Meth And Heroin: Side Effects Of Mixing Meth And Heroin

Combining sedatives and stimulants has been a popular method of drug use for a long time. This method of drug abuse is referred to as “speedball” and is known for creating a dangerous and intense high.

People who struggle with polydrug abuse combine different drugs to enhance the effects of one or both substances. Drugs with different actions, such as stimulants and sedatives, may be combined to create different effects and increase the side effects of both drugs.

While combining crystal meth and heroin may lead to more potent effects than abusing either drug alone, this method of use poses a great danger to those who attempt it. The combination of meth and heroin can lead to fatal consequences.

Mixing stimulants and sedatives can lead to dangerous side effects, drug addiction, and long-term damage to an individual’s health.

Side Effects Of Mixing Heroin With Meth

People who mix heroin with meth do so to increase the effects of both drugs, or to counteract the negative effects of one substance. The interactions of these drugs often lead to dangerous side effects when mixing them.

When a stimulant is mixed with a sedative, such as meth with heroin, the depressant effects on the central nervous system may be masked. This means that the person will not feel as much relaxation as would occur with heroin alone.

Side effects of combined meth and heroin abuse include:

• intense euphoric rush
• increased respiratory rate
• increased heart rate
• relaxation and release of inhibitions
• confusion
• incoherence
• blurred vision

Side Effects Of Meth Abuse

Meth is a highly addictive drug that can lead to permanent damage to the body, heart, lungs, and other organs.

When meth is abused alone, it is known for producing the following side effects, including, but not limited to:

• decreased appetite
• hallucinations
• accelerated respiration
• accelerated heart rate
• intense focus
• hypervigilance or insomnia
• malnutrition
• skin problems
• dental disease

Side Effects Of Heroin

Heroin is a highly addictive opioid drug made from morphine. People who abuse the illegal substance will experience euphoria followed by heavy drowsiness, due to heroin’s effect on slowing down the central nervous system.

Heroin can slow both the heart and breathing rate to dangerous levels. In many ways, heroin has the opposite effects when compared to meth.

Some side effects of heroin abuse include:

• decreased breathing and heart rate
• flushing
• nausea
• increased appetite
• slow reflexes
• decreased pain
• inability to concentrate
• relaxation or drowsiness

Meth And Heroin Drug Interactions

One of the many dangers of taking a stimulant like meth with an opioid is the potential it will mask the depressant effects of heroin. This can make it hard for an individual to tell when they’re experiencing symptoms of overdose.

While heroin use slows the heart and breathing rate, meth accelerates it. Methamphetamine side effects last longer than heroin, which may lead to an individual feeling heightened awareness and energy after the effects of heroin subside.

An individual may increase their dose of heroin, due to meth’s stimulating effects.

While under the influence of both drugs, high doses of heroin can rapidly cause life-threatening damage to the body and brain while masking the warning signs that would normally alert a person to stop.

Methamphetamine use alone may cause an individual’s heart and respiration rate to dramatically increase.

Other dangerous side effects include increased blood pressure, heart arrhythmias, aneurysms, respiratory failure, stroke, or heart failure.

When used together, heroin and meth use substantially increases an individual’s risk of overdose, respiratory failure, and death.

Potentially Hidden Interactions

An additional and critical danger in the current drug supply is that most heroin now contains illicitly manufactured fentanyl, often as the primary or sole substance. Combining fentanyl-adulterated heroin with methamphetamine dramatically increases the risk of overdose.

Another dangerous addition is xylazine, a veterinary sedative increasingly found alongside fentanyl. Its effects can’t be reversed by naloxone, though naloxone should still always be administered because fentanyl is almost always present. You can also use fentanyl test strips to detect contamination before use.

Treating Polydrug Abuse Of Meth And Heroin

When an individual becomes addicted to multiple drugs, substance abuse treatment must address the highly addictive effects of both drugs.

Treating substance use disorders involving meth and heroin must support detox and management of withdrawal symptoms of each drug to prevent relapse.

Without treatment, people who suffer from polydrug abuse rarely achieve recovery, as both meth and heroin often lead to chronic addiction. Meth and heroin abuse can lead to addiction even with just one or a few uses.

Effective drug treatment programs for meth and heroin abuse are designed to medically support an individual safely towards rehabilitation.

When treating the combined effects of meth and heroin abuse, it is important that the addicted individual has access to a network of support services. Just some of these may include mental and medical health services, medications, and group therapy support.

Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), including buprenorphine and methadone, are among the most effective treatments available for heroin use disorder. They significantly reduce cravings, manage withdrawal, and lower the risk of fatal overdose.

No FDA-approved medication currently exists specifically for methamphetamine use disorder, making contingency management and cognitive behavioral therapy the primary behavioral approaches for that component of treatment.

Naloxone should be available to anyone with opioid use disorder and their close contacts. It is available over the counter at most pharmacies without a prescription and can reverse an opioid overdose within minutes.

Browse our directory to find polydrug use disorder treatment programs near you, or call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 — free, confidential support available every hour of the day.

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff