What is «the swings»?
«The swings» (English: speedball) is a combination of stimulants (cocaine, amphetamine) and opioids (heroin, morphine, methadone), taken together or in alternation. The name reflects the «swinging» effect between stimulation and sedation:
- Stimulants (cocaine, amphetamine) sharply ramp up central nervous system activity, producing euphoria, hyperexcitability, and a racing pulse.
- Opioids (heroin, morphine) suppress the central nervous system, producing relaxation, pain relief, and a «heavy» euphoria.
The point of the mix is to «smooth over» each substance’s negative effects:
- Cocaine triggers anxiety on the comedown – opioids «gently» dampen that effect.
- Heroin causes drowsiness and suppresses breathing – stimulants mask this, creating an illusion of control.
Historical context
Although «the swings» became especially popular in the 1980s and 1990s (John Belushi, for instance, died from this exact combination), the method has been known since the early twentieth century. In 1997, in Russia, the mix circulated in narrow circles – more often among well-off young people or criminal groups.
Mechanism of action
1. Cocaine/amphetamine block the reuptake of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, producing a sharp surge of energy.
2. Heroin/morphine activate opioid receptors, suppressing breathing and causing sedation.
The danger lies in the fact that the stimulants mask the respiratory depression caused by the opioids. When the stimulant’s effect wears off, breathing can suddenly stop.
Risks and consequences
1. Overdose
- The main cause of death is respiratory depression once the stimulant’s effect fades.
- Symptoms: loss of consciousness, cyanosis (blue lips), labored breathing, coma.
2. Cardiovascular events
- Cocaine constricts blood vessels while heroin slows the heart rate → a risk of heart attack or stroke.
3. Psychosis and depression
- The contradictory effects on the central nervous system trigger anxiety, paranoia, and severe depression during withdrawal.
4. Rapid dependence
- The combination produces a powerful addiction: the opioids build physical craving, the stimulants build psychological craving.
Medical data
- According to 1990s research, the death rate from «the swings» is two to three times higher than from heroin alone.
- The antidote for opioid overdose is naloxone, but it does nothing to counter cocaine’s effects.
Conclusion
«The swings» is one of the most dangerous drug combinations, creating an illusion of balance while actually raising the risk of death. In 1997, in Russia, the method was poorly understood, and help for overdoses often arrived too late, since naloxone wasn’t widely available.