Substance use often doesn’t stem from wanting to “try drugs to look cool.” The truth behind it is more complex.
Addiction can stem from loneliness. Trauma. Anxiety. Hardships. That feeling of having nowhere to turn to find relief – so, what could trying a dose of heroin hurt? All of a sudden, you have a friend, something that understands what you need when you need it.
Maybe this happened to your loved one. You watched as heroin took over and replaced the relationship you once had. You would lay awake at night hoping that wouldn’t be the night the phone rang.
For many Virginians, the phone did ring. In 2022, 2,490 drug overdose deaths occurred throughout the state. These could have been from heroin, meth, both, or any combination of substances.
At ReVIDA® Recovery, we are here to offer hope before that call comes through. Our blog provides insight into heroin and other opioid use disorders for loved ones looking for answers. Today, we are discussing heroin and meth, how they interact, and how to recognize a potential overdose.
Table of Contents
Understanding Heroin: Chemical Make-Up and Side Effects
Heroin is a semi-synthetic opioid that is derived from the poppy plant. The milk inside poppy seed pods is harvested and dried to make opium. From there, opium goes through multiple chemical processes to make heroin. Heroin can have traces of the poppy plant left, but the more synthesizing it goes through, the more potent it will be.
Heroin is a depressant that slows the central nervous system. Because of this, side effects like drowsiness or dizziness can result in nodding in and out of consciousness. Heroin can also cause constipation, itchiness, and dry mouth. When taken in excess, heroin can cause an overdose, as the central nervous system slows beyond functionality. This causes breathing to stop and can be life-threatening.
Understanding Meth: Chemical Make-Up and Side Effects
Methamphetamines – more commonly known as meth – are a type of man-made stimulant often derived from pseudoephedrine, which is a main ingredient in many over-the-counter cold medications. Meth is typically imported from Mexico in a powder or liquid form where it enters illicit laboratories in the U.S. to be chemically processed into crystal meth. This process involves dangerous chemicals that can include fertilizer, acetone, and lithium. The sites of these labs are often contaminated for years even after meth production has stopped.
Meth is classified as a stimulant, which is the opposite of heroin. The central nervous system is sped up by meth, increasing heart rate, body temperature, and blood pressure. The initial rush of taking meth induces a bout of pleasure followed by a surge of energy. Side effects of this include increased productivity, paranoia, and decreased appetite.
Speedballing Defined: Mixing Stimulants and Depressants
Speedballing refers to taking a stimulant and a depressant at the same time. The most common form of this is mixing opioids with cocaine, meth, or prescription ADHD medications. Methods of speedballing involve either taking one substance followed by another (known as piggy-backing) or by mixing the two into one substance and taking the mix. Heroin and meth are commonly mixed in speedballing to amplify the effects of each substance.
A speedball combo is not typically sold by dealers; the person needs to buy both substances to administer using their method of choice. Those who piggy-back may inject a dose of heroin followed by smoking meth, while those who mix them together may inject the substances at the same time.
Side Effects of Combining Heroin and Meth
Combining heroin and meth has detrimental effects because they seem to cancel each other out. As meth brings the person “up,” heroin brings them “down.” This essentially makes the person feel like they are on a plateau, feeling not too fast or slow. However, this also compels them to take more substances, whether that is heroin, meth, or both. By increasing the amount taken, the risk of an overdose increases.
Side effects of taking heroin and meth together include:
- Confusion
- Paranoia
- Speaking incoherently
- Lack of coordination
- Losing consciousness
- Anxiety
Risks and Dangers of Taking Heroin and Meth Together
There are always risks and dangers when taking illicit substances. Heroin and meth are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, and therefore have no dosing regulations or laws stating what can and cannot be in the substance. This increases the risk of the heroin and meth to have impurities and other substances added. Fentanyl is one of the most utilized cutting agents in substances today. When mixed into heroin, the effects increase tenfold. When mixed into meth, the person is taking a speedball without knowing. These scenarios can result in an overdose that can be life-threatening.
One of the most common ways to take heroin is via injection. The effects can be felt immediately by using this method because heroin enters the bloodstream directly. Heroin and meth mixed together can also be injected for the same reasons. However, intravenous substance use comes with many dangers. When a needle pierces the skin, a wound forms. Wounds can get infected, leading to abscesses and damage to the surrounding tissue. There is also the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS or hepatitis C from sharing needles.
Heroin and meth can also be smoked together or separately. Anytime a substance is smoked, damage to the respiratory system occurs. Meth and heroin both weaken the immune system, making the body more susceptible to infections. Lung and respiratory infections can occur frequently, and over time lead to long-term breathing conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Difficulty breathing, wheezing, and frequent coughing can result from smoking heroin and meth.
Can You Overdose From Mixing Meth and Heroin?
An overdose occurs when the body becomes too overwhelmed with a substance or substances. Polysubstance use (taking more than one substance in a single session) increases the potential for an overdose, especially when combining opposing depressants and stimulants.
As we mentioned above, heroin and meth can seem to counteract each other. The person may feel some effects from each substance, but may not be aware of the amounts they have in their system. This can prompt taking more heroin or meth, or even both.
When the body is overdosing on meth, the central nervous system has sped up to unsafe speeds. However, when the body is overdosing on heroin, the central nervous system has slowed to unsafe speeds. Symptoms of each perspective overdose include:
Meth Overdose
- High body temperature (hyperthermia)
- Erratic heart rate
- Heart attacks and strokes
- Seizures
Heroin Overdose
- Shallow breathing
- Choking or gurgling noises
- Blue tint to skin and nails
- Slurred speech
There is no over-the-counter medication to counteract a meth overdose. However, Narcan® (naloxone) can be administered to reverse the effects of a heroin overdose and is available at local pharmacies and government agencies. No matter if a heroin or meth overdose is more prevalent, medical attention is necessary for any overdose situation. Adverse effects can still happen even after Narcan® (naloxone) is administered or after the effects of meth have seemed to “wear off.”
Getting Help for Heroin Use Disorder in Virginia
Taking heroin and meth together may seem to improve how the substances affect you, but in the long run, they will cause more harm than good. Your physical and mental well-being are worth saving, and heroin rehab is the first place to begin that path. It is not only possible to live a life heroin-free, it is achievable. Through guided therapy and medication-assisted treatment, you can find your solace away from substances and look forward to a bright, fulfilling future.
If you or someone you love is managing a heroin use disorder or delving into polysubstance use, there is hope right here in Appalachia. ReVIDA® Recovery specializes in all types of opioid use disorders because we have personally seen the impact of the opioid crisis. Our program welcomes all looking for recovery and provides a safe and non-judgmental space for outpatient therapy and Suboxone treatment. Call us today at 423-631-0432 to get started with a same-day appointment.
Reclaim your life.
