When considering addictive drugs, many people instantly think of things such as heroin and cocaine. In actual fact though, there are also plenty of addictive substances used by people across the globe that are actually legal, such as alcohol and nicotine.
While there are a number of quite complex and interrelated factors that determine whether someone will become addicted to a drug or not (like their social history, income level, and genetic makeup), the chemical design of addictive drugs makes some of them harder to stay away from than others. In fact, many of the most addictive substances known to man actually train the human brain to crave them — that is, the drugs cause changes in the functioning of the brain that are difficult to reverse.
Drug addiction has been a problem that humans have faced for hundreds and hundreds of years. However, it is only with recent advances in science and medicine that those studying the field have been able to understand why this is the case and document how exactly different drugs interact with the human body.
With millions of Americans around the country struggling with some sort of addiction, and more and more people booking into addiction treatment centers in a bid to get well, it’s important to have an understanding of how hard to kick different types of substance abuse habits are. Read on for the rundown on some of the most addictive drugs known to man.
Heroin
It’s no surprise that heroin makes the list of highly addictive substances, since its addictiveness has been destroying lives for decades, even for first time users. Indeed, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, there were 4.2 million U.S. resident aged 12 or older who had used heroin at least once as of 2011. Scarily, the Institute also estimates that a whopping 23 percent of people who use heroin end up becoming dependent on it.
Heroin is classified as an opiate, and as such affects opioid receptors throughout the body. This means that the effects of the drug mimic endorphins, and thereby create a feeling of pleasure while also reducing pain levels — a heady combination.
Heroin is so addictive in part due to the fact that the parts of the brain that are involved in reward processing and learning are chock full of opioid receptors. When heroin is injected into the body, users therefore teach their brain to make them crave it in the future. In addition, individuals who take heroin have to face horrible withdrawal systems when trying to get off the drug, making it an even more difficult habit to shake.
Cocaine
Another drug that’s been around for a long time, and that is also highly addictive, is cocaine. The stimulant — very much the popular “designer drug” of the 70s and 80s — is so dangerous due to the way it affects the re-absorption of dopamine in the brain’s reward regions. Basically, cocaine keeps a steady stream of dopamine in the brain during the time that the user is high, fooling the brain into thinking no more needs to be produced. As a result, the vitally important dopamine receptors are shut down. The problem with this is that as soon as the person starts suffering from withdrawal, the brain begins to urgently crave more dopamine, leading users to need another hit of cocaine to feel better.
The drug is also highly addictive due to the way in which it is taken, and the length of the high achieved from it. The quick method of snorting the powder, or the even faster way of smoking crack cocaine, means that the body and brain start to feel effects in anywhere between just ten to 30 minutes. The short but intense high — it generally lasts less than an hour — also increases the frequency of how often people need a new hit.
Nicotine
Nicotine might not cause the same rush as heroin or cocaine, but it’s still very addictive, as anyone who has ever tried to give it up will attest to. Like many illicit drugs, nicotine mimics a common neurotransmitter in the brain and, over time, reduces the number and sensitivity of the acetylcholine receptors that are produced.
This leads to nicotine becoming a constant necessity in a person’s body in order to restore and maintain normal brain function. It is no secret that cigarette use causes lung cancer. Cancer is a leading cause of death in the United States.
Don’t smoke kids.
Alcohol
Like nicotine, alcohol may be a legal drug but also still a very dangerous one. In fact, withdrawal from the substance can be so severe that it not only leads to mental and physical pain for users, but can even cause death for some people.
Related: 3 Reasons Why Alcohol Is Actually The Most Dangerous Drug
Part of the problem alcohol is so dangerous is because of the social acceptability connected to it. One must wonder that if alcohol were illegal, would we consider it to be as destructive as some of the other drugs on the list? It’s an interesting concept none the less.
Also, alcohol is related to a lot of in direct deaths. DUI’s and fatalities during drunk driving accidents are a regular occurrence on the evening news. Although we do not condone alcohol use, we always recommended that people use it and enjoy it with caution.
This was a really good article to write and I think the topic is very important. Heroin and cocaine are some of the more obvious highly addictive drugs, but many people have misconceptions about how addictive nicotine and alcohol are. This is great information that you shared in this article.
i expected to see sugar on the list as its supposedly as addictive as heroin and probably damaging more lives.
I think sugar is a large part of the alcohol mechanism so is represented even if it isn’t listed on it’s own.
Not!!!
Sugar???? Are you going to lie, cheat , steal and suck dick for some sugar? That was my laugh of the day
Bahahahahahahaha
good article however crystal Meth has to top them all 2015. Or close 2nd to heroin & coke. …seems once they do it, there is no looking back.
