• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
 

Anaheim Lighthouse

Your Beacon of Hope!

Questions? Call Now(877) 959-5909
  • About Us
  • What We Treat
  • Treatment Options
  • Our Facility
  • Admissions
  • Learn About
  • Contact Us
  • Our Team
  • Awards & Recognitions
  • Yelp & Google Reviews
  • Client Testimonials
  • Accreditation & Licensing
  • Employment Opportunities
  • Press Releases
  • Alchohol Abuse
  • Drug Addiction
  • Dual Diagnosis
  • Trauma Victims
  • Veterans Program
  • Holistic Treatment
  • Specialties
  • Detox Alcohol & Drugs
  • Drug Rehab
  • Inpatient Rehab
  • Complete Residential Care
  • Partial Hospitalization
  • Intensive Outpatient
  • Intervention
  • Family Support
  • Verify Insurance
  • Financing Options
  • Coronavirus Safety Procedures
  • Alcoholism
  • Health and Wellness
  • Life in Recovery
  • Love and Relationships
  • Opioid Addiction
  • Parent Resources
  • Relapse and Recovery
  • Substance Abuse
  • Opioids
  • Sleeping Pills
  • Stimulants

Fentanyl Speedball: The Deadly Drug Cocktail That Kills

Jun 3 2019
Categories:Addiction News

Different. Exciting. Deadly. The extra layer of danger associated with drug cocktails makes them a challenge for numerous drug users. Being able to say that they have tried a risky mixture of substances and lived to tell the story is like a badge of honor. It does not matter that countless high-profile drug-related deaths have been associated with multiple drug use. The experimentation with these drug combinations continues.

Now, the latest drug cocktail to hit the streets is called the fentanyl speedball.  As the term implies, it contains fentanyl, an artificial opioid that is said to be up to a hundred times stronger than morphine. So, where did the drug originate from?

Contact Us Today for a Confidential Assessment.
Call (877) 959-5909 Now to Speak with a Specialist

The term ‘speedball’ was originally coined to refer to a mixture of cocaine and heroin. For people not familiar with these two drugs, they have extremely contrasting effects. Cocaine is a powerful stimulant, which increases alertness and energy. On the other hand, heroin is a potent depressant that has a calming, numbing, and painkilling effect.

Fentanyl speedball, however, is a mixture that uses fentanyl instead of heroin. The speedball then becomes a cocaine and fentanyl mix – a lethal combination that is now hounding America.

The Speedball Effect

Fentanyl SpeedballMost of the people abusing speedballs are after the push and pull effect the combination provides. There are users who reason out that they take speedballs out of necessity. These are often opioid users who claim that they need a stimulant to keep themselves awake and functioning. However, many speedball users are recreational users who are after the thrill of using such a mixture. The speedball is supposed to give the user an immediate high from the stimulant, which will then be followed by an extended period of euphoria and relaxation from the sedative. The twisted logic is that combining the drugs will cancel out the bad effects of the drugs giving only an amazing high. However, this is not actually true. Taking this dangerous combination can actually worsen the damaging effects of the substances and the risk of overdose becomes higher. This is because users may be led to think that just because they are ‘canceling out’ some of the effects, they can then take a higher dose.

Some of the destructive effects of speedballing include stroke, aneurysm, respiratory depression, and uncoordinated motor skills. Using a speedball can also result in psychiatric disorders and uncontrollable behavioral effects.

Fentanyl Joins The Mix

Fentanyl SpeedballWhile the classic speedball is composed of cocaine and heroin, over time, people started substituting these susbtances with other stimulants and sedatives to get their speedball fix. Cocaine is frequently replaced with methamphetamines while heroin is replaced with other opioids like oxycodone, morphine or codeine. Speedball became known as the combination of whatever stimulant and depressant drugs are available to the user. When the drug fentanyl started making an appearance in the US, many dealers reportedly started substituting heroin with fentanyl. Fentanyl is said to be cheaper than heroin, plus, it is easier to smuggle and transport. This is because even just a minuscule amount can be very potent. For drug dealers, why would they risk transporting bags of heroin when they can get fentanyl, a more potent, cheaper alternative in smaller quantities?

Fentanyl SpeedballThis is very alarming because the risks are suddenly much higher. Users become more prone to overdose because they may be taking the usual amount without knowing that the potency of the drug is much higher. For example, if a drug addict usually takes a certain amount of heroin to make a speedball, he may not be aware that using the same amount of fentanyl can be fatal. There have been many reports about deaths caused by fentanyl where users had no idea they were taking the substance. There have also been reports showing that this becomes more dangerous for cocaine users experimenting with speedball because they usually do not have first aid tools like Naloxone, which can counter the toxic effects of the fentanyl.

Of course, there are also those who take fentanyl speedballs knowingly. While it is common logic that mixing two powerful drugs like heroin and fentanyl will most likely cause a disaster, many people still play Russian roulette with their lives by taking these substances amidst the risks involved. They ignore the deadly dangers in favor of getting their speedball high.

If you or a loved one is struggling with substance abuse, it is best to seek professional help. There are specialized treatment programs that can help you.

Contact Anaheim Lighthouse today.

