time. For example, this could mean mixing alcohol and weed or other drug combinations like benzodiazepines and opioids. Unfortunately, engaging in polysubstance use increases your risk of experiencing a life-threatening overdose.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “In 2022, nearly half of drug overdose deaths involved multiple drugs.”[1]

One of the most notorious forms of polydrug use is called “speedballing.” When someone engages in this type of substance use, they mix a stimulant drug with an opioid. For example, a speedball might involve mixing cocaine and heroin or meth and fentanyl.

There are a variety of risks associated with this form of substance use, including cardiovascular problems, respiratory issues, substance use disorder, and fatal overdoses.

In this article, you will learn:

• What is speedballing?
• What are the effects of mixing stimulants and opioids?
• What are the risks of combining stimulants and opioids?
• What are the signs that indicate you need treatment for polysubstance use?

What is Speedballing?

Speedballing is a type of polysubstance use that involves mixing a stimulant and a depressant. Usually, people mix stimulants with opioids. Doing so can cause a potent high that leads to the development of a substance use disorder, heart attacks, mental health concerns, respiratory failure, and life-threatening overdoses.

Some people accidentally speedball in hopes of “canceling out the effects of one drug.” For example, if someone is too high on cocaine, they might consume a prescription opioid like hydrocodone to calm themselves down. Unfortunately, this only increases their high and puts them at risk of overdosing.

Stimulant drugs that might be used during a speedball include:[2]

• Cocaine
• Methamphetamine
• Crack cocaine
• Prescription stimulants like Adderall

Examples of opioid drugs used to speedball include:[2]

• Heroin
• Fentanyl
• Prescription opioids like hydrocodone, morphine, oxycodone, and more

The Effects of Combining Stimulants and Opioids

The effects you experience when mixing stimulants and opioids depend on what drugs you take. That said, you’ll usually experience the effects of both drugs at the same time. For example, the combination of cocaine and heroin can lead to increased energy and mental confusion or irregular heart rate, as cocaine causes a fast heartbeat and heroin causes it to slow down.

The effects of a speedball might include:

• Confusion or disorientation
• Blurry or double vision
• Dizziness or drowsiness and sedative effects
• Unsteadiness or coordination problems
• Anxiety and paranoia
• Slowed or fast breathing
• Increased heart rate, irregular heart rate, or arrhythmias
• Feelings of euphoria and pleasure
• Drastic changes in blood pressure

If you combine these drugs often, you will eventually develop a polysubstance use disorder. This means you’ll become physically and psychologically dependent on both drugs at the same time. Unfortunately, polysubstance use is incredibly dangerous, making it vital that you seek professional help.

What are the Risks of Speedballing?

Speedballing is never safe, as you are mixing stimulants with depressants. Doing this causes your brain and body to become confused. Stimulants speed things up, while depressants slow things down.

Because you are taking drugs with opposite effects, you could experience adverse symptoms related to your heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, and body temperature. You could experience a cardiovascular emergency, like arrhythmias or heart attacks.

The physical dangers of mixing stimulants and opioids include:[3]

• Strokes
• Heart attacks
• Seizures
• Respiratory depression
• Life-threatening overdoses
• Coma

According to a study, overdose deaths related to mixing stimulants and opioids skyrocketed from 187 in 1999 to 14,777 in 2020.[3]

You can also experience adverse mental health effects when combining these drugs. For example, you could experience intense anxiety, panic attacks, paranoia, mental confusion, disorientation, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Some people develop substance-induced psychosis when they speedball.

While speedballing causes an intense high, it is simply not worth it. Thankfully, substance use treatment programs can help you receive the skills and support you need to make a full recovery.

Signs You Need Polysubstance Use Disorder Treatment

Polysubstance use should always be treated by a professional substance use disorder treatment center. That said, sometimes it can be hard to recognize the signs that you need treatment.

The main signs that you need professional care for speedballing include:

• Having a hard time quitting or cutting back on stimulant and opioid use
• Spending a lot of time obtaining or using stimulants and opioids
• Experiencing urges or cravings to use both drugs at the same time
• Losing interest in previously enjoyed activities
• Failing to meet responsibilities at home, school, or work
• Being unable to control how much or how often you combine stimulants and opioids
• Continuing to use stimulants and opioids despite facing social issues or physical and mental health problems
• Using speedballs in risky situations, such as while driving
• Needing to increase your dose of stimulants and opioids to experience the desired effect
• Dealing with withdrawal symptoms when you stop speedballing

If you notice 2 or more of the above-mentioned signs of a substance use disorder, you should seek professional help immediately. At Blue Star Recovery, we use evidence-based approaches for speedball treatment, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and relapse prevention planning.

Get Connected to a Top-Rated Substance Use Treatment Center

If you or a loved one regularly speedballs, you are suffering from a polysubstance use disorder. Blue Star Recovery is here to offer you the support and tools you need to achieve long-term recovery. At programs like Blue Star Recovery, you will receive a combination of personalized and evidence-based care to help you achieve long-term recovery.

Contact us today for more information on how we treat stimulant and opioid use disorders.

References:

1. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Polysubstance Use Facts
2. Mncourts.gov: “SPEEDBALLING”: MIXING STIMULANTS AND OPIOIDS
3. MDPI: Effect of Combined Methamphetamine and Oxycodone Use on the Synaptic Proteome in an In Vitro Model of Polysubstance Use