Which Drugs Are the Most Addictive? (And Why They Are)

Numerous mind-altering substances, both illicit and legal, can lead to addiction. But are there drugs that are more addictive than others? And if so, what are the most addictive drugs? This can be a difficult question to answer because addiction is influenced by an array of factors that depend on the individual as well as their surrounding environment.

Some people can repeatedly abuse a substance without becoming addicted, while others may develop an addiction after using the same substance only once. While there is no definitively “most addictive drug”, we can examine some commonly abused drugs to understand what makes them so addicting and why using them can be harmful.

No matter the substance behind it, addiction is difficult to overcome alone. Fortunately, help is out there, and we can guide you to the treatment that fits your needs. Call us today at 912-214-3867 for more information on addiction treatment options in your area.

Content

Despite their negative effects, many common drugs that people abuse are addictive. Understand what makes them so addicting and the harmful risks that can accompany the short-term effects.

What it Means to Have an Addiction
What Makes Some Drugs So Addictive?
Opioids
Stimulants
Barbiturates
Addiction is Not the End

What it Means to Have an Addiction

Drug addiction refers to the inability to moderate or stop one’s intake of a substance. Addiction occurs when a person can no longer control their behavior surrounding the substance and becomes dependent on it to cope with daily life.

But the harm to an individual does not only come from the drug itself. Addiction can negatively affect many different aspects of a person’s life as they drastically change their behavior in order to continue their drug use. Furthermore, addiction is a chronic disease that must be managed through proper treatment, not simply a choice to abuse drugs. And although substance abuse can lead to addiction, they are not the same.

Most people first start using drugs voluntarily, but addiction can take over and reduce self-control very quickly. Substance abuse, or misuse, refers to using mind-altering substances incorrectly or in excessive amounts and for non-therapeutic effects. While misuse can certainly be harmful, it does not mean that someone who abuses substances is necessarily addicted to them.

For example, a person who drinks alcohol heavily on a night out can be said to be abusing alcohol, even if they do not normally drink excessively. They may experience pleasurable effects that make them want to drink more, but they may also be put off by the negative side effects, such as vomiting.

Someone with alcohol addiction, however, will not limit their drinking to one-off events. Additionally, they will not let the negative consequences stop them from continuing to drink in excess. They will feel the need to consume an excessive amount of alcohol regularly in order to get through their day, not just to enjoy themselves for one night.

What Makes Some Drugs So Addictive?

Many of the most addicting drugs produce their pleasant effects quickly, but these effects also wear off quickly. This is one factor that leads people to use these drugs and maintain high repeatedly. It can be challenging to stop doing something that seems enjoyable, but these desirable effects almost always have negative consequences.

Drugs that are smoked/inhaled and drugs requiring IV use travel the quickest to the bloodstream, and therefore the brain. Heroin, coke, meth, and crack are all highly dangerous and addictive for this reason.

Most addictive drugs are dangerous not only during use but also due to the changes that drugs make to the body.

When a person continues to use a substance, they can develop a tolerance to it, which occurs when they need to take more of the drug over time to achieve the same effect. Tolerance can then lead to physical dependence, which means a person’s body has adapted to the drug’s presence. When they stop using the drug, they experience withdrawal symptoms since their body cannot function without it. Withdrawal symptoms differ slightly for different substances but generally cause significant discomfort.

Withdrawal Symptoms

Common withdrawal symptoms include:

Irritability
Anxiety
Muscle and bone pain
Tremors and shaking
Nausea
Vomiting and diarrhea
Fatigue

While most withdrawal symptoms are not necessarily fatal, experiencing withdrawal can be dangerous.

Even if someone can stop using a drug for a time, they may return to using it to avoid the pain caused by withdrawal. Not only does this prolong addiction, but it also has the potential to lead to overdose. During a period of withdrawal, a person’s tolerance can decrease, which means going back to what they considered a “normal” dose before stopping could be enough to cause an overdose.

Below are common drugs that often lead to substance abuse disorders, as well as an examination of how they work, what harm they can cause, and what makes them so addictive.

If you are suffering from an addiction, please contact us today. Our specialists will be able to work with you to get you the help that you deserve.

Opioids

You may have heard of the “opioid epidemic” currently afflicting many Americans. Opioid addiction is an increasingly common problem in the U.S., which is troublesome, in part, because of its high rates of overdose.

Opioids are a highly addictive class of drugs due to the immensely pleasurable effects they have on the brain. These drugs interact with opioid receptors in the brain to relieve pain and produce intense feelings of euphoria. Opioids include pain relievers such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, and others, which are available legally through prescriptions.