Confidential Contact Form

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Privacy Policy

Learn About Lighthouse

  • Affordable Drug Rehab and Detox Center
  • CARF Certified
  • Homelike setting and world-class facilities
  • State licensed and certified
  • Most PPO insurance accepted
  • Specialized Alcohol and Drug Treatment Programs
  • Licensed and well-qualified professional staff
KNOW MORE

BLOG CATEGORIES

All Categories Alcoholism Drug Facts Health and Wellness Love and Relationships Opioid Addiction

Recent Posts

Valentine's Day When You're Single And Sober

How To Spend Valentine's Day When You're Single And Sober

February 6 2023
Ketamine Addiction

How Long Does Ketamine Stay In Your System?

January 23 2023
Mixing Prescription Drugs With Alcohol

Mixing Prescription Drugs With Alcohol Can Be Dangerous Because: 5 Reasons

January 17 2023
Benefits of Dry January

Benefits of Dry January: 7 Reasons To Quit Alcohol

January 11 2023
You after successfully completing Dry January

23 Funny Dry January Memes For 2023 To Keep You Going

January 3 2023

WHY CHOOSE LIGHTHOUSE

  • Affordable Drug Rehab and Detox Center
  • CARF Certified
  • Homelike setting and world-class facilities
  • State licensed and certified
  • Most PPO insurance accepted
  • Specialized Alcohol and Drug Treatment Programs
  • Licensed and well-qualified professional staff

Google Reviews

Christopher Tamburello

Absolutely loved this place. Great counselors- my counselor was Johnny. Great Alumni aftercare program that helps keep you connected. I highly recommend Lighthouse for anyone struggling with alcohol or drug addiction.

Josh Mugol

When I first stepped in to fill out the paper work to get admitted to housing, I immediately felt welcomed. If you treat the staff, therapists, and doctors with respect and use common courtesy, you will get more in return. The staff is run by former addicts/alcoholics so they...

Teresa Egan

The Lighthouse saved my life. I was willing to do whatever it takes to learn how to live a new way of life. Before I came into the program I was a hollow shell just wanting to die.. The staff loved me until I could love myself, and taught me how to deal with myself. I have a...

Related Posts

Jul 16 2020

Addicted To Sexting: Why You Can’t Stop

We find ourselves incessantly glued to our phones for a variety of reasons. According to statistics, 81% of Americans own a smartphone. This only shows how much technology is already a huge part of our lives. People use smartphones for different purposes such as work, emails, chatting with friend...
Jan 15 2020

What Makes Grain Alcohol Dangerous? The Dangers of Everclear

Stronger is not always better. This is the truth when it comes to harmful substances such as alcohol. Many times, people who consume alcohol seek more potent drinks to continuously challenge themselves and their egos – after all, being able to drink a massive amount of alcohol used to be a measur...
Aug 30 2019

K2 In Focus: 5 Alarming Facts You Never Knew About Synthetic Marijuana

Most people are surely familiar with marijuana, the drug that epitomized the hippie culture way back in the 1960s and 70s. Now, more than half a century later, marijuana is still being widely used and is even legal in many states in America as it has proven medical uses. One undesirable offshoot ...
Aug 26 2019

What Does An Alcohol Withdrawal Feel Like?

After weeks or maybe months of binge drinking, you’ve suddenly decided to quit alcohol altogether. You’ve been warned that quitting cold turkey can backfire on you but you never heeded that sound advice. Now, you feel like you’re going through hell and back. Are you experiencing alcohol withdrawa...
Aug 14 2019

Top 12 Facts about Trazodone

1. What is trazodone? Trazodone is an antidepressant drug. While the primary mechanism of action of this drug is not yet fully ascertained, it is believed to affect the brain’s neurotransmitters specifically by inhibiting the reuptake or reabsorption of serotonin by the nerves in the brain. When...
Jul 31 2019

Can You Drive While on Valium?

Just like any other drug, Valium, also known by its generic name diazepam, delivers various effects to the brain and the body. Diazepam is a benzodiazepine that is popularly used by people who want to combat feelings of anxiety and gain relaxation. While this drug can be effective when rightfully...

We Accept Insurance

Don’t see your provider? Contact us to confirm coverage.

3 Easy Options to Get Started or Learn More

You Call Us

We are here to answer your questions. Learn about detox, treatment, costs, or anything else. Give us a call now.
(877) 959-5909

We Call You

Complete this secure form to receive a fast response from our support team
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Verify Your Insurance

Quickly confirm your coverage using our fast & easy verification system. We accept most insurances (and financing).
Verify My Insurance
  • About Us
  • What We Treat
  • Treatment Options
  • Our Facility
  • Admissions
  • Learn About
  • Contact Us

Connect With Us

(877) 959-5909

1320 West Pearl Street, Anaheim, CA 92801

Licensed and Certified by the State Department of Health Care Services 300188AP Exp. 5/31/2024
Licensed by the State Department of Health Care Services 300188CP Exp. 5/31/2024
Certified by the State Department of Health Care Services 300188FP Exp 5/31/2023

Copyright © 2022 Anaheim Lighthouse. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Web Accessibility