The Hardest Drugs to Give Up

While all drugs have addictive properties, some drugs are easier to give up than others. As addiction takes hold, physical and psychological dependence forms that can make quitting feel like an insurmountable task.

In 2023, over 130,000 people sought treatment for substance addiction, while millions more tried to quit alone. We examine the hardest drugs to give up, what makes them so addictive and the struggles faced in recovery.

What makes a drug so hard to quit?

Quitting a substance when you’re addicted can be extremely challenging because a drug will fundamentally alter the way your brain functions and “hijack” the brain’s reward system. Taking a substance releases a surge of dopamine, which creates feelings of pleasure and reward. The brain gets used to this sensation over time, so as you quit a drug, you are essentially taking rewarding feelings away.

The repeated use of substances can lead to physical and psychological dependence on the drug to function and feel “normal.” Physically, your body gets used to the presence of a substance and creates painful withdrawal symptoms when you stop using. Psychologically,  drugs become a coping mechanism in times of stress and anxiety. Quitting often cyclically reinforces these problems, compounding the challenges faced when you stop.

Psychologists also recognise the significance of how “people, places and things” influence and impair the recovery process. Being around certain people, locations, sounds and even smells can trigger urges that make quitting more difficult or tempt a recovering person into relapse.

These complex factors combined wreak havoc for so many people hoping to quit, but which drugs present the most challenges as a person strives to break free?

What are the hardest drugs to give up?

Quitting any drug creates challenges that can undermine a person’s effort to reach sobriety. Below are some of the hardest drugs to quit:

Cocaine/crack cocaine

Cocaine is an extremely addictive drug that rapidly stimulates the brain’s pleasure centres, creating a rush of dopamine in the user. The effects of snorting or rubbing powder cocaine into your gums can be felt within just a few seconds.

Euphoric feelings typically last for 15 to 30 minutes, though a person may feel lingering effects for hours. These effects of powdered cocaine can wear off quite quickly compared to other drugs, which can make a person more likely to take repeated doses in a short time.

Cocaine is also commonly seen as a “club drug,” and for many people around the country, going to a bar or nightclub almost always brings them into close proximity to it. Powder cocaine’s association with nightlife and rave culture means that, for many people, it often goes hand-in-hand with drinking on a night out.

Aside from its powdered form that is typically snorted, cocaine can appear in “crack” form, which is typically smoked or injected. The effects are even more intense but are shorter-lived, lasting only 5 to 10 minutes. Both powder and crack forms severely impact the brain’s reward system over time, making quitting difficult without professional support.

Heroin

Heroin is a drug that comes from an opium poppy, which typically grows in Asia, Mexico and Latin America. The most common method of using heroin is through injection in its liquid form. It can also be used through snorting or smoking, known as “chasing the dragon”, wherein it is heated and the fumes are inhaled through a tube.

The effects of heroin typically are felt for around 3 to 5 hours. Heroin is extremely addictive as it rapidly enters the bloodstream and binds to opioid receptors, creating a range of sedative and euphoric effects. The pleasurable surge felt in these effects is extremely potent, leading to impulses for more.

Heroin is categorised as a Class-A drug in the UK, the classification for the most dangerous substances. Street dealers often “cut” or mix heroin with adulterants to increase their profits. As a result, a user won’t know the strength of the drug or its true contents, making overdose more likely. The effects of a heroin overdose include slow and shallow breathing, blue lips and fingers, convulsions, comas and potentially death.

The withdrawal symptoms of heroin abuse can be some of the most severe and intense of any drug, so many detox professionals provide opioid agonists like methadone and buprenorphine to treat the severity of withdrawal symptoms. This makes quitting heroin alone dangerous as symptoms can become so uncomfortable that a person relapses just to ease the pain caused.

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines, often shortened to “benzos”, are often used as prescription drugs to help treat anxiety, insomnia and seizures. Common types include diazepam, alprazolam, and lorazepam. Benzos are highly addictive and can quickly lead to dependence, even when taken as a prescription.

Benzos work by enhancing GABA receptors in your brain that work in your central nervous system to keep you calm in times of stress. Using benzos for an extended time reduces the body’s natural capability to manage anxiety and fear. Benzos increase your tolerance, so more is needed to reach the same effects.

Quitting benzos when you’re addicted is extremely difficult, as withdrawal symptoms of anxiety, panic attacks and insomnia can be severe. Overwhelming sensations when quitting usually make professional support essential.

Alcohol

Alcohol’s legality makes it one of the most prevalent substances used in the country. In 2022 alone, there were 10,048 deaths from alcohol-specific causes in the UK, the highest number ever recorded.

Drinking alcohol has numerous effects on the brain, which produce euphoric feelings and dull negative ones. Many people use alcohol for social gatherings or to enjoy a night out, lowering their inhibitions and enjoying its pleasurable effects. Long-term alcohol use changes key functions of the brain’s reward system and decision-making ability, meaning it becomes more difficult to make the choice to quit and remain sober.

Further into the impairments in decision-making, drinking alcohol can make it harder for a person to quit using another substance. Alcohol is one of the most prevalent substances used by people with a polydrug use disorder.  A person may make huge efforts to avoid a drug and succeed while they’re sober. After a drink or two, a wave of intense cravings can form, impairing your ability to refrain from using the substance.

Overall, alcohol’s social acceptance and cultural relevance can make it one of the hardest substances to avoid. Significant conscious efforts are needed to fight the urge to return to drinking when a person goes sober.

Cannabis

Cannabis has two main constituents: tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (DBD). THC is understood to be the addictive property of the two, as it is psychoactive and affects the way the brain produces dopamine.

Cannabis has two main constituents; tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (DBD). THC is understood to be the addictive property of the two, as it is psychoactive and affects the way the brain produces dopamine.

Quitting weed may also be increasingly difficult as it becomes more socially accepted in the Western world. North America and many European countries are increasingly accepting of cannabis for medicinal and recreational use, with new laws and legislation allowing for its sale and consumption. This may, in turn, have led to the widespread perception of cannabis as harmless.

However, prolonged cannabis use carries significant risks, such as its association with mood disorders and cognitive impairments. Giving up cannabis use is not easy, but stopping regular use can lead to noticeable improvements in mental clarity, sleep quality and overall well-being.

I need help quitting a drug

Breaking free from the cycle of addiction is a journey you don’t have to face alone. If you’re navigating the challenges of sobriety and need help, professional support may make all the difference.

Here at UKAT, we specialise in detox programmes that lead to your complete recovery. Our expert staff provide compassion and dedication to guide you through every step of the journey.

Don’t wait to take the first step. Reach out to us at Linwood House today and start your journey toward lasting sobriety.