Hazardous Substances
Speedball (Heroin + Cocaine)
Street names: Speedball, Snowball, Powerballing
Overdose? Act now. Call emergency services — say "unresponsive, not breathing". Give naloxone for opioid-like signs. Hotlines
⚡What it does
- Cocaine rush followed by heroin's landing — users chase the overlap
⚠Key risks
- The classic celebrity-killer combo (Belushi, Farley, Hoffman): cocaine wears off first, leaving full opioid dose unopposed
- Today usually means fentanyl + cocaine — deadlier than ever
- Heart and lungs get opposing orders simultaneously
✚Overdose signs
- Slow breathing after initial agitation
- Blue lips
- Collapse
Category comparison — Hazardous Substances
| Substance | Class | Top risks | Street price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speedball (Heroin + Cocaine) | Combination of illegal drugs | The classic celebrity-killer combo (Belushi, Farley, Hoffman): cocaine wears off first, leaving full opioid dose unopposed; Today usually means fentanyl + cocaine — deadlier than ever | Cost of both drugs combined |
| Potassium Cyanide (KCN) | Not a drug — regulated toxic chemical | Lethal dose ~200–300 mg — death within minutes to an hour; No antidote available outside hospital; hydrogen cyanide gas from acid contact | N/A — sometimes sold fraudulently as 'peaceful exit' scams |
| Air Duster (Computer Duster / Canned Air) | Household product — not a drug; no age restriction on purchase | SUDDEN SNIFFING DEATH — the most deadly inhalant: difluoroethane sensitizes the heart to adrenaline; a sudden fright, chase, or exertion triggers fatal cardiac arrest. First-time users die; Frostbite to lungs and airway from direct spray | $3–$8 per can at any electronics/office store |
| Gasoline / Petrol Huffing | Not a drug — fuel product | Extremely toxic hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, xylene); Sudden sniffing death — cardiac arrest | Effectively free — siphoned fuel |
| Glue / Solvent Sniffing | Not drugs — adhesives and solvents | The CLASSIC youth inhalant — peak use age 14–15; Sudden sniffing death from cardiac arrest | $1–$5 per tube/can — pocket money prices |
| Refrigerant / Freon Huffing | Not a drug — HVAC refrigerant | EXTREMELY dangerous — refrigerant gases (difluoroethane, tetrafluoroethane) cause sudden cardiac death at high rates; Frostbite to airways | Stolen/siphoned — no price, high death cost |
Street prices are regional estimates. Potency and cuts vary constantly.
?Frequently asked questions
What does Speedball (Heroin + Cocaine) look like?
Heroin and cocaine injected or snorted together (or back-to-back)
What are the signs of a Speedball (Heroin + Cocaine) overdose?
Slow breathing after initial agitation; Blue lips; Collapse Call emergency services immediately.
How addictive is it?
The classic celebrity-killer combo (Belushi, Farley, Hoffman): cocaine wears off first, leaving full opioid dose unopposed Dependence can develop with regular use.