I agree. I am a former meth user and I am one of the lucky ones who shook it. Every one of my old friends are still hooked on it
I am really surprised that prescription pain opiates like Oxycontin did not make the list. I have seen and can personally testify how addictive these drugs are. I have been struggling to recover from this addiction for over 20 years. Sometimes more successful than others. Also, the withdrawals from this drug are fierce.
This addiction epidemic has been kept on the down low for too long and is just recently started to be talked about out in the open. Please don’t make anything light of this devestating addiction problem. too much suffering is going on to do so.
I agree with you 100% on this! It’s hard too because Dr.’s prescribe these to people for pain and next thing you know you’re addicted to them. A lot of people turn to heroin because it’s cheaper and also helps with pain. (So Ive been told) a good friend of mine said that was how he started using heroin. (He is drug free now)
I agree totally! Yet, I Really can’t believe that Methamphetamines aren’t listed-sugar is really addictive, and the consequences are very widespread, with 1/4of Americans stuck with Morbid obesity, and even more are “just” obese. I had a friend lose over $2 million to his crack addiction-from World class athlete, to stealing junk toaster ovens for half of a “hit”-enough to make his cravings grow, and the short lived “high” means much more thieving and such, but Meth is more expensive and, from what I’ve read, cocaine brains start making your own natural dopamine as soon as you stop using it, whereas Meth brains don’t even begin to make more dopamine for 90 days or so, and the damage it causes is really worse than the world class athlete losing over$2million and 30+ locations of his business, as it’s very rare to see anyone beat that addiction…The best way to get unaddicted is to do full body cleanses, then drink daily superfoods blends. It cures my sweet tooth, and it had my former gf lose her coffee cravings. Cannabis has absolutely zero addictive qualities.
Probably they consider them in the same category as heroin. I’ve had problems w/opiates for many years. I had to use suboxone & methadone, but finally got off of those too. Hardest thing I’ve EVER had to do. But it is possible. 4 yrs now. You can do it!
I’ve had a harder time quitting cigarettes than I did with heroin. I’m coming up on 6 months clean and trying to cut down on a 2 pack a day habit
subutex, roxycotin, this article has two right
Suboxone wasn’t that bad in my experience, Heavy duty Benzodiazepine withdrawal was the worst thing I have ever experienced. It literally took over a year and a half to feel “normal”, and even then it still wasn’t easy. However, I suffer from REAL panic disorder so this may have made it that much worse. I was put back on an obscure benzo so I can’t go buy it on the street, but I don’t think I would if I could. I take such a low dose I don’t even really feel it, but it has taken me from stable to fully functioning as of about a year ago, along with other (legal, non intoxicating) things. I’ve found as long as I’m honest about it with people it doesn’t become a problem, and sure some people in meetings judge but as long as I know I’m doing the right thing it doesn’t matter. It’s good not to be a fuck up today.
I’m sure thet I am still alive for a reason to share with others they there’s a way out of the insanity of alcohol and cigarettes and cocaine addiction I have a life by God’s grace anonymous sober since 4 14 97
Tanner is right . Roxycotin has ruined the lives of many people that I know . . . Many.
just wanted to clear up the common confusion about cigarettes: It is the TOBACCO, not nicotine, that is addictive. There is abundant research on this topic that can’t seem to break through to the mainstream. People don’t get addicted to nicotine gum, patches, etc., and the effectiveness of this kind of “nicotine therapy” to stop smoking has proven to be pretty abysmal. That’s because of the addictive rush caused by tobacco, not nicotine.
In my opinion Heroine is most addictive substance, bcoz it’s a bit of taste to ruin your own Life… I felt that….
I have quit heroin, morphine, methamphetamine , nicotine and caffeine…but sugar is still kicking my ass..the more I think about it, the more I obsess over it and then I eat lots of it..and it is so bad for you.
I quit Meth, alcohol, Cigarettes and caffeine but also can’t quit sugar, sugar is the only thing I am really addicted to, I just walked away from the rest of those things and never looked back. Bad thing is I am a type 3 diabetic, which is type 1 type 2 hyprid, not only do I not make insulin my body doesn’t know how to use the insulin I give myself correctly it rejects the insulin and my sugars are always high, I am literally killing myself with high blood sugars, but nobody wants to help me I want the help but oh well. Goodluck to everyone staying clean or getting clean.
All of these are highly addictive, but I believe if we dig a little deeper, we’ll find that many prescription drugs are much more addictive than the four listed above.
This article was ok, it could of explained more about each substance and if it has a physical or psychological addiction potential.
“Don’t smoke kids.”
Commas are important, folks.