However, opioids can also come in illicit forms, such as heroin. Heroin is made from morphine. It enters the brain rapidly and has similar euphoric and sedative effects to prescription opioids. The initial “rush” comes on very quickly, but the sedative state that follows can last quite a while. These pleasant effects encourage users to take more once they wear off.

When opioid painkillers are taken for a short time and as prescribed by a doctor, they are generally safe to use. Unfortunately, because of their highly pleasurable effects, they are often misused. Misuse includes taking them in a larger quantity than prescribed or taking them without a prescription. Even when prescribed by a doctor, regular use of opioids can lead to addiction.

Research suggests that misusing these drugs can also lead to heroin use. With heroin use comes increased risk of infection, if injected, and other physical complications due to the additives sometimes combined with heroin.

Stimulants

Cocaine and methamphetamine are two common stimulants which have very similar effects. Like most addictive drugs, they cause intense pleasure when taken. Unlike opioids, however, they heighten energy instead of inducing sedation.

Both of these stimulants increase levels of the natural chemical messenger in the brain, dopamine. Dopamine activates the brain’s reward centers, which trigger good feelings. Typically, new dopamine recycles back into the cell that released it. However, cocaine and meth prevent the reuptake of dopamine, causing large amounts of it to build up in the brain. This flood of dopamine overstimulates the reward circuit, causing the intense euphoria that users associate with taking these drugs. The pleasurable “high” encourage more drug use.

With repeated use of stimulants, the brain eventually adapts to the excess of dopamine and becomes less sensitive to it. Thus, if people want to repeat the same effects, they must take more extensive and more frequent drug doses.

Both meth and cocaine take effect immediately and only last for a short amount of time, prompting users to take more soon after to prolong the feeling. Because these stimulants can produce extreme energy and mental alertness, some people use them to help them perform tasks more quickly. Others experience more harmful effects, such as irritability and paranoia, which can lead to violent behavior.

Binging and Crashing

Because the high from these drugs kick in rapidly and fade just as fast, people often take repeated doses in quick succession. This “binge and crash” form of use can take place over several days, during which the user accepts the drug every few hours, ignoring the need to eat or sleep. Binging can aid in tolerance development and can lead to overdose. Cocaine can even result in overdose from the first use.

If you need help with dealing with an addiction, then call us today. Our experts will help you get on the path to a happier and healthier life now.

Barbiturates

Barbiturates are part of a class of drugs known as sedative-hypnotics, known for their ability to induce sleep and decrease anxiety. Instead of targeting specific parts of the brain, like opioids and stimulants, they work by slowing down the overall functioning of the central nervous system. Barbiturates are thus sometimes referred to as “downers.”

Barbiturates can be extremely dangerous because the correct dose is difficult to predict.

Only a small difference exists between a dose that causes drowsiness and one that causes death. Therefore, even a slight overdose can be lethal. For this reason, barbiturates are no longer commonly prescribed, though they are still abused for their sedative effects. Withdrawal symptoms can last for up to two weeks after stopping barbiturate use, and some may not feel they cannot withstand the symptoms for that long and return to using.

Not only are barbiturates highly dangerous on their own, but they also have very similar “brain relaxing” effects as alcohol. This means they can be lethal when combined. People with addictions will continue to use the drug despite understanding the danger.

At the end of the day, substance abuse is substance abuse. Also, anyone abusing any of these drugs can be sucked quickly into a downward spiral of use and relapse.

Addiction is Not the End

It is difficult to say whether one of these drugs is more addictive than others. One person’s body may chemically react differently to a substance than someone else’s. Even gender can play a role in your propensity to abuse a specific substance.

However, we do know that drugs of this nature all have lasting adverse effects, whether or not you are addicted to them. Highly addictive drugs, regardless of their specific results or chemical makeup, all have the potential to alter your brain dangerously. They may have desirable effects when you start to use them, but they can have devastating consequences once you try to stop without help.

Perhaps people may feel safe from addiction if they stay away from illegal drugs, but even legal substances, like prescription painkillers and alcohol, can be abused and cause dependence. Substances like these are often harmful not only at the time of use but also long after their initial effects have worn off.

The most addictive drugs alter your brain to encourage you to continue taking them until your use is no longer under your control.

Still, it is impossible to say for sure that one or another will inevitably lead to addiction. Many other substances also carry the potential for misuse. Remember that you do not have to wait until abuse turns into an addiction to seek help. While addiction can be devastating, it is preventable and manageable with the right treatment. We can help you take the first step toward recovery. Contact us today at 912-214-3867 to speak to a representative about your best treatment options.

Written by Alina Gonzalez

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