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:Speedball (drug)

{{short description|Combination of narcotics}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}

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Speedball, powerball, or over and under{{cite web |title=Drugs slang: what police must learn - I to Q |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/6521761/Drugs-slang-what-police-must-learn-I-to-Q.html |website=www.telegraph.co.uk|date=8 November 2009 }} is the polydrug mixture of a stimulant with a depressant, usually an opioid. The most well-known mixture used for recreational drug use is that of cocaine and heroin; however, amphetamines can also be mixed with morphine and/or fentanyl. A speedball may be taken intravenously or by nasal insufflation.{{cite book |title=Healing Addiction: An Integrated Pharmacopsychosocial Approach to Treatment |url=https://archive.org/details/healingaddiction0000mart |url-access=registration |first1=Peter R. |last1=Martin |first2=Bennett Alan |last2=Weinberg |first3=Bonnie K. |last3=Bealer |location=Hoboken, New Jersey |publisher=Wiley-Interscience |date=2007 |page=[https://archive.org/details/healingaddiction0000mart/page/122 122] |isbn=978-0-471-65630-2}}

Speedballs often give stronger effects than either drug when taken alone due to drug synergy, and are a particularly hazardous mixture that can easily cause heart attack, respiratory arrest and death.{{cite book |last1=Martin |first1=Peter |last2=Weinberg |first2= Bennett Alan |last3=Bealer |first3=Bonnie K. |author-link= |date=2007 |title=Healing Addiction: An Integrated Pharmacopsychosocial Approach to Treatment |publisher=Wiley |page=122 |isbn= 978-0-470-08273-7}} When compared to single drugs, speedballs are more likely to lead to addiction,{{cite journal |ref=none |last1=Hunt |first1=Dana E. |last2=Lipton |first2=Douglas S |last3=Goldsmith |first3=Douglas |last4=Strug |first4=David |date=1984 |title=Street pharmacology: Uses of cocaine and heroin in the treatment of addiction |journal=Drug and Alcohol Dependence |volume=13 |issue=4 |page=377|doi=10.1016/0376-8716(84)90005-X |pmid=6479016 }} relapse{{cite journal |last1=Duvauchelle |first1=Christine L. |last2=Sapoznik |first2=Tova |last3=Kornetsky |first3=Conan |date=1998 |title=The synergistic effects of combining cocaine and heroin ("speedball") using a progressive-ratio schedule of drug reinforcement. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior |journal=Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior |volume=61 |issue=3 |pages=297–302|doi=10.1016/S0091-3057(98)00098-7 |pmid=9768564 |s2cid=21108950 |doi-access=free }}{{cite journal |last1= Wapler |first1=M |last2=Mendelson |first2=J. H. |last3=Teoj |first3=S. K. |last4=Mello |first4=N. K. |last5=Kuehnle |first5=J. C. |last6=Weiss |first6=R. D. |last7=Sholar |first7=S. W. |last8=Hanjra |first8=B |last9=Rhoades |first9=E |date=1992 |title=Buprenorphine attenuates drug craving in men with concurrent heroin and cocaine dependence |journal=Problems of Drug Dependence |volume= |issue= |page=339 }} and overdose.{{cite journal |last1=Ochoa |first1=Kristen C. |last2=Hahn |first2=Judith A. |last3=Seal |first3=Karen H. |last4=Moss |first4=Andrew R. |date=2001 |title=Overdosing among young injection drug users in San Francisco |journal=Addictive Behaviors |volume=26 |issue=3 |pages=453–460|doi=10.1016/S0306-4603(00)00115-5 |pmid=11436937 }}{{cite journal |last1=O'Driscoll |first1=Peter T. |last2=McGough |first2=Jim |first3=Holly |last3=Hagan |last4=Thiede |first4=Hanne |last5=Critchlow |first5=Cathy |last6=Alexander |first6=E. Russell |date=2001 |title=Predictors of Accidental Fatal Drug Overdose Among a Cohort of Injection Drug Users |journal=American Journal of Public Health |volume=91 |issue=6|pages=984–987 |doi=10.2105/ajph.91.6.984 |pmid=11392946 |pmc=1446480 }}{{cite journal |last1=Latkin |first1=Carl A. |last2=Edwards |first2=Catie |first3=Melissa A. |last3=Davey-Rothwell |last4=Yang |first4=Cui |last5=Tobin |first5=Karin E. |date=2018 |title=The relationship between drug use settings, roles in the drug economy, and witnessing a drug overdose in Baltimore, Maryland |journal=Substance Abuse |volume=39 |issue=3 |pages=384–389 |doi=10.1080/08897077.2018.1439801 |pmid=29432084 |pmc=6107432 }}

