Speedball (drug)

'Speedball"

Cocaine powder
Heroin powder

Speedball (alternatively known as powerballing) is a term commonly referring to the hazardous[1] intravenous use of heroin or morphine and cocaine together in the same syringe. The speedball can also be taken by insufflation. The original speedball used cocaine hydrochloride mixed with morphine sulfate, as opposed to heroin.[2] The term can also be applied to use of pharmaceutical opioids, benzodiazepines or barbiturates along with amphetamines derivates. This cocktail of drugs can cause a strong physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms.

Cocaine acts as a stimulant, whereas heroin/morphine acts as a depressant. Coadministration is meant to provide an intense rush of euphoria with a high that is supposed to combine the effects of both drugs, while hoping to reduce the negative effects, such as anxiety and sedation. In general, the joint use with cocaine is done to avoid the sedative effect of heroin. Mixing a depressant with a stimulant causes a state of general confusion, incoherence, blurred vision, stupor, and drowsiness. The combination can result in uncontrolled and uncoordinated motor skills, with the risk of excessive arousal and death. There may be paranoid delusions, as well as intense depression, and hallucinations.

The effects of cocaine wear off far more quickly than heroin or morphine. Fatal respiratory depression can occur when the cocaine wears off and the full effects of heroin or morphine are felt in isolation.[3]

Contents

Notable deaths attributed to speedball use

Notable users

Circa 1900, Harry Kendall Thaw was an early user of speedball. In 1996 Dave Gahan, suffered a heart attack following a speedball overdose, but survived. Steven Adler had a stroke after taking a speedball, leaving him with a permanent speech impediment.[20]

Among celebrities who admitted using speedballs are Chet Baker (in the documentary film Let's Get Lost), Dave Mustaine and David Ellefson (in the documentary Behind The Music), Nikki Sixx (in The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star and The Dirt), Anthony Kiedis (in his autobiography Scar Tissue), David Crosby (in his autobiography Long Time Gone) and Miles Davis.[21]

See also

References

  1. ^ Healing Addiction: An Integrated Pharmacopsychosocial Approach to Treatment, Wiley-Interscience, 2007, p. 122
  2. ^ Original Speedball
  3. ^ "Why is a speedball sometimes homicidal". health2009.com. http://www.health2009.com/medicine/33243-1.html. Retrieved June 5, 2010. 
  4. ^ a b c "Death by Drugs: Fatal Celebrity Drug and Alcohol Addictions". gatehouseacademy.com. http://www.gatehouseacademy.com/research/articles/celebrity-drug-and-alcohol-addictions. Retrieved March 27, 2010. ht
  5. ^ Encyclopedia of the African diaspora: origins, experiences, and ..., Volume 1 By Carole Boyce Davies. ABC-CLIO. p. 150.
  6. ^ Caminiti's death ruled accidental drug overdose The Record – Kitchener, Ont. Nov 2, 2004
  7. ^ "Chris Farley's Death Laid to Drug Overdose". New York Times. 1998-01-03. http://www.nytimes.com/1998/01/03/us/chris-farley-s-death-laid-to-drug-overdose.html?scp=1&sq=Chris%20FArley%20Dhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Speedball_(drug)&action=edit&section=1rug%20overdose&st=cse. Retrieved June 24, 2010. 
  8. ^ Peacock, Tim (October 1, 2002). "OBITUARY: ZAC FOLEY". whisperinandhollerin.com. http://www.whisperinandhollerin.com/incoming/item.asp?id=4. Retrieved May 5, 2010. 
  9. ^ Sweeting, Adam (August 30, 2000). "Time loves a hero". Guardian.co.uk. http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2000/aug/30/artsfeatures. Retrieved April 28, 2010. 
  10. ^ JAG star died from drug overdose, coroner rules Sydney Morning Herald. August 6, 2003.
  11. ^ "Report: Mitch Hedberg died of drug overdose". MSNBC. December 27, 2005. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10619222/=. 
  12. ^ "UK artist Sebastian Horsley dies of overdose". Ninemsn. June 18, 2010. http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=1072541. Retrieved 16 June 2010. 
  13. ^ Rolling Stone artists biography Search for "The Grateful Dead"
  14. ^ "Rules of abuse". The San Diego Union-Tribune. May 24, 2008. http://legacy.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080524/news_lz1ed24middle.html. Retrieved April 29, 2010. 
  15. ^ The Billboard guide to contemporary Christian music By Barry Alfonso. p. 243
  16. ^ Who's who in contemporary gay and lesbian history: from World War …, Volume 2 By Robert Aldrich, Garry Wotherspoon. Routledge. p. 387. Based on information from Charles Isherwood's Wonder Bread and Ecstasy
  17. ^ Ramsay, J. H. R. (28 May 1994), "A king, a doctor, and a convenient death", British Medical Journal 308: 1445, http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/308/6941/1445 
  18. ^ Watson, Francis (1986), "The Death of George V", History Today 36: 21–30 
  19. ^ "Report: Staley Died Of Heroin/Cocaine Overdose". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/search/?Nty=1&Ntx=mode%2Bmatchallpartial&Ntk=Keyword&Ns=FULL_DATE%7C1&Ne=125&N=126&Ntt=Layne%20Staley#/news/report-staley-died-of-heroin-cocaine-overdose-1484995.story. Retrieved April 29, 2010. 
  20. ^ Himmelsbach, Eric (2004-07-08). "Little Drummer Boy Lost". LA CityBeat (Southland Publishing). 
  21. ^ Davis, Miles; Troupe, Quicy (1990). Miles: The Autobiography. Simon & Schuster. p. 335. ISBN 978-0671725822. 

External links