It’s normal to be curious about drugs. Between what you see in the media and personal encounters, people naturally question the effects of drugs they haven’t tried or have seen others use. Many people turn to anonymous online spaces like Reddit to seek out these answers, asking things like, “What are the most addictive drugs?” and “What drug do you wish you never touched?”
In this article, we’ll discuss the most addictive drugs that you should never touch by looking at the experiences of Reddit users who have been affected by substance use themselves.
What Addiction is the Hardest to Quit? Experiences From Reddit Users
Addiction is a deeply personal battle, and no two experiences are exactly the same. Some people struggle with physical withdrawal. Others wrestle with long-term cravings, emotional dependence, or the environmental triggers that make staying clean feel impossible. But when it comes to the hardest addiction to quit, Reddit users have a lot to say.
In 2024, a now-deleted user asked in the r/AskReddit subreddit, “What addiction is the hardest to quit.”
The comment with the most upvotes is from AutopsyPanda who said, “Fentanyl was… I was hooked to heroin for years and transitioned to fentanyl because it was more bang for my buck. It cost way more but I needed so little that it would last. I got in trouble and then needed to get clean but when I started to get clean my first few weeks I prayed for death. I lost 25lbs in 9 days and laid there praying for it all to be over. I wasn’t even able to stand upright for almost a month without passing out. It was so bad.”
This kind of post puts into perspective just how physically overwhelming opioid withdrawal can be, especially with synthetic opioids like fentanyl, which are up to 50 times stronger than heroin.
The next most upvoted comment from stupidfock says, ”Heroin. Even decades recovered heroin addicts still admit they think about the high with some frequency.”
Surprisingly, among people who’ve used heroin, crack, cocaine, and alcohol, many agree that nicotine is the worst addiction of them all. One user who had experience with cocaine, alcohol, and cigarettes says that cigarettes were the hardest to quit. They wrote, “Cocaine was hard. Booze was harder. Cancer sticks were the hardest.”
Another user, ThrowAway1237540, agreed, saying, “Agreed. I quit alcohol, cocaine, crack, adderall, weed, and cigarettes 6 years ago. The only thing I still crave is cigarettes.”
The_mooseman also agrees, writing, “Nicotine. I’ve quit herion and other opiates. Nicotine is the hardest one by far, it’s so available.”
While drugs like heroin and fentanyl are illegal and more difficult to access in recovery, cigarettes are everywhere. The legal status, combined with accessibility, adds to the reasons why quitting nicotine can be so challenging.
What Drugs Should You Never Touch? What Reddit Users Say
Many recovered addicts share their experiences with addictive drugs on Reddit. In response to a thread about drugs people regret trying, several Redditors opened up about the ones they’d never go near again. ExtraPicklesPls writes, “10 years clean and i still know that the answer to all my stress and worries is heroin. I’ll never touch it again but I know I’ll always be an addict.”
JetLife93 was also deeply affected by opioid addiction, explaining, “Fentanyl ruined my life. Lost my wife, my family’s trust, my mental health, worst drug I’ve ever done sadly was addicted to it. But I’m sober and trying my hardest to get my family back. My ex is gone in a another relationship but I’m at least a good father to our kids.”
While many people regret using addictive drugs like heroin and fentanyl, other less common substances are also often responsible for bad experiences. For example, in the r/AskReddit community, one user asked, “what is the worst drug you ever did?” Responses vary, but six of the most widely mentioned drugs include:
- Salvia – “Salvia. Hallucinated being a tiny person climbing up a giant pillow in the shadow dimension and apparently ripped my sunglasses apart…” – Danimal1942
- Meth – “Meth. The first time is such a great rush, but I like to sleep, eat, and drink water. One shot had me up for 3 days. It’s the worst” – Hour_Lengthiness_650
- Spice/K2 – “That fake weed stuff that was popular in like 2010. Called Spice or K2. Literally felt like you smoked a Lego and it was the grossest chemical high ever. I felt like I was going to have a seizure for an hour and then it went away.” – Deleted user
- MDMA – “Contaminated/fake MDMA. Whatever it was gave me a blinding headache so bad I thought I was going to die, I couldn’t talk or stop puking, and I immediately rethought my entire life when I came out of it.” – Pandoras_Fate
- Benadryl – “Overdosing on diphenhydramine (benadryl). It is a deleriant and sufficiently high doses mimic psychosis. It was an absolutely horrendous experience.” – JacksGallbladder
- PCP – “PCP Felt like running down the street without any clothes, screaming…..the worst part was I didn’t know there was PCP in the joint. Phew…..that was not fun.” – I_burn_noodles
So, What is the Worst Drug?
When people talk about the “worst” drug they’ve ever done, it’s not always about which one was most addictive. Sometimes, it’s the one that made them feel the most out of control, the most afraid, or caused the biggest losses in their lives.
As Reddit shows, sometimes the strongest warning comes not from doctors or headlines, but from people who’ve lived through it and wish they hadn’t.
Based on what the medical community knows about drugs and responses from former and current drug users on Reddit, the most addictive drugs include:
- Nicotine
- Alcohol
- Fentanyl, heroin, and other opioids
Any drug can be dangerous, though, especially if you take it in high doses or purchase it on the street. Even substances that seem “safe” because they’re legal or socially accepted, like alcohol or nicotine, can destroy lives over time. Street drugs are especially risky now because so many are laced with fentanyl or other unknown chemicals. What you think you’re getting might be something entirely different.
Ultimately, the “worst” drug is personal. It might be the one that nearly killed you, cost you your family, or left you feeling like a shell of yourself. Whether it’s a one-time bad trip or a long-term struggle with addiction, the risks are very real.
What Makes a Drug Hard to Quit?
A drug can be difficult to quit for many reasons, such as:
- Intensity of withdrawal – Opioids like fentanyl and heroin come with brutal physical symptoms that feel almost unbearable without medical support.
- Mental cravings – Whether it’s the calming buzz of nicotine or the euphoric rush of heroin, many users say the hardest part is forgetting how it made them feel.
- Ease of access – Cigarettes, alcohol, and now even vape products are legal and easy to find, making relapse more likely, especially during stressful times.
- Cultural normalization – Smoking and drinking are often seen as socially acceptable (sometimes even encouraged), while support for quitting them isn’t always taken seriously.
Where to Find Help
If you’re struggling with any kind of substance use, you’re not alone, and you don’t have to go through it alone either. At Moving Mountains Recovery, we take great pride in having a team of world-class providers who are dedicated to providing exceptional clinical care. We take a whole-person approach to recovery and offer a full continuum of care, including partial care (PC), intensive outpatient programming (IOP), and outpatient programming (OP). Each of our clients receives an individually tailored treatment plan based on their needs and goals.
Our goal is to minimize stress during a potentially challenging time, making the transition into treatment as smooth as possible. From the first phone call to admissions, we’ll guide you every step of the way. Contact us today to get started!
