Speedball (also referred to as powerballing) is a term commonly referring to the intravenous use of cocaine with heroin or morphine in the same syringe. Some also use it with two syringes, one in each arm. The speedball can also be taken by insufflation. The original speedball used cocaine hydrochloride mixed with morphine sulfate, as opposed to heroin. The term can also be applied to use of pharmaceutical opioids, benzodiazepines or barbiturates along with substituted amphetamines. This cocktail of drugs can cause a strong physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms.
Physiological response
Cocaine acts as a stimulant, whereas heroin/morphine acts as a depressant. Co-administration 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, hypertension, palpitations and other common side effects of stimulants and sedation/drowsiness from the depressant. While this is somewhat effective, as one drug (the CNS stimulant) triggers the sympathetic nervous system and the other (the CNS depressant) triggers the parasympathetic nervous system, the two systems that regulate the fight-or-flight and rest-and-digest responses, respectively, and simultaneous activity of the two pathways is what normally keeps one's body in natural homeostasis, there is an imperfect overlap in the effects of stimulants and depressants. Additionally, by suppressing the typical negative side-effects of the two drugs, the user may falsely believe they have a higher tolerance, or that they are less intoxicated than they actually are. This can cause users to misjudge the intake of one or both of the drugs, sometimes fatally.
The character's origin and early exploits as Speedball were depicted soon after in a solo series. After that series was cancelled, he appeared as a member of the superhero team the New Warriors, in the monthly title of the same name. In the Marvel Comics crossover "Civil War", the character changes his name and appearance to Penance. Following this change, he is a member of the Thunderbolts. As of the first issue of "Avengers Academy", he has reverted to Speedball and a modified version of his first appearance.
It takes you by the balls and kicks you in the teeth You can’t resist the call the powers make you weak Your love is in vein cause you need to feel it fast Thought you had it covered give back your last Speedball The shooting gallery that’s where you’ll find insanity The shooting gallery speedball and ecstasy There came a man one night to this enchanting town He brought sacred delights and passed the X around Speedball It comes to get you every night can’t run away, get out of sight You cry and shake, you cannot take
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She eventually joined SpeedballBaby in 1993; after two EPs with Matador, they attracted the attention of MCA Records, who promptly signed them to their first major label deal.
The Post and Courier
10 Nov 2024
The Post and Courier
10 Nov 2024