History

The classic speedball is heroin and cocaine.{{cite web |url=http://opioids.com/speedballs/ |title=Combined Cocaine and Opioid Abuse: From Neurobiology to the Clinic |last1=Rowlett |first1=K. |last2=Negus |first2=S. S. |last3=Shippenberg |first3=T. S. |last4=Mello |first4=N. K. |last5=Walsh |first5=S. L. |last6=Spealman |first6=R. D. |name-list-style=amp |work=Opioids.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924163935/https://www.opioids.com/speedballs/ |archive-date=September 24, 2020 |url-status=live}} It could also mean morphine and an amphetamine.{{Cite web| title = Definition of SPEEDBALL| access-date = 2024-08-17| url = https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/speedball}}

The United States Drug Enforcement Administration warned in 2019 that the rapid rise of fentanyl supply in the country has led to combinations of both fentanyl and heroin with cocaine ("super speedballs"). In addition, the cross-contamination of powdered fentanyl into cocaine supplies has led to reports of cocaine users unknowingly consuming a speedball-like combination.{{Cite web |title=2019 National Drug Threat Assessment |url=https://www.dea.gov/documents/2020/2020-01/2020-01-30/2019-national-drug-threat-assessment |access-date=2022-05-27 |work=Drug Enforcement Administration |year=2019}}

Pink cocaine or "tusi" usually includes an unknown mix of uppers and downers and is sometimes called a speedball.{{Cite web| last = Wiginton| first = Keri| title = Pink Cocaine: Risks, Effects, and Treatment| work = WebMD| access-date = 2024-08-17| url = https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/what-is-pink-cocaine}} Cocaine mixed with ketamine is called a CK or Calvin Klein.

Reportedly speedballs now account for most of the overdose fatalities in San Francisco. Many people are not speedballing intentionally. Rather, it has become difficult to avoid because so much of the cocaine, crack and methamphetamine supply is adulterated with fentanyl.{{Cite web| title = So-Called ‘Speedball’ Mixtures of Fentanyl and Stimulants Now Account for Most SF Overdose Deaths| work = SFist - San Francisco News, Restaurants, Events, & Sports| access-date = 2024-08-17| date = 2023-12-11| url = https://sfist.com/2023/12/11/so-called-speedball-mixtures-of-fentanyl-and-stimulants-now-account-for-most-sf-overdose-deaths/}} As of 2023 it is being called the "fourth wave" of the opioid epidemic.{{cite news |last1=Arditi |first1=Lynn |title=Stimulant users caught up in fatal 'fourth wave' of opioid epidemic |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2024/07/09/nx-s1-5015243/stimulant-users-meth-cocaine-coke-in-overdose-fourth-wave-opioid-epidemic |access-date=17 August 2024 |work=NPR |date=July 9, 2024}}{{Cite news| title = How the fentanyl crisis' fourth wave has hit every corner of the US| access-date = 2024-08-17| date = 2023-09-16| url = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66826895}}{{Cite web| title = Speedballing: The Current Fourth Wave of the Overdose Crisis |work=Psychology Today| date=March 8, 2024 |access-date = 2024-08-17| url = https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/addiction-outlook/202403/speedballing-the-current-fourth-wave-of-the-overdose-crisis}}

Physiological response

It is a widespread misconception that taking downers will reduce the risk of adverse cardiac effects from stimulants, or vice versa. Stimulants and opioids are more dangerous when mixed because they work in different ways. Stimulants wear off before opiates. When heart rate changes quickly, first increasing rapidly from the effect of the stimulant and then dropping quickly when the stimulant wears off and the full effects of the opiates are felt, this can cause a stroke or heart failure.{{Cite web| title = What Everyone Should Know About the Risks of Speedballs - RAYSAC| access-date = 2024-08-18| date = 2022-06-07| url = https://raysac.org/2022/06/07/speedball-radar/}}

Speedballs are extremely dangerous. The variations in heart rate and contraction caused by taking the mix of uppers/downers can lead to stroke or death even in young, healthy persons.{{Cite web| title = Here’s What Happens When You Mix Cocaine and Ketamine| work = VICE| access-date = 2024-08-17| date = 2022-06-01| url = https://www.vice.com/en/article/z3nj79/mixing-cocaine-and-ketamine/}}

