What Is the Worst Addiction?

Is there one addiction that is worse or harder to overcome than others?

The truth is there is no simple answer to this question. Each addiction comes with its own set of obstacles and external factors that may worsen the addiction. Looking at addictions within common addictive substances, you can observe different aspects that may seem better or worse to you. There are a variety of ways that drugs are classified, but no addiction is officially considered to be worse than others.

Drug Enforcement Agency

The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) classifies each substance in a different category depending on the severity of the substance’s effects and its potential dangers. These categories are called schedules, and they are numbered from one to five. A class one scheduled drug is considered to be more severe and has higher rates of addiction involved with the substance. The properties of addiction slowly decrease as you move up each scheduled category.

Schedule I

This level of drug is considered to have a high potential for addiction or abuse occurring. There is also no currently accepted medical treatment that involves the use of these substances. Typical legal consequences of the use of these drugs are more severe. The following drugs are currently classified as Schedule I drugs:

• LSD
• Heroin
• Marijuana
• Ecstasy
• Peyote

Schedule II

These drugs are considered to have a high potential for abuse and may have addictive properties. They are considered to be dangerous and have a high probability of dependence. Many drugs within this category are used as prescription drugs that are commonly abused. The following substances fall into the Schedule II category:

• Hydrocodone
• Cocaine
• Methamphetamine
• Methadone
• Fentanyl 
• Adderall
• Ritalin
• Oxycodone

Schedule III

This category of substances tends to have a moderate to low probability of dependence. While there are still potential dangers involved with these drugs, they are often less severe than schedule I or II drugs. The following substances fall under the category of Schedule III:

• Codeine
• Ketamine
• Anabolic Steroids
• Testosterone

Schedule IV

Substances within this category have a lower potential for abuse. The risk of dependence is also lower compared to Schedule III drugs. The following are examples of substances in this category:

• Xanax
• Soma
• Darvon
• Darvocet
• Valium
• Ativan
• Tramadol
• Ambien

Schedule V

These substances are considered to be the least dangerous and have the lowest potential for dependence and abuse. Addiction is still possible with these substances, but it is less likely than with the drugs previously discussed. They are often used to treat medical conditions and are generally easier to access. The following are examples of Schedule V substances:

• Cough medicine
• Lomotil
• Motofen
• Lyrica
• Parepectolin

Reviewing the DEA’s categorizing of substances, you can develop an understanding of which substances often cause problems. Although Schedule I substances are legally categorized as the worst, that is not always the case. There are still many individuals who develop an addiction to drugs in a lesser category. These addictions can still have severe health effects and be difficult to overcome.

Overdose Rates

Another way to classify the severity of substances is to observe the rates of an overdose occurring within each addiction. If a substance tends to present a greater chance of overdose, it can be viewed as a more dangerous addiction. While overdose is possible with any substance, it is more common with some substances.

Opioids account for nearly 75% of overdoses within the United States. While these drugs are not classified as Schedule I drug, they still have a high level of potential for overdose. As we view our current opioid crisis, these substances seem to be affecting a large number of people.

Many of the substances that are classified as Schedule I drugs do not lead to overdose as commonly, or we do not have enough data to determine their overdose rate accurately. They come with their own set of side effects. However, opioids are much more worrying when it comes to the potential of overdose.

Concluding Observations

As you can see, there are many different ways to classify and rank the severity of addictive substances. There is no official way to determine which substance is the worst as they each have their effects in different aspects, which may also vary among individuals. Addiction to anything is a difficult obstacle to overcome and can be severe with any form of substance involved. 

Consider discussing your experience with addiction with a peer. As you each discuss your obstacles, you may find that you struggle with many similar problems, but there are also many different factors at play for each of you. Every addiction comes with its own dangers and challenges. Be supportive of others in recovery and work to overcome your addiction with a treatment plan suited to you.

You may have discovered that some substances have a worse effect on you than others. Taking the necessary precautions to treat any level of addiction can help you avoid reaching the worst effects of any substances you struggle with. Addiction of any form should be taken seriously.

Each substance comes with its own set of side effects and consequences. Determining which substance is considered to be the worst is nearly impossible. There are so many factors that impact the severity of a substance. One way to rank the severity of different substances is to review the schedules of drugs classified by the DEA. Another way to view severity is to observe the rates of overdose in relation to the use of the substance. Each individual may experience different effects from each substance, making some worse than others for different people. It is important to be aware of all the potential dangers at hand and take any level of addiction seriously. Addiction to any substance is a danger and should be immediately treated. To learn more about the different severities of substances, reach out to Dream Recovery at (949) 732-1960.