Mixing Cocaine And Morphine: Side Effects And Risks

Combining prescription drugs with illegal drugs can cause significant side effects, especially mixing prescription drugs like morphine with cocaine. A speedball is the street name for the combination of a stimulant (such as cocaine or methamphetamine) and an opioid (like morphine or heroin). Speedballs are typically injected with needles, but can also be crushed and snorted together or the cocaine is sometimes “piggy-backed”, or taken immediately after the heroin.

People who abuse these drugs together sometimes believe that the negative side effects of each drug may be reduced, however, this is not the case. Mixing cocaine and morphine can actually increase risk of negative side effects, permanent damage, overdose, and death.

Risks Of Abusing Speedballs

The biggest risk associated with abusing morphine and cocaine together is that the body is trying to metabolize multiple drugs at the same time.

Effects On Oxygen Intake

Cocaine actually increases heart and breathing rates, because it requires more oxygen than normal. However heroin slows breathing, putting excess strain on the heart, brain and lungs. After taking morphine and cocaine together, the body often is not able to get enough oxygen to stay safe and navigate the effects of the cocaine.

Increased Risk For Overdose

In addition, the effects of cocaine start to taper off faster than heroin, so a person abusing speedballs may use more than someone using cocaine or heroin on its own. This increases the risk of overdose and permanent damage.

Exposure To Dangerous Cutting Agents

Another problem associated with mixing cocaine with other drugs is that, in recent years, cocaine has been altered and contaminated by other substances, including fentanyl and trimethoprim.

Side Effects Of Speedballing Morphine And Cocaine

Abusing opioids, such as morphine, can cause excessive drowsiness, significant reduction in breathing rate, and confusion. Abusing cocaine commonly leads to hypersensitivity, anxiety, irregular heart rate, rapid heartbeat, and high blood pressure.

Some side effects a person may experience when mixing cocaine and morphine include:

• incoherence
• paranoia
• arrhythmias
• insomnia
• mental impairment
• incoherence
• twitching or uncontrolled movement
• blurry vision

Mixing morphine and cocaine into a speedball often places the person at extremely high risk for a number of unpredictable side effects.

Mental Health Effects Of Speedballing

Speedballing, which is the abuse of cocaine and morphine together, can have serious effects on a person’s mental health. People who engage in this dangerous practice have reported experiencing paranoia, manic episodes, anxiety, and depression. Additionally, those who abuse speedballs may become more aggressive and confrontational, which can lead to problems in their personal relationships. These mental health issues can be deeply distressing and may require professional help to overcome.

In addition to the unpredictable and harmful effects on mental health, speedballing can also cause severe long-term damage to a person’s physical health. The combination of cocaine and morphine puts an enormous strain on the body, particularly the cardiovascular system, and can lead to life-threatening conditions such as aneurysms, heart attacks, respiratory failure, and strokes. The risk of overdose and death is also higher when abusing these drugs together. Long-term speedball abuse can cause permanent damage to vital organs like the heart, liver, and lungs. It’s crucial for anyone with speedball addiction to seek professional help as soon as possible

Treatment For Speedball Addiction

When someone is abusing more than one substance, like morphine and cocaine (known as speedballing), they may need a specialized addiction treatment program designed for polysubstance abuse. In particular, morphine abuse often requires a specific type of treatment called medication-assisted treatment (MAT). MAT programs use FDA-approved medications, such as methadone or buprenorphine, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies to help people overcome opioid addiction.

For the best chance at long-term recovery from speedball addiction, it’s important to find a treatment program that includes medically supervised detox, inpatient treatment, and a strong aftercare plan. Detox helps the person safely withdraw from the drugs under medical supervision, while inpatient treatment provides a structured environment to focus on recovery. Aftercare, which may include ongoing therapy, support groups, and sober living arrangements, helps the person maintain their sobriety after completing formal treatment.

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff