There are many addictive drugs in the world, some are more addictive than others. Of the many Americans who use or have an addiction to drugs, over 70,000 have died from a drug overdose in 2017, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That number rose from over 16,000 in 1999. That’s a large increase. To better understand how these addictions form into a substance abuse problem, we will need to also know more about the drugs and their addictive qualities. Below is a list of the top addictive drugs. If you or someone you know has a substance abuse problem, you may want to consider getting addiction treatment. Warner Park Recovery in Woodland Hills, California has partial day, intensive outpatient, and outpatient treatments to treat alcoholism, opioids, benzodiazepines, cocaine, heroin, and crystal meth.
Heroin
Heroin is an opioid that creates a euphoric state and can be incredibly addictive. When it’s introduced into the body, the drug activates opioid receptors in the brain that releases dopamine at higher levels than what the body can produce on its own. This stimulates pleasure causing an increased feeling of relaxation, can block feelings of pain and can produce an “out of body” like sensation. With regular heroin use, people can become dependent rather quickly. When it leaves the system, the body will not be able to produce dopamine for a period of time. Withdrawal symptoms could include depression, nausea, physical pain, hallucinations, insomnia, and anxiety.
Cocaine
Cocaine is a stimulant drug that comes in two forms: powder and crack. The first can be snorted, while the latter is smoked. Crack cocaine takes effect more quickly and gives a more intense high than regular cocaine. The high only lasts a short period of time, however, which causes people to take higher doses for the high to last. It creates a feeling of euphoria, excitement, and alertness, and according to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), it may be regular abused. To maintain a high, people take doses back to back, which is often followed by a “crash” than can cause physical and mental fatigue, depression, and drug cravings. The cravings and depression are what gives it a more addictive quality and harder to stop without addiction treatment, like at Warner Park Recovery.
Alcohol
Many people drink alcohol on a regular basis. Some can handle it, while others become dependent on it and rely on the release of endorphins and dopamine when drinking. According to the National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence (NCADD), alcohol is the most regularly used addictive substance in America. One out of 12 adults in America suffers from alcohol abuse or a dependency issue. Alcohol makes people feel happy and more social, which is why it’s known as the “social drug.” It also serves as a depressant for the central nervous system, resulting in lowered blood pressure and heart rate. Compared to other drugs, the withdrawal symptoms are some of the worst and may cause death in severe cases. Some symptoms include anxiety, depression, insomnia, tremors, sweating, irregular heart rate, hypertension, and seizures.
Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine, or meth, is a powerful stimulant that is man-made in labs. It is made in either a powder or crystal (crystal form) and can be smoked, snorted, or injected. The high received can increase focus, excitability, and pleasure, and decrease the need to sleep or eat. If taken in large amounts, there may be some psychotic side effects that can cause aggression or violence. Tolerance to it can be developed quickly which causes the user to feel the need to take more to keep feeling the effects. Prolonged use can cause damage to the learning, memory, and emotional regions of the brain, cause depleted levels of dopamine and affect the way dopamine receptors in the brain work. Withdrawal symptoms include severe depression, suicidal ideations, and drug cravings.
Crystal Meth
Crystal meth is a form of methamphetamine that is smoked. It does something that meth does not do, which is it teaches the brain to crave it. When smoking crystal meth, users are stimulating areas of the brain that produce dopamine and norepinephrine, which increases feelings of alertness. Users feel an increased amount of energy and focus that helps them perform and complete tasks more efficiently. This can cause the brain to become reliant on the artificial increases of these chemicals. Crystal meth can also cause damage to the neurons that produce dopamine and norepinephrine and make them less effective at producing them.
Seek Addiction Treatment
These are just some drugs that people can become addicted to. There are many more and it may be hard to stop using. If you or someone you know has a substance abuse problem, you should consider seeking professional help like from Warner Park Recovery. With professional help, you can receive the support and help you need to withdraw safely and start your recovery process. If you live in the area of Woodland Hills, Calabasas, Topanga Canyon, and Thousand Oaks, call Warner Park Recovery today for more information on their treatment programs.
