It is, both among scientists and other writers, quite usual to allow the concept of drug addiction to include persons who are not drug abusers according to the definition of the American Society of Addiction Medicine. The term drug addiction is then used as a category which may include the same persons who under the DSM-IV can be given the diagnosis of substance dependence or substance abuse. (See also DSM-IV Codes)

Drugs causing addiction

Drugs known to cause addiction include illegal drugs as well as prescription or over-the-counter drugs, according to the definition of the American Society of Addiction Medicine.

• Stimulants:
  • Amphetamine and Methamphetamine
  • Caffeine
  • Cocaine
  • Nicotine
  • Sedatives and Hypnotics:
    • Alcohol
    • Barbiturates
    • Benzodiazepines, particularly flunitrazepam, triazolam, temazepam, and nimetazepam
    • Methaqualone and the related quinazolinone sedative-hypnotics
    • Opiate and Opioid analgesics
      • Morphine and Codeine, the two naturally-occurring opiate analgesics
      • Semi-synthetic opiates, such as Heroin (Diacetylmorphine), Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, and Hydromorphone
      • Fully synthetic opioids, such as Fentanyl and its analogs, Meperidine/Pethidine, and Methadone

      Addictive drugs also include a large number of substrates that are currently considered to have no medical value and are not available over the counter or by prescription.

      An article in The Lancet compared the harm and addiction of 20 drugs, using a scale from 0 to 3 for physical addiction, psychological addiction, and pleasure to create a mean score for addiction. Caffeine was not included in the study. The results can be seen in the chart above.

      Addictive potency

      
      

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