Speedball is a mixture of drugs that provides euphoria at the expense of addiction and death.
Original components of a speedball:
(1) cocaine, which may be in the form of crack (serves as stimulant)
(2) heroin or morphine (opioid)
Additional drugs may be present intentionally or due to adulteration. Methamphetamine may be used in place of cocaine.
The goal is to increase the euphoria while reducing unpleasant side effects.
Modes of use:
(1) injection
(2) inhalation/insufflation
(3) smoking
Risk of speedball use:
(1) addiction
(2) overdose
(3) infection (hepatitis C, HIV, other)
Respiratory depression can occur if the cocaine effect wears off before the opiate effect and if the opiate level is high.
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Specialty: Emergency Medicine, Toxicology
