Top 10 Addictive Drugs

There are many different types of addictive drugs in the world, but what are the most addictive drugs? There are many factors that play into whether or not you will become addicted to a substance. The risks associated with some drugs are much higher than others.

What’s the reason for this? The reason is that drugs have various different degrees of addictiveness. Some drugs may get you hooked within just the first try while others may take a while of consumption before you become addicted.

In this article, we will take a look at the ten most addictive drugs in the world. Read on to find out more about these addicted substances.

1.Heroin

Heroin is a type of opioid drug that is made from morphine. Heroin is considered to be the most addictive drug in the world. Users of this drug feels a rush of euphoria after smoking, snorting, or injecting this drug. It doesn’t take very long at all to form a tolerance to heroin. This means users will need to keep increasing their consumption or dose in order to achieve the same euphoric effect.

There are some very negative withdrawal symptoms associated with heroin use including restlessness, severe muscle and bone pain, diarrhoea and vomiting, uncontrollable leg movements, and cold flashes. The long term effects of an opioid addiction are quite worrying. Addiction to opioids results in a loss of the white matter in the brain. This affects behaviour control and decision making.

2.Cocaine

Cocaine is a white, powdery drug that is typically snorted through the nose. Drug dealers will often mix this substance with other substances such as flour, talcum powder, and corn starch in order to increase their profits. It is also very common for drug dealers to mix cocaine with other harmful drugs such as fentanyl and this greatly increase the risks of the user overdosing.

Cocaine works by increasing the dopamine levels in the brain. When used frequently, it can stop normal communication between the nerve cells. This means that you brain will become less sensitive to dopamine and users of the drug will need to increase their consumption in order to feel happy. Some common withdrawal symptoms associated with cocaine include depression, insomnia, fatigue, nightmares, and slower thought processes.

3.Nicotine

Just because tobacco consumption is legal doesn’t mean that the potency of nicotine should be underestimated. Many tobacco smokers want to quit smoking but the vast majority of people who try to quit on their own usually end up relapsing. It’s a lot more addictive than people may think.

Half of nicotine’s addictive nature is its ability to activate the brains reward system by increasing dopamine levels. Nicotine also works to mimic another chemical in the brain known as the nicotinic receptors. Regular smoking decreases the number and sensitivity of the nicotinic receptors and the user has to keep consuming nicotine just to maintain their normal brain functioning.

4.Methadone

Methadone is a type of opiate medication that is most commonly used to treat heroin or morphine addictions. In clinical settings, a tolerance to this drug is beneficial. However, some people choose to consume this drug recreationally.

People who use methadone recreationally may become addicted. The effects are similar to the effects of heroin. The withdrawal effects that come with methadone use are painful and very difficult. The withdrawal effects after stopping consumption can usually last for a month or even longer.

5.Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine works by imitating two important chemicals in the brain. These are dopamine and norepinephrine – this is the neurotransmitter that is responsible for feeling energetic and alert.

The consumption of meth can usually result in the release of up to ten times the normal level of dopamine. The excess of the artificial norepinephrine can inhibit the body’s natural adrenaline production. This essentially meses up the chemical balance in the brain. Even worse than this, methamphetamine can damage both the norepinephrine receptors and the dopamine receptors.

6.Alcohol

Alcohol can affect two main chemicals in the brain that trigger addiction. Alcohol triggers the reward system in the brain, increasing the dopamine levels and helps to produce feelings of satisfaction and pleasure. Alcohol also increases the levels of endorphins – the brain’s natural painkiller. Increase endorphins help with adding to the pleasurable effects of alcohol. This is especially true for people who drink heavily.

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are among the worst of all of the different substance withdrawals. The withdrawal effects from alcohol can be so severe that it can even cause death.

7.Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines are often commonly prescribed to help reduce anxiety and to relax muscles, prevent seizures, and help people sleep. They are a common type of drug that users abuse due to their addictive properties.

Within 1-4 days of discontinued use of these drugs, users may experience anxiety and insomnia. After that, they may start to experience sleep disturbances, dry retching, headaches, nausea, panic attacks, and muscular pains among other unpleasant symptoms. Withdrawal from benzodiazepines can be fatal in some cases and a medically supervised detox is usually advised.

8.Amphetamines

Amphetamines are stimulant drugs often used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy. Some illegally produced types of amphetamines are mixed with sugar, caffeine, and binding agent and tend to be smokes, snorted, swallowed, or injected.

Shortly after consumption, users will tend to feel confident, energetic, happy, and have an increased sex drive. However, the drug can also increase the heart rate and causes a dry mouth and can lead to teeth grinding. Withdrawal symptoms from amphetamines usually include restlessness, aches and pains, nightmares, exhaustion, paranoia, depression, irritability, and confusion.

10.Barbiturates

Barbiturates are a type of depressant that produce a wide range of central nervous system depression that can range from mild sedation to coma. They usually come in pill form but may also be abused through the injection of a liquid form of the drug.

These drugs tend to cause mild euphoria, anxiety relief, sleepiness, and a lack of inhibition. The withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, insomnia, seizures, dizziness, and psychosis. If not treated properly, they can cause circulatory failure, hypothermia, and death.

10.GHB

GHB is a club drug and often referred to as a designer drug or date rape drug. It works by mimicking the effects of the natural chemical GABA. It is very easy to overdose on GHB as there is only a small different between the drug causing the effects that are desired and leading to an overdose. It can be taking through injecting, snorting, or orally.

There are several withdrawal symptoms associated with this drug including shaking, confusion, epileptic seizures, insomnia, hallucinations, anxiety, delirium and comas. Once users become addicted to this drug, they have to take is around the clock to avoid the very fast withdrawal responses.

Posted on Friday, May 13th, 2022 at 12:58 pm in Addiction, Latest News.