The 10 Most Addictive Substances

Charles McDuffie
3 min readMar 7, 2021

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There’s a big difference between the addictive versus the non-addictive substance. The former means that your body builds up a physical dependence on the substance in question, while the latter means you build up a psychological addiction. Now, some substances are both addictive and non-addictive, but they’re not necessarily habit-forming. The problem of dependency is present when the substance has various consequences, which make quitting extremely difficult. The dependence itself can also lead to withdrawal symptoms.

The addiction factor can be determined in various ways, but the best way is by looking at how addictive the substance is. The addictive substances include; heroin, amphetamines, barbiturates, rhino particles, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and inhalants. The mean score for each of these is between one and ten. Anything over ten means that it’s challenging to stop using the substance without experiencing withdrawal symptoms.

The withdrawal symptoms can be extremely uncomfortable and often resemble the pains one experiences during chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Some of the effects can be so severe that you can even be forced to discontinue use. The mean score for each of these addictive substances is again determined by looking at how addictive they are. If you have a low mean score, then you’ll have trouble attempting to quit. However, if you have a high mean score, you’ll find it much easier to quit.

Quitting cold turkey isn’t recommended. The reason for this is because many people will go through withdrawal symptoms with the process. Other methods such as hypnotherapy and acupuncture will work much better than cold turkey and less physically demanding. Withdrawal from these addictive substances doesn’t have to be an arduous process. Remember that most of these addictive substances are derived from chemical substances found in the body. The body needs to adjust to the change in concentration for withdrawal symptoms to occur.

If you have a score between zero and six, you’re likely addicted to some form of the addictive substance. For example, crack cocaine has a mean score of zero and will result in severe withdrawal symptoms. At this point, the person will likely start to self-medicate with street drugs such as heroin, crack pipes, or small cigars. Even though you may have a physical dependence, you’ll still have a psychological dependency on the drug. This means that you’ll have a psychological need for the addictive substance, and there’s a strong possibility that you’ll fail to quit even when you’re experiencing withdrawal symptoms.

Cocaine and crack cocaine are the two most dangerous substances, but there are many more that fall into this category. Heroin, also known as morphine, is also highly addictive because it’s a potent pain-relieving drug. People who take heroin are very susceptible to overdose and can cause death if not treated quickly. This is why it’s essential to get help for any dependence, even if you’re not experiencing physical dependence. There are many other addictive substances, including amphetamines, ecstasy, inhalants, barbiturates, and even some Class 2 drugs.

Alcohol is another dangerous substance that can lead to serious addiction problems. Many people who abuse alcohol do so because they enjoy the feelings it produces, which is usually a euphoric high. Although it’s not technically addictive, there are definite withdrawal symptoms that make it extremely difficult to quit and even more challenging to stay sober.

Ecstasy is probably the most dangerous of all the substances on the planet and even considered one of the most hazardous substances on the entire earth by the Drug Enforcement Administration. It’s widely used as a recreational party drug and has even been used as a lure for those trying to make illegal drugs. When you consider that most ecstasy users don’t die from their use, it’s easy to see why it’s considered highly addictive. Cocaine and amphetamines also make a list, although methamphetamines have become increasingly less of a problem recently. If you or someone you know is addicted to any of these substances, it’s best to seek help immediately.

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Charles McDuffie
Charles McDuffie

Written by Charles McDuffie

Greetings to all! I'm thrilled to join the Medium community and anticipate a truly engaging and fascinating journey in this space.

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