Speedballs Are Back and Deadlier than Ever

Sad addicted man

Back in the day, “speedballs” were all the rage in the drug world and even lead to many celebrity overdose deaths in the 1970s and 1980s. Speedballs are a potent mixture of cocaine and heroin, as opposed to “goofballs,” which were a mix of meth and opioids. Drug trends come and go, and this trend seems to be on the upswing in the U.S. and is more dangerous than ever. You had the stimulant to shoot you screaming toward the stars followed by coming straight back down to earth into the warm blanket of opioids…that is if you survived the journey. The mix of drugs is extremely dangerous, and these cocktails have recently regained nostalgic popularity.

Today’s heroin is often either just pure fentanyl or at least mixed with it. In order to counteract the extraordinary strength of the opioid, meth is being more commonly mixed with it instead of cocaine. Since fentanyl is at least 50 times stronger than heroin, many users think mixing meth with it will counteract an overdose and keep them safer, when in reality, the mixture is even more deadly than using fentanyl alone. Your body wants to go fast and turn off at the same time. It can be too much for someone and the lights just go out.

Cocaine overdoses have been on the rise in 2016 with 41% of them involving fentanyl. The resurgence of this drug trend is disturbing, to say the least. With the constant need of re-dosing the stimulant, users are consuming larger and larger amounts of drugs, creating stronger addictions, and increasing the overdose rate. More users are turning to the needle to ingest their speedballs, thus increasing infection rates of communicable diseases, aside from a host of other situational dangers and health problems.

Addiction and lonliness

The problem with drugs in the United States is quite obviously not slowing down, rather it’s picking up its pace in some regards. Fentanyl and meth have replaced cocaine and heroin and the effects have been deadly. The desire that Americans have to numb their pain and forget the world is stronger than the need to figure out their issues, solve their problem, and come up with workable solutions. What’s needed now is heavy education on drugs and addiction. The streets are treacherous and the debt owed for numbing your pain can be at the expense of your life.

Law enforcement, treatment providers, and emergency responders have become completely overwhelmed by the surge in drug abuse and addiction. County morgues are full to the point where the “overflow” bodies have to be stored elsewhere. Funerals happen every single day to commemorate the lives of those lost to fatal overdoses and too many families are left with a permanent emptiness that can’t be properly expressed in words.

If you thought it was bad before, look at the current state of affairs. Step up and do something if you know someone who is abusing drugs. Take a stand and have a conversation. Communication is one of those simple things that solves big problems.

Use your words.


Sources Used:

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/597bwb/fentanyl-speedballs-are-the-latest-disturbing-trend-in-americas-opioid-crisis

AUTHOR

Jason Good

Jason has been working in the field of addiction and recovery for over 11 years. Having been an addict himself he brings real-word experience to the table when helping addicts and their families, while also offering a first-person perspective to the current drug crisis. Jason is passionate about educating the public about what’s currently going on in our society, and thankfully, offers practical solutions. Jason is also the co-host of The Addiction Podcast—Point of No Return. You can follow Jason on Google+, Twitter, or connect with him on LinkedIn.

NARCONON SUNCOAST

DRUG EDUCATION AND REHABILITATION