It’s getting harder to find people in my day to day life who hate marijuana for the reasons reefer madness of decades past set out, but the most common misconception I still see is that marijuana is addictive and dangerous, just like other substances classified by the Controlled Substances Act. Sure, there’s always a risk of developing dependence on just about anything, but these 8 legal drugs are much, much more addictive than marijuana.
1. Anabolic steroids.
“An undetermined percentage of steroid abusers may become addicted to the drugs, as evidenced by their continued abuse despite physical problems and negative effects on social relations,” writes the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
“Individuals who abuse steroids can experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking steroids, such as mood swings, fatigue, restlessness, loss of appetite, insomnia, reduced sex drive, and steroid cravings.
The most dangerous of the withdrawal symptoms is depression, because it sometimes leads to suicide attempts.”
2. Stimulants.
Stimulant addictions are a very real thing, and many stimulants are widely available.
These addictions can impact mood, cognition, and energy levels.
3. Depressants.
Many depressants, like Xanax, offer temporary relief to some disorders, but they are also highly addictive and can damage GABA receptors in the brain.
4. Opiates.
Chances are, you’ve been exposed to opiates at some point or another in your life, and overdose on opiates is on the rise.
69,000 people a year die of opioid overdose and 15 million around the world struggle with addiction.
5. Sugar.
Sugar definitely has health implications, perhaps not as severe as opiates in some cases, but it is very addicting – more so than marijuana.
6. Caffeine.
My personal vice on this list, caffeine us used by up to 90% of adults habitually.
Lack of caffeine comes with its own set of problems too.
Once addicted, you can experience dependence, sleep disorders, and anxiety.
7. Tobacco.
Everyone knows how addictive and dangerous tobacco is, yet it’s still completely legal. 480,000 die from smoking every year in the United States.
8. Alcohol.
This is the big one. 3 million cases of alcoholism are reported every year. 80,000 people die from alcohol every year too.
Alcohol is the one substance marijuana advocates shine a light on the most.
No one dies and few ever will be dependent on marijuana, and yet alcohol is the substance that’s still legal.
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Credits: TheSpiritScience.com