The 10 Worst Addictions

Truth be told – determining the worst addiction to have is just as difficult as determining the best car on the market. It is a very subjective argument and one would have to know the factors being used toward making such a determination. So, let’s start with a little logic.

First, it stands to reason that most of us want to live; also that most of us would prefer to live a long, healthy life. Second, most of us would agree that the security of having our needs be met is preferable to having to struggle to survive. So, my top 10 list is both about life and quality of life. So, given those criteria, below is a list of the 10 Worst Addictions:

10 - Cigarettes

9 - Heroin

8 - Crystal Meth  

7 - Pills

6 - Cocaine 

5 - Religious Cults 

4 - Alcohol 

3 - Sugar

2 - Gambling

1 - Toxic Relationships

Ok! So, I guess you’re wondering why all of the hard-drugs are at the bottom of the list. Well, most of the hard drugs have devastating long-term effects. However, the addictions we don’t like to talk about as addictions have devastating short-term effects.

A toxic relationship can drive one to drink or do drugs. Worse, a toxic relationship can result in one being murdered in a moment of passion or loss of self-control. And, it is often just as hard to get out of a toxic relationship as it is to kick any other addiction, sometimes harder. They say choice of a relationship can determine one’s happiness in life. So, given that toxic relationships can have devastating short-and long-term effects, it’s first on our list.

 

 

Gambling is a highly-destructive addiction to have. One can blow hundreds or thousands of dollars on the temporary high that one gets from gambling. One can lose one’s whole livelihood overnight when gambling. And, this could result in the sufferer of gambling addiction committing suicide. Also, gambling, like being in a toxic relationship is perfectly legal. So, the danger often goes unnoticed and the addiction often goes untreated. Again, gambling can have devastating short and long-term effects. So, it is second on our list.

Sugar is the true gateway drug. Most of us get our first external chemical-high from sugar. Again, it is the true gateway drug. In fact, certain illicit drugs are almost indistinguishable from sugar. Further, it is perfectly legal to buy and it is available almost everywhere to anyone who’s willing to buy it.  Worst of all, in the U.S., there is a holiday dedicated to the promotion, sale, purchase, exchange and use of sugar products. To be frank, Halloween is society-approved irresponsibility. And, that irresponsibility promotes rampant addiction.

Now, as with sugar, gambling and toxic relationships, the consumption of alcohol is perfectly legal. Further, the culture encourages its use among adults via the media and in our cultural norms. We are all familiar with the effects of alcohol misuse and abuse, which include hang-over, black-outs, irresponsible behavior of every kind, drunk-driving and social & domestic violence. So, again, because of alcohol’s immediate and lasting effects, it is fourth on our list.

Karl Marx wrote, “Religion is the opium of the people.” Religion can have an anesthetic effect, rendering the adherent comatose to the concerns of people who are not a part of their group. Religious apathy is a form of malaise that is very difficult to remedy. So, millions of people have lost their lives as part of wars in the name of religion. And, hundreds of terrorists are planning to take the lives of others in the name of religion. Further, millions of religious adherents devote countless hours to groups that offer periodic booster-shots of inspiration.

I’m not referring to religious devotion and fellowship that improves one’s life and gives a sense of joy, renewed passion, love and hope for humanity. I am not talking about the groups that have adherents question their choices in deciding what is best for themselves. If it is good, it should feel good. Or, you should know that your investment is going to pay off in the form of a newfound level of happiness and bliss. Again, because religion is legal and free from oversight, adherents are the last ones to question those who have control over their choices.

So, the question is – how do we address addiction? Do we outlaw those things that lead to addiction? Or, would people find ways of breaking the law? Do we continue to treat addiction? And, if so, what methods should we employ? Well, I am against outlawing gambling or the use of various substances. I am also against placing restrictions on relationships. And, of course, I would never advocate outlawing anyone’s belief system. The truth is – when we tackle our addictions, we evolve. It is not the only means of evolving, but when we don’t recognize a problem we fail to look for a solution.

There are places in our world where the laws are very strict. Souls who yearn to experience what their hearts desire are forced to do so outside of the law or to leave those countries in search of places that allow for more liberty. We have all read stories about priests and monks who’ve taken vows of chastity, only to devolve into sicker forms of sexual expression. For example, the sexual exploitation and abuse of children is rampant in the Church. Illicit drug sales are estimated to be a $4 trillion dollar industry.

The human capacity for addiction is great. So, perhaps if we focused as much energy on recognizing and addressing our capacity for addiction, we could evolve beyond some of it. That likely will not happen on a societal or global scale, because some of those in power benefit from our continuance in these cycles of addiction. The only solution, then, is in each individual’s recognition of his or her own tendency toward certain types of addiction.  Once, we address them, address them for ourselves, we can then assist others. Our addictions often demand solutions that are spiritual in nature. And, that is not the stock-in-trade of this world.   So, for better or worse, we must face this problem ourselves.