The 5 Most Addictive Substances on Earth

There are several ways to catalog a drug: the sensations of using it, the symptoms of its withdrawal, the amount of money it moves (legally and illegally), the ease with which it makes someone addicted and so on. Trying to compile all these variables, researcher David Nutt came to the conclusion that these are the 5 most addictive substances on Earth:

1. Nicotine

Tobacco's main addictive ingredient, nicotine is rapidly absorbed into the lung and reaches the brain. In 2002, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated the number of smokers worldwide at 1 billion.

2. Cocaine

It is estimated that between 14 and 20 million people worldwide use cocaine, which is capable of altering the functioning of dopamine in our brain, increasing the sensation of pleasure and reward.

3. Alcohol

Alcohol has been rated as the most harmful drug to health; In 2012 alone, it is estimated that 3 million deaths were related to it.

4. Heroin

The lethal dose of heroin is only five times higher than the dose needed to leave stoned, so it makes it one of the most lethal drugs in the world.

5. Barbiturates (or sedatives)

Commonly used to treat anxiety and induce sleep, barbiturates are very dangerous to health and can lead to death if taken in excess.

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