5 Deadly Drugs in America Today
People talk about gateway drugs as a cause for addiction. People talk about addictive personalities. Then here is background, trauma, and even genetic proclivity. Whatever the reason a person begins to experiment with drugs and alcohol, once they are caught in the web, there is no quick and easy way out. All evidence points to a minimum of intensive treatment to help them get free. Of course, this is in the best scenario.
In the worst situation, there is physical danger and a high likelihood of death as a result of drug abuse. It is not a good idea to give a hierarchy to any addictive substance, because what is easily overlooked by one person could be dangerous for another. Part of the danger of these substances is their addictive potential. The rest is simply the fact that without help, people with drug addictions will eventually find themselves in serious trouble. Whatever the case, based on overdose statistics (from the CDC), we can identify five of the deadliest drugs in America.
1. Opioids (Natural, Synthetic, Semi-synthetic)
It is not called the opioid crisis for nothing. Towering over all other drugs are the network of drugs called opioids. Opioids are going to account for over 30,000 overdose deaths in 2017. Fentanyl is a particularly deadly one; however, this family of pain killing, highly addictive drugs are responsible for an astronomical number of overdoses.
2. Heroin
Heroin, the number-one killer in the singular drug category, is technically an opiate. Heroin is often considered to be the most physically addictive street drug. If a user attempts to quit, they will suffer a week of agonizing physical and psychological symptoms. It’s estimated that between 300,000 and 500,000 people in the US suffer from heroin addiction. Overdoses on heroin are common, and they are often fatal. More than 15,000 people in the United States died of a heroin overdose last year.
3. Methadone
Yes, Methadone is also a synthetic opioid. But it was kept out of the first count because of its danger as a singular deadly drug. So the top three most dangerous drugs in America in 2017 are in the opioid/opiate camp. Combine those together and you’ve got an epidemic on your hands.
4. Crack/Cocaine
Cocaine is a strong stimulant that is highly addictive. After the drug wears off, the user becomes depressed. The drug is made even more addictive by the fact that its effects are very brief.
The substance can cause damage to the brain and cardiovascular system. In fact, users sometimes experience a heart attack the first time they use the drug. It’s estimated that cocaine will cause up to 10,000 deaths this year in the US. In addition, it’s estimated that 21 million people in the US have taken the drug.
5. Alcohol
While alcohol is legal, it is still a leading killer. As well, it’s the most common cause of substance use disorder. In addition to being psychologically and physically addictive, it can cause an overdose known as alcohol poisoning. Beyond that, an estimated 88,000 people die from alcohol related causes, annually! Car accidents, violence, and alcohol related long-term sickness, and so much more—you can see why it is considered one of the deadliest drugs in America. Today, around 30 percent of adults in the US have had some form of Alcohol Use Disorder.
Other deadly drugs:
6. Crystal Meth
Crystal meth is a powerful stimulant, and it can cause hallucinations and delusions. Users may become unable to care for themselves as a result their addiction. This can cause them to neglect their oral hygiene and begin losing teeth—something commonly called meth mouth.
In addition, the drug damages the brain. This damage can cause the user to struggle to experience pleasurable emotions without it.
It’s one of the most addictive substances known. Users often remain continuously under the influence of the drug for several days or longer. Users are also highly susceptible to overdose. Addiction to crystal meth is quite widespread, and as many as 600,000 people in the US have used it in the past month. There were more than 7,500 fatal overdoses last year.
7. Bath Salts
Bath salts are powerful stimulants, and they can have alarming side effects. In fact, they often cause psychosis, violent behavior, and heart attacks. Furthermore, users who consume bath salts generally have no idea what substance they are ingesting. There are numerous substances sold as bath salts, and they all have their own unique set of dangers. There were 22,000 emergency room visits in 2011 related to bath salts.
What Can We Do?
We can help people find recovery. This is where SoCal Detox in Orange County California comes in. We walk with you or your loved one through the first crucial stage of addiction recovery and become your advocate to help you find the next step of treatment for lasting recovery that works for you. We are in a crisis. But there is hope for anyone willing to take the first step.
If you or a loved one need help finding freedom from an addiction, please call one of our addiction specialists today, 888-590-0777.
