{"id":3038,"date":"2019-12-20T18:33:00","date_gmt":"2019-12-20T23:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.therecoveryvillage.com\/?page_id=3038"},"modified":"2022-04-29T13:05:16","modified_gmt":"2022-04-29T17:05:16","slug":"what-is-a-speedball","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.therecoveryvillage.com\/heroin-addiction\/what-is-a-speedball\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is A Speedball"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Speedball is a mixture of cocaine and heroin. This popular combination is responsible for a spike in overdose deaths throughout the United States.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Heroin<\/a> and cocaine<\/a> have some commonalities. The two drugs are widely abused, incredibly addictive, illegal and can destroy. However, they have many differences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>What is Heroin?<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Heroin is an opioid that\u2019s in the national spotlight unlike ever before. Heroin is front and center in the United States opioid epidemic that\u2019s damaging communities and families. Heroin is similar to prescription opioids in many ways, including how the drug interacts with the brain and develops a dependence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When someone uses heroin, which is derived from poppy plant resin, the drug binds to the person\u2019s opioid receptors, which creates a euphoric high and also a sense of deep relaxation. People become physically and psychologically dependent on heroin quickly as it causes increased production of the feel-good chemical dopamine and alters the brain\u2019s reward pathways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heroin is dangerous not only because of its effects on the brain and body. However, it\u2019s also usually injected via needle, which leaves people vulnerable to infections and blood-borne diseases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When people become physically dependent on heroin and attempt to stop use, they tend to go through withdrawal and feel ill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what is the best way to describe cocaine?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Coke?<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cocaine, often just referred to as coke, is a powerful stimulant derived from the coca plant. Cocaine interacts with a person\u2019s central nervous system and speeds up transmissions through the body. Cocaine\u2019s common effects include euphoria, energy and alertness. For some people, cocaine use can cause increased paranoia and hostility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cocaine can be injected, consumed orally or snorted. The use of cocaine can lead to serious side effects<\/a> or death from respiratory failure, stroke or heart attack. Despite the dangers of cocaine, it remains widely used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mixing Heroin and Coke<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before describing the difference between heroin and coke, it\u2019s important to talk about what happens when heroin and coke are mixed. The combination of the two drugs is called a speedball<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The two drugs have opposite effects \u2014 heroin depresses the central nervous system while cocaine speeds up internal transmissions and other functions. A person may take cocaine to combat drowsiness caused by heroin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When someone takes heroin and cocaine together, the potency is much higher and there is an increased risk of overdose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Difference Between Heroin and Coke<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What are some differences between heroin and cocaine? For starters, heroin is a depressant of the central nervous system while coke is a stimulant. Heroin slows down body functions, including breathing. People who use heroin often lose consciousness. Coke has the opposite effect. People on coke can stay awake for long periods of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When people die from heroin, it\u2019s usually the result of respiratory depression, while with cocaine it\u2019s because of cardiotoxicity, also called damage to the heart. While it is possible to inject cocaine, most people snort it, while heroin is primarily injected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key Points to Remember<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are a few factors to remember when comparing cocaine and heroin:<\/p>\n\n\n\n