What is a Speedball?

When people use and abuse drugs or alcohol, it’s often not just a single substance. Many who are addicted use a combination of drugs or alcohol to meet their needs in dependency and may require co-occuring disorder treatment. Addiction treatment professionals call this polysubstance abuse. Sometimes individuals will mix their substance of choice with another to create a longer-lasting or more intense effect. This is the case with a speedball. The term “speedball” is a common one in the addiction community. However, some may ask, “What is a speedball?” if they have never used one or have heard others talk about them. This drug abuse method is a hazardous idea as trying it once could be deadly. Here at Beaches Recovery, we offer extensive substance abuse treatment programs that can address whatever combination of drugs or alcohol someone is addicted to and help them heal.

What Is a Speedball?

Speedballs are a combination of an upper and a downer taken together. The idea is to create a powerful effect on the body. Sometimes, this approach may create a higher upper feeling. Other times, it causes a more potent downer effect. Therefore, understanding their effects requires you to understand the different drugs used with speedballs. These include:

• Uppers – Many people abuse cocaine, methamphetamine, or other stimulants when abusing speedballs
• Downers – Heroin, alcohol, and other downers may all end up in a speedball
• Use Methods – People may snort, inject, or even drink these drugs to achieve the desired effect

Are speedballs dangerous? Any time you take more than one drug, the health risk increases. This problem is real, with two of the same kinds of drugs. And it is also true of mixing two different types. Therefore, people abusing drugs need to stay away from this behavior as much as possible because it also increases the addictive qualities of both substances and often ads a mental aspect requiring dual diagnosis treatment to help find recovery,

Are Speedballs Dangerous?

Speedballs are a hazardous way to abuse drugs. The combination of uppers and downers can severely damage a body. For example, cocaine may cause the heart to race very quickly. However, heroin can then cause the heart to slow down. Often, the bottom of the heart tears between these two impulses. As a result, damage may occur that may be very problematic for a person’s body.

So, are speedballs dangerous? Yes, and they can even be deadly. Many reports of people abusing two drugs in this way end with that person dying. Most deaths occur due to strain on the heart. The heart needs consistency to stay healthy and active. When two drugs push it in multiple directions, it may respond poorly. In some cases, a person may die after trying a speedball only one time.

As a result, people who abuse speedballs need to do what they can to free themselves from this addiction. And when asking, “what is a speedball?” please remember that even less dangerous drugs may trigger similar effects. For example, prescription amphetamines mixed with alcohol make for a low-potency speedball. The impact that it has on your body can still be dangerous and even deadly.

How Does Rehab Help?

People abusing speedballs may put themselves at serious health risk and should seek out Jacksonville addiction treatment. As a result, treatment and drug addiction rehab may be necessary. This care focuses on beating addiction at its source. For example, you will learn more about why you’re addicted to speedballs. This counseling can give you the insight that you need into yourself. However, this step is just one that you’ll take.

For example, you can also learn coping mechanisms for your drug compulsions. Then, you can get dual-diagnosis care to manage underlying psychological concerns. This help is crucial for those experiencing massive addiction. Importantly, you can also get attention for any physical problems you may experience. For example, heart health is often an issue for those who abuse speedballs. By focusing on your recovery, you give yourself the best chance of success walking away from addiction, a cleaner and healthier person. So make sure that you take the right steps towards recovery. Doing so can help you become the healthier person that you deserve to be.

Discover How Beaches Recovery Can Restore Your Health

If you want to know more about substance use disorder or addiction, please contact us at Beaches Recovery right away. We offer a wide range of substance abuse treatment programs and can get you or a loved one the support necessary to heal and make a lasting recovery. Some of our addiction treatment programs include:

• Alcohol Addiction Rehab Center
• Heroin Addiction Rehab Center
• Cocaine Addiction Rehab Center
• Benzodiazepine Addiction Rehab Center
• Opiate Addiction Rehab Center
• Opioid Addiction Rehab Center
• Meth Addiction Rehab Center
• Marijuana Addiction Rehab Center
• Adderall Addiction Rehab Center

Call 866.605.0532 to get in contact with experts about high-quality treatment options. These include extended care options and outpatient and inpatient care. We work with many different insurance options and strive to provide coherent care. Our facility in Tides Edge just opened up a detox center, so we can now help you with that care option.