Which drug addiction is the worst

Decades of violence and war may drive some people to drug use, while officials with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime point to a huge increase in cheap heroin as one reason behind the epidemic. World surveys show 90 percent of all heroin used in Europe traces back to this tiny mountainous country.

In addition to trafficking, the country lacks the ability to offer adequate treatment. People of all ages, including young children are addicted to heroin, but the country has a limited number of treatment centers, around 95 with beds for around 2, people.

Intravenous drug use has become a huge problem in Russia — especially among teenagers and young adults. Russian officials say there are 1 million heroin users, although other experts believe the number is closer to 2 million. Government officials do not support harm reduction strategies, such as methadone clinics or needle-exchange programs, favoring a punitive approach to drug use that incarcerates drug users.

Rates of these diseases caused by sharing dirty needles rose faster in Russia than anywhere outside of sub-Saharan Africa. Americans are at the greatest risk of drug-related deaths and currently have the most people with prescription painkiller addictions in the world. Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in America with In addition, more Americans now report using heroin than in years past, while cocaine use remains steady.

More than 15 million people in Great Britain report trying drugs, and around 3 million take them on a regular basis. The number of people using drugs, according to figures, is up compared to Most people in Great Britain do not report a problem with drug use, but 1 million do report current problems.

Marijuana is the most commonly used drug, followed by amphetamines and cocaine. England is one of the number one users of illicit drugs such as cocaine and heroin in Europe. Some speculate that Heroin may be easier to obtain than Painkillers. Galloway, NJ. View Center. Nashville, TN. Approximately , Americans used Heroin for the first time in It is one of the most dangerous drugs, and the number of first-time users has nearly doubled over the past decade.

Heroin is one of the most addictive substances in existence, and an addiction to this drug is hard to overcome without help. The good news is that there are a variety of treatment options to help individuals struggling with Heroin to come off the drug safely and learn new ways to manage unpleasant emotions effectively. If you or someone you care about is suffering from a Heroin addiction, contact a treatment provider today.

After graduation, he decided to pursue his passion of writing and editing. All of the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional. David embarked on his journey into sobriety in June of , which led him to his current career path as a Certified Professional Addiction Recovery Coach in private practice in Greater Nashville. David is also a public speaker and the author of two books. David is cohost of the weekly Positive Sobriety Podcast, as well as being a frequent contributor to various articles and recovery based materials.

As a member of the National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors NAADAC , David works closely with Nashville area treatment centers, nonprofit recovery organizations, and consulting with faith-based groups trying to bridge the gap between the recovery communities and faith-based organizations who wish to understand addiction.

Athens, Greece. Mallorca, Spain. Andover, MA. Wakefield, MA. Boston, MA. Quincy, MA. Canton, MA. Falmouth, MA. Ashby, MA. Baldwinville, MA. Ottawa, ON. Bethlehem, CT. Calverton, NY. New York City, NY. Waymart, PA. Call A treatment facility paid to have their center promoted here. Learn more about how to be featured in a paid listing. Calls to numbers on a specific treatment center listing will be routed to that treatment center. Prescription painkillers are included in this list of the top 10 worst drug addictions for several different reasons:.

The increase of opioid prescriptions written is believed to play a major factor when it comes to addiction to opioids. The likes of Vicodin, Percocet, and codeine have the same effect as heroin. The same effects that heroin has on the brain and body exist with prescription opioid painkillers. There is an intense high which varies depending on how the drug is taken. Prescription painkillers can be injected and snorted as people may abuse them. Opiates affect the opioid receptors in the brain.

This gives them a variety of side effects. Attaching to the opioid receptor causes the GABA chemical to release which is what controls the release of dopamine. The high is caused by flooding of dopamine to the brain, just like heroin.

Withdraw may be a good indication of some of the hardest addictions to kick. It is ironic that many addiction treatment programs use methadone to help people come off the withdrawal effects of hard drugs. While this may seem to solve the issue in the short-term, it only causes a different form of addiction. It is meant to be a tapering program where someone addicted to a harder opioid can slowly withdraw to avoid intense symptoms of abstinence.

Withdrawing from methadone can take anywhere from three to six weeks. Like with many hard drugs, it is not advisable to attempt withdrawing from methadone on your own. With over 5 million people reporting that they have abused methadone in the past, this is not an uncommon issue. It does have a strong effect on the central nervous system so people will abuse it in an attempt to feel the euphoric high.

Methadone affects the same brain structures and function as any of the addictive opioids do. It is similar to OxyContin and heroin. While a person is gradually taken off methadone, they should also be getting therapy.

