Drugs and alcohol that create dependence are difficult to quit using. Even if a person wants to do so, these substances have changed the way the brain function, and, as a result of that, it is hard for a person to simply stop using them. What is the hardest drug to quit, then? It may be hard to pinpoint just one drug being the most challenging for everyone, but anyone that is facing a challenge should reach out to an alcohol treatment center for support.
What Is the Most Addictive Drug?
Take a look at some of the most challenging drugs to stop using. If you or a loved one is using these drugs and you experience withdrawal symptoms and cravings from them, you may need professional treatment to stop using them.
Opioids
Opioids are powerful drugs that impact the opioid receptors in the brain. When used, they help to turn off the pain sensation you feel, which is why they are some of the most effective pain control medications. Yet, drugs like heroin and fentanyl are dangerously addictive because of how they impact the brain’s function. Over time, the brain learns these drugs create pleasure and become so used to them that withdrawal can be long and painful.
Cocaine
Another highly addictive drug is cocaine. This drug is a type of stimulant that can create an intense rush of pleasure when misused. The key to remember about this drug is that the high it creates is very short, lasting only a matter of minutes. As a result, a person uses it again and again in a short period of time. As a result, tolerance builds quickly, and a person may find it nearly impossible to stop using. This also increases the risk of overdose.
Methamphetamine
Meth destroys lives over time. This drug is a type of stimulant that creates a highly pleasurable high. It also leads to a binge and crash pattern, in which people will continue to use repeatedly over a few hours to a few days until they crash, often unable to function as a result. This drug can also have some of the most intense cravings that make it very difficult to stop using.
Other drugs can be highly addictive as well. That includes benzodiazepines which are prescription medications, nicotine, and alcohol. Any of these drugs can create risky, even life-threatening withdrawal symptoms that make it impossible for you to stop using.
Why Are Drugs So Addictive?
Though each drug works a bit differently, many of them alter the function of the brain. The brain is programmed to seek out activities and experiences that create pleasure. Because many drugs create a high like this, the brain learns that those activities – using those substances – is highly pleasurable. Over time, this changes the way the neurotransmitters in the brain function, creating dependency.
When a person stops using those substances, the body and brain react. The hardest drug to quit is one that creates intense withdrawal symptoms and cravings a person cannot ignore. Often, a person will seek out these drugs at any length just to get relief from those cravings.
Even with the hardest addiction to stop, there is help. Drug treatment programs can help minimize the impact on the brain while also alleviating much of the discomfort a person feels during the withdrawal period. More so, the brain will relearn how to function without those substances.
Getting Help from an Admissions Team Is Essential
If you are using the hardest drug to quit, like opioids, meth, cocaine, or any other drug that is causing withdrawal and cravings, reach out to our admissions team at (866) 971-5531. You will find that there is help available to you to overcome the challenges you’re facing.
