Did you know that about half of the U.S. population aged 12 and over have used illegal drugs at least once? Of these people, over 1 in 4 have a drug disorder, also called substance use disorder (SUD).
SUD is especially common among users of the hardest drugs to quit. These substances are addictive because they affect a person’s way of feeling pleasure. They also often cause highly unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.
To that end, we created this guide on the most addictive, dangerous drugs. Read on to discover what they are, their effects, and how to treat their abuse.
1. Opioids
Also known as narcotics, opioids are drugs prescribed by doctors for severe pain. Examples include codeine, fentanyl, morphine, and heroin, to name a few. They can help relieve pain caused by cancers, injuries, and chronic pain conditions.
Since opioids effectively relieve pain, they can also be highly addictive. The risk of dependence or addiction is even higher with their long-term use. The longer it is, the more the brain believes they’re necessary for survival.
Opioids also trigger the release of endorphins, neurotransmitters that make someone feel good. They boost feelings of pleasure while muffling pain perception.
Opioids are hard to quit because the body can build a tolerance to them. This may cause a person to need even more medication to experience pain relief. This is dangerous since it can lead to a fatal overdose.
Opioid-involved drug overdose deaths in the U.S. are prevalent, with 82,998 predicted cases in 2022.
The good news is that treatment, starting with opioid drug detox, can help prevent such deaths. Detoxing from drugs involves removing all their traces from the body. You can learn more from Purpose Healing about how it works and what it involves.
2. Cocaine
Cocaine is a potent stimulant drug. It can be a white powder or a rock known as “crack” cocaine.
In the U.S., an estimated 27.78 million people aged 12 and over have used cocaine at least once.
Cocaine delivers an intense rush of pleasure when snorted, smoked, or injected. Injecting it causes a rapid-onset yet short-lived high characterized by extreme euphoria.
Euphoria is a feeling of intense happiness and excitement. It’s one of the things that make cocaine addictive.
Just as addictive, however, is the craving to use more cocaine once its short-lived effects run out. Known as a “crash,” this is when users feel tired, depressed, and mentally drained. To counter these effects, users tend to binge-use cocaine.
Aside from being very addictive, cocaine is also deadly, as it can cause a heart attack, stroke, or seizure.
Fortunately, treatment, including detox and therapy, is available for people with cocaine addiction.
3. Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine, or meth, is another potent stimulant drug used like cocaine. It has similar effects, like intense pleasure lasting longer (up to 12 hours). A crash then follows this euphoria.
While quitting meth is hard, it’s possible with detox and therapy.
Seek Help for the Hardest Drugs to Quit
While opioids, cocaine, and heroin are among the hardest drugs to quit, giving them up is possible. The safest, most effective way is to seek a professional for drug detox and counseling.
The most important thing is to start drug treatment ASAP. This can help lower one’s risk of overdosing.
For more related reading, check out our guide discussing the signs of drug use in teens.