In this way, it can be effective. When someone abuses methadone, however, dependency can form. For someone who takes methadone as directed, there will likely be no problem with methadone dependency. Abuse includes chewing, snorting, or injecting the pills. The craving for the drug is psychological which means people may use it to deal with stress. Regardless of the negative consequences, they will continue to use it.

Amphetamines are a stimulant class of drugs that includes dextroamphetamine, amphetamines, and methamphetamines. When taken, they boost energy, mood, and confidence. They are used sparingly as a weight-loss tool but the likes of Adderall are being prescribed to those with ADHD liberally. This has turned into a relatively new form of drug abuse and addiction in the US.

While many people seem to think that there are few consequences for abusing amphetamines like Adderall, this could not be further from the case. The medications that include amphetamines for those with ADHD work differently in the brain than they do of the general population.

Amphetamines are synthetic drugs that are designed to stimulate the central nervous system. This is why people will have increased energy and some of the functions within the body go on supercharge.

Their effects are similar to cocaine with a rewarding high. This is what makes them both physiologically and psychologically addictive.

Any kind of amphetamine is addictive but the most potent of the class is methamphetamines. They are the most addictive and not legal. It was developed recently from amphetamines, which were originally available in nasal decongestants. There is a difference between amphetamine and methamphetamine. The drugs are both central nervous stimulants that are similar in effect. Meth breaks down to form amphetamine when the body metabolizes it. Methamphetamine is a more potent high and also more addictive.

While amphetamine is not as addictive as meth, it still has its risks. Like other types of addictions, they are caused by body or brain dependency. Amphetamines pass through the blood-brain barrier and affect the central nervous system. It changes brain signaling and neurotransmitters are all affected. The person will feel a heightened sense of mental wellness.

They will have more confidence and think more quickly. Many university students will abuse drugs like this so they can focus better and stay up late into the night. As a sedative drug, benzodiazepines are one of the most dangerous prescription drugs to abuse.

When used to self-medicate for anxiety or sleep, this class of drugs is highly addictive. People facing clinical anxiety, stress, and panic attacks will often be prescribed benzodiazepines like Valium and Xanax. There are actually over 15 different kinds of benzodiazepine medications used for different medical purposes.

They are used for anxiety, muscle relaxant, mild memory loss, and anti-seizure medication. There are also benzos that come in smaller doses for sleep disorders. No benzodiazepine should be used for a long time due to the high risk of addiction. Benzodiazepines create surges of dopamine in the brain which causes a change in the dopamine-producing cells in the body. It is the pleasurable effects of these drugs that cause dependency. Benzodiazepine use will deteriorate cells that rein in the flooding of dopamine.

The temporary surges of dopamine can cause even great dopamine surges. Researchers believe that benzodiazepines will build up in the body. They begin to alter the structure and function of brain receptors. It creates excitable surges and can make the dopamine rushes more intense.

This can easily become a part of an addiction cycle. Withdrawal symptoms can include:. Benzodiazepine abuse is also associated with many dangerous physical side effects, especially if the addiction goes unaddressed. Most professionals recommend medical detox for withdrawing from these strong drugs, which makes it one of the worst addictions to overcome.

Researchers found that the addictive nature of benzos is very similar to opioids, cannabinoids, and GHD. All of these substances have extreme addictive qualities. The chemical actions that occur within the mind cause people to become dependent. They quickly progress on dosages and this abuse become addiction quickly.

Tolerance will usually develop around the 6-month mark or sooner. Crystal meth is a man-made central nervous system stimulant drug with a high addiction rate and a long-lasting detrimental effect on your brain and body.

This makes it one of the top 10 worst drug addictions to deal with. Once someone becomes addicted to crystal meth, it is usually extremely difficult but not impossible to quit the drug on his or her own.

Instead, the vast majority of addiction experts recommend formal addiction treatment. It is associated with many severe consequences to the body as well. When taking meth, it results in large amounts of norepinephrine and dopamine as well as other neurotransmitters to be released.

This gives the user euphoric effects, more energy, feelings of invincibility, and psychoactive effects. Research regarding the short-term and long-term effects of methamphetamine use indicates that there are a number of significant potential dangers associated with its use, including significant neurological effects.

After 90 days of use, studies have found that meth users forget how awful the crash of meth feels. While there might be a sense of well-being and energy during the high, the crash can bring severe depression and exhaustion.

This can create a chemical craving for the drug that can so quickly become an addiction. A meth binge can have an irreversible long-term effect on both the body and mind. With so many people taking meth recreationally to improve their night or perhaps to love the weight, they are unaware of the power of its addictive nature.