Many individuals worldwide begin drug use as a seemingly harmless recreational activity. But the line between no big deal and severe drug dependence can blur faster than you think. Drug addiction can often hide in the most unsuspecting places. Even substances that are socially legal and approved for medical use can lead a person into a downward spiral of drug abuse.
In the United States alone, thousands of individuals die every year from drug overdose. Many times, a person will begin using a less addictive drug, and then they will switch to a substance with a high potential for abuse to achieve a faster and bigger high. Too often, drug overdose deaths are accidental. And they could be prevented with the right access to drug information and addiction treatment.
If you’ve ever wondered about the most addictive drug in the world, the answer is more complicated than you might think. A drug’s addiction level can be measured by how it impacts the brain’s reward system, the extremity of withdrawal symptoms caused by the drug, or how commonly it is abused. It is also important to consider how a drug impacts the social economy and what long-term health concerns can develop from consistent abuse of the substance.
Read on to learn about the most addictive drug, based on these factors. And if you or a loved one is struggling with substance abuse in Ohio, Skypoint Recovery can help you choose recovery today.
What Is Addiction?
Since the passing of the Affordable Care Act, both our legal and medical understanding of addiction in the United States has drastically changed. Addiction to drugs or alcohol is now defined as a preexisting condition that impacts both a person’s physical and mental health. There are several factors that can impact a person’s potential toward addictive behaviors, including genetics, experienced trauma, and any other co-occurring mental health issues. This is also why remission and recovery can feel like they are out of an individual’s control.
Over the time of a person’s drug use, their body chemistry alters until a person cannot function without regular substance use. As a result, someone struggling with addiction will choose their next fix over their profession, friends, and family relationships.
If you or your loved one cannot participate in your daily routines without abusing drugs, it might be time to seek out addiction treatment programs. While addiction is a chronic disorder, anyone can commit to a life of sobriety with the right support.
How Does an Addictive Substance Impact the Brain?
There are generally two categories of addictive substances: uppers, or stimulant drugs, and downers. The first class of drugs is intended to increase brain activity, and the second works to slow it down. Both can cause a short-term high in the way they alter a person’s brain chemistry.
The main reason why a substance becomes so appealing to use again and again is because of how it impacts the levels of dopamine in a person’s brain. Both the buzzed feelings induced by alcohol and the euphoric impact of crack cocaine are caused by increased dopamine in the brain, as this is the main chemical that signals the experience of pleasure.
Dopamine also plays a huge role in how the brain processes pain. When the brain is flooded with dopamine, it can no longer process pain in the same way. This process is what causes a patient to experience a numbing sensation, and it is also why many prescription drugs used by doctors for pain management are abused recreationally.
The most commonly abused highly addictive stimulant drug is cocaine. As there is currently no legal medical purpose for cocaine, this is an illegal drug. Highly addictive downers that are abused are barbituates, which are a class of prescription drugs used to treat anxiety.
Which Drug Has the Worst Withdrawal Symptoms?
Any person who has smoked cigarettes before knows that withdrawal symptoms can begin a lot sooner than you think. The brain can develop a chemical dependence to some substances after one use.
Cigarettes specifically can cause withdrawal symptoms because of nicotine, the main addictive stimulant in tobacco. Nicotine withdrawal is usually mild, leaving a person feeling irritable, unable to concentrate, and they may experience bouts of insomnia.
However, drugs like heroin and prescription pain medications like OxyContin can cause a person to experience extreme withdrawal symptoms in both the brain and the body. These can include flu-like shakes and fevers, anxiety, plus depression and suicidal thoughts.
When struggling with addiction to hard drugs like cocaine and heroin, it’s especially important to seek out the support of rehab centers like Skypoint Recovery. Experienced addiction treatment providers can help you safely and comfortably manage your withdrawal symptoms. This means you will be less likely to relapse in the future, and it guarantees a fresh start as you begin addiction recovery.
What Is the Most Commonly Abused Drug?
To date, alcohol is still the most commonly abused substance in the world. Statistics surrounding alcohol addiction and abuse are usually skewed, mostly because alcohol is a legal substance in most social settings. As a result, a person struggling with alcohol dependence can hide their abuse in plain sight.
Alcohol can act as both a stimulant and a depressant in a person’s system. This means it increases dopamine levels in the brain, but it also slows down the nervous system. A person who drinks excessively may experience impaired motor skills and lowered inhibitions, which is a dangerous combination.
According to the National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence, 1 in 12 American adults struggles with alcohol abuse at some point in their lives. Many of these individuals will go without the addiction treatment they need to reclaim their lives. And unfortunately, long-term alcohol dependence when left undiagnosed can lead to heart health issues, seizures, and memory loss.
It is never too late to ask for help. While every person’s struggle with addiction is unique, the right personalized treatment plan can guide you on your road to recovery.
The Skypoint Recovery Difference
At Skypoint Recovery Ohio, we will help you escape the noise and chaos of your daily life so you can focus on your individual mental and physical needs. Our main goal of Skypoint Recovery substance abuse treatment is to help you experience all the benefits of sobriety and develop daily practices to help you choose a drug-free life. We guarantee you get the individualized treatment you need to reclaim your desired healthy life.
Contact Skypoint Recovery today to learn how we can best help support you on your journey toward rehabilitation.