Notable deaths attributed to speedball use

  • Jean-Michel Basquiat,{{cite web |url=http://www.gatehouseacademy.com/research/articles/celebrity-drug-and-alcohol-addictions |title=Death by Drugs: Fatal Celebrity Drug and Alcohol Addictions |work=Gatehouse Academy |access-date=27 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110314151239/http://www.gatehouseacademy.com/research/articles/celebrity-drug-and-alcohol-addictions |archive-date=14 March 2011}}{{cite book |last=Largo |first=Michael |author-link=Michael Largo |date=2010 |title=Genius and Heroin: Creativity and Reckless Abandon Through |publisher=HarperCollins |page=22 |isbn=978-0-06-204369-6}} though other sources list his death as heroin overdose only.{{cite book |last=Boyce Davies |first=Carole |author-link=Carole Boyce Davies |chapter=Basquiat, Jean-Michel (1960-1988) |title=Encyclopedia of the African Diaspora: Origins, Experiences, and Culture |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P9ORpnGJh_IC&q=%22Jean-Michel+Basquiat%22+dead+OR+death+OR+died&pg=PA150 |year=2008 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-85109-700-5 |page=150}}{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-41359913 |title=Jean-Michel Basquiat: The neglected genius |last=Dowd |first=Vincent |date=25 September 2017 |work=BBC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114135013/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-41359913 |archive-date=14 January 2021 |url-status=live}}
  • John Belushi
  • Ken Caminiti{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/02/sports/baseball/report-says-overdose-killed-caminiti.html |title=Report Says Overdose Killed Caminiti |last=Litsky |first=Frank |date=2 November 2004 |work=The New York Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309111752/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/02/sports/baseball/report-says-overdose-killed-caminiti.html |archive-date=9 March 2021 |url-status=live}}
  • Chris Farley{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/01/03/us/chris-farley-s-death-laid-to-drug-overdose.html |title=Chris Farley's Death Laid to Drug Overdose |date=January 3, 1998 |work=The New York Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201100908/https://www.nytimes.com/1998/01/03/us/chris-farley-s-death-laid-to-drug-overdose.html |archive-date=1 December 2020 |url-status=live}}
  • Pete Farndon{{cite web |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/chrissie-hynde-without-tears-19840426 |title=Chrissie Hynde Without Tears |magazine=Rolling Stone |first=James |last=Henke |date=26 April 1984 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210151813/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/chrissie-hynde-without-tears-101729/ |archive-date=10 December 2020 |url-status=live}}
  • Zac Foley{{cite web |url=http://www.whisperinandhollerin.com/incoming/item.asp?id=4 |title=Obituary: Zac Foley |last=Peacock |first=Tim |date=1 October 2002 |work=Whisperin' and Hollerin' |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119091911/http://www.whisperinandhollerin.com/incoming/item.asp?id=4 |archive-date=19 November 2018 |url-status=live}}
  • Trevor Goddard{{cite web |url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/08/05/1060064185517.html |title=JAG star died from drug overdose, coroner rules |date=6 August 2003 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803150824/https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/jag-star-died-from-drug-overdose-coroner-rules-20030806-gdh7zb.html |archive-date=3 August 2019 |url-status=live}}
  • Mitch Hedberg{{cite web |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/report-mitch-hedberg-died-drug-overdose-1C9482109 |title=Report: Mitch Hedberg died of drug overdose |agency=Associated Press |date=27 December 2005 |work=Today |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320025000/https://www.today.com/popculture/report-mitch-hedberg-died-drug-overdose-1C9482109 |archive-date=20 March 2021 |url-status=live}}
  • Philip Seymour Hoffman{{cite web |url=http://www.tmz.com/2014/02/28/philip-seymour-hoffman-cause-of-death-heroin-benzodiazepine-amphetamine/ |title=Philip Seymour Hoffman Killed By Massive OD Heroin, Coke, Rx Meds |date=28 February 2014 |work=TMZ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126034750/https://www.tmz.com/2014/02/28/philip-seymour-hoffman-cause-of-death-heroin-benzodiazepine-amphetamine/ |archive-date=26 January 2021 |url-status=live}}
  • Sebastian Horsley{{cite web |url=http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=1072541 |title=UK artist Sebastian Horsley dies of overdose |date=18 June 2010 |work=NineMSN |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714212603/http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=1072541 |archive-date=14 July 2012}}
  • DJ Rashad{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/aug/08/dj-rashad-died-drug-overdose-autopsy-confirms |title=House artist DJ Rashad died of a drug overdose, post-mortem confirms |first=Sean |last=Michaels |date=8 Aug 2015 |work=The Guardian}}
  • Chris Kelly{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1706734/kris-kross-chris-kelly-autopsy/ |title=Report: Kris Kross' Chris Kelly Autopsy Complete |first=Rob |last=Markman |date=2 May 2013 |work=MTV |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125090021/http://www.mtv.com/news/1706734/kris-kross-chris-kelly-autopsy/ |archive-date=25 January 2021 |url-status=dead}}
  • Brent Mydland{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-08-11-mn-236-story.html |title=Grateful Dead Member Died of Drug Overdose |agency=United Press International |date=11 August 1990 |work=Los Angeles Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505122528/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-08-11-mn-236-story.html |archive-date=5 May 2021 |url-status=live}}
  • River Phoenix{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/11/13/us/death-of-river-phoenix-is-linked-to-use-of-cocaine-and-morphine.html |title=Death of River Phoenix Is Linked To Use of Cocaine and Morphine |first=Seth |last=Mydans |date=13 November 1993 |work=The New York Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301065743/https://www.nytimes.com/1993/11/13/us/death-of-river-phoenix-is-linked-to-use-of-cocaine-and-morphine.html |archive-date=1 March 2021 |url-status=live}}{{cite magazine |last1=Edwards |first1=Gavin |title=River Phoenix's Tragic Overdose: Dan Aykroyd Warned Him About Heroin Dependency |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/scandal/2013/10/river-phoenix-overdose-dan-aykroyd |magazine=Vanity Fair |access-date=April 19, 2022 |date=October 17, 2013}}
  • Judee Sill{{cite book |last=Alfonso |first=Barry |title=The Billboard Guide to Contemporary Christian Music |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VzFZZ4yi3DMC&q=%22Judee+Sill%22+dead+OR+death+OR+died&pg=PA243 |year=2002 |publisher=Billboard Books |isbn=978-0-8230-7718-2 |page=243}}
  • Layne Staley{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/75852/report-staley-died-of-heroincocaine-overdose |title=Report: Staley Died of Heroin/Cocaine Overdose |date=8 May 2002 |magazine=Billboard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118023652/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/75852/report-staley-died-of-heroincocaine-overdose |archive-date=18 January 2021 |url-status=live}}
  • Joey Stefano, died from mixing cocaine, morphine, heroin and ketamine.{{cite book |last1=Aldrich |first1=Robert |last2=Wotherspoon |first2=Garry |title=Who's Who in Contemporary Gay and Lesbian History Vol.2: From World War II to the Present Day |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nCpMNSGhXy0C&pg=PA387 |date=23 November 2000 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-203-99408-5 |page=387}} Based on information from Charles Isherwood's Wonder Bread and Ecstasy.
  • Michael K. Williams, died of overdose of a mixture of fentanyl-laced heroin and cocaine.{{cite web |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-wire-actor-michael-k-williams-died-due-to-accidental-drug-mixture-nyc-medical-examiner-says |title=Medical Examiner Reveals Cause of Death for Michael K. Williams |date=24 September 2021 |magazine=The Daily Beast}}

