Drug and alcohol addiction can destroy everything, and it’s only getting worse over the years.
Whether it’s caused by tough times or easy access, bringing drugs or excessive amounts of alcohol into your life will do nothing but cause trouble – and nowhere is that trouble more prevalent than in the most popular substances.
The most common addictions start from drugs that we see everywhere in our lives, and if we aren’t careful, they could enter ours. The only way to be prepared is to be in the know – and that’s what this article is about.
The 4 Most Common Addictions
These common drugs are hiding everywhere in plain sight. Find out which ones you need to keep an eye on.
1.Tobacco
Tobacco is easily one of the most common drugs in the world, and once you start looking into it, it’s not hard to see why that’s the case.
First, tobacco is found pretty much everywhere you can shop. From your local gas station, to the grocery store, and even in a Super Walmart, tobacco products are present in every single location.
You can even buy in bulk or get fancy tobacco products when you purchase them online at a fancy tobacco store.
Secondly, more people can use them than practically every other drug. In the United States, the legal age to get tobacco products is 18, so anyone older than that can get their hands on the drug with no problem.
Finally, tobacco products are pretty affordable. You can get your hands on a pack of cigarettes or a pouch or tobacco for a reasonable price, which is exactly why many users buy multiple packs at a time.
What makes matter worse is that tobacco naturally has an ingredient that makes it addictive to its users, so the more you use it, the greater the addiction. Some smokers have even been known to smoke through whole packets in a day.
With so much open access to such an addictive drug, it’s no surprise that it ranks at the top of the list.
2. Beer
Beer ranks right next to tobacco for its consumption and addiction, and for many of the same reasons.
Beer is crafted and sold worldwide. Because of this, it’s also very easy for anyone to get a hold of it legally. Just like with tobacco products, you can go pretty much anywhere and get your hands on a can, a bottle, or an entire case of beer.
Beer is also sold at a cheap price as well. You can easily buy a can for one dollar (or even less, depending on the size), and you can get a 6-pack for less than $10 bucks.
It also doesn’t help that you can buy them at the low age of 21. Though that is slightly higher than the legal age for tobacco products (in the hopes that you’re more mature), it’s really not much higher, leaving many people free to buy.
There also isn’t a limit to how much you can purchase at one time – or how much you can purchase, period. With no limit cap, buyers can hoard as much beer as they want and drink entire packs when they get back home.
Thankfully, regulations on beer are a bit stricter than on cigarettes. For example, you can’t drink and drive, although you can smoke and drive. However, that doesn’t take away the fact that it’s every bit as addictive as tobacco products.
Beer is also known to affect the neurons in your brain, which causes you to not only crave the beer but can bring out bouts of anxiety or depression if you go without it for extended periods of time.
It’s pretty clear, then, that beer is definitely a substance you’ll want to keep an eye on.
3. Pills/Medicinal Products
When you take products for medicinal purposes, the last thing you might think about is trying to get high off of them. They are, after all, made to take care of you, not to abuse.
The problem is that they’re way too easy for an abuser to get their hands on.
Pills and other medicinal products are usually given to patients through a specific prescription, and come with their own list of warnings issued by the pharmacists. Once they get home, however, things can change.
It’s extremely easy for you or someone you know to abuse these pills since they’re strong and in plain sight. A large number of these drugs are addicting as well.
Many of these medicinal products offer Over-the-Counter (OTC) alternatives as well. These alternatives are not as strong as prescription drugs, but they are more available and cost less.
It’s also worth noting that some of the most extreme drugs in the world are still offered through prescription. Opioids, for example, are one of the most powerful drugs ever created for medicinal use, and it’s still causing major problems.
Opioids are extremely addictive, and it only takes a few of them before you’re hooked. Their widespread creation also makes it easy to get a hold of, and many doctors will still prescribe opioids even though they understand the problems.
In short, be careful when you or someone you know takes medicinal pills.
4. Marijuana
Marijuana is a drug that is recently becoming legal on a medicinal and recreational level nationwide. That doesn’t mean it’s lost its addictive qualities.
Although there is a specific product called CBD that isn’t addictive and can have benefits, marijuana with THC additives can certainly get you addicted depending on how strong the product is.
Marijuana has been shown to be helpful in small doses when used in a medical setting, but those who use it recreationally only look for the high of the drug. Continued use of marijuana will produce an addiction to the drug, and may even damage your brain’s cognitive abilities.
Those who become addicted are constantly looking for their next high, and if they live in a state that hasn’t legalized the drug they have to go through underhand means to get them – which only opens up more problems for the user.
Let Us Help You
When it comes to fighting against the most common addictions, we’re more than happy to be there with you. Give us a call and find out how we can help. We can’t wait to help you or your loved one overcome addiction.