=Notable incidents of use=

In 1996, Steven Adler had a stroke after taking a speedball, leaving him with a permanent speech impediment.{{cite news |last=Himmelsbach |first=Eric |title=Little Drummer Boy Lost |work=LA CityBeat |publisher=Southland Publishing |date=8 July 2004}} That same year, Dave Gahan suffered a heart attack following a speedball overdose, but survived.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2007/oct/28/magazine.features7 |title=This Much I Know: Dave Gahan, singer, 45, London |last=Davis |first=Johnny |date=28 October 2007 |work=The Observer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326125148/https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2007/oct/28/magazine.features7 |archive-date=26 March 2021 |url-status=live}} According to his autobiography, Slash experienced cardiac arrest for eight minutes after taking a speedball, but was revived.{{cite book |last=Hudson |first=Saul |title=Slash |year=2007 |publisher=HarperEntertainment |location=United States |isbn=978-0-06-135142-6 |page=480}}{{when|date=July 2021}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • {{cite web |url=http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/publications/drugfact/pulsechk/summer98/speed.html |title=National Trends in Drug Abuse, Summer 1998, Special Section: Speedballing |work=U.S. Office of National Drug Policy |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010713123346/http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/publications/drugfact/pulsechk/summer98/speed.html |archive-date=13 July 2001}}

Category:Drug culture

Category:Cocaine

Category:Heroin

Category:Euphoriants

Category:Stimulants

Category:Polysubstance combinations