The most abused prescription drugs in the world fall into three main classes: opioids (for pain relief), central nervous system (CNS) depressants (for anxiety and sleep disorders), and stimulants (for ADHD and narcolepsy). The specific drugs most commonly abused vary by region, but opioids cause the most harm globally.
Globally, cannabis is the most commonly used (129-190 million people), followed by amphetamine type stimulants, then cocaine and opioids. The use of psychoactive substances causes significant health and social problems for the people who use them, and also for others in their families and communities.
By far, alcohol is the most commonly abused substance in the United States.
You can also download the commonly abused drugs chart.
In 2024, the global pharmaceutical market witnessed unprecedented growth, with the top-selling drugs collectively generating over $116 billion in revenue. Leading this surge was Merck's immuno-oncology therapy, Keytruda, which maintained its position as the world's best-selling drug with nearly $29.5 billion in sales.
Therefore, this article defines the most addictive substances as substances that greatly affect dopamine levels and are most likely to cause addiction.
In 2019, the top 20% of countries with the highest DALY rates due to drug use disorders were:
What Are the Most Widely Abused Drugs in the United States?
A hundred times more potent than morphine, illicit fentanyl is often combined with heroin, cocaine, or methamphetamine. The drug is sold illegally in pill form, powder, or liquid. Last year, synthetic opioids—primarily fentanyl—accounted for 60% of all overdose deaths in the United States. That's about 48,000 people.
Commonly overprescribed drugs include insulin for diabetes mellitus, statin drugs for high blood cholesterol, antihypertensives for hypertension, and proton pump inhibitors for excessive gastric acid production .
The most frequently prescribed drug in more than half the states is levothyroxine, used to treat thyroid deficiencies. This is followed by an opioid pain medication and two heart disease medications – atorvastatin and lisinopril.
Codeine and Morphine
Some of the most commonly abused prescription meds are painkillers -- specifically, opioids. These drugs dull pain, but in large doses they can also cause a euphoric high -- and dangerous side effects. Doctors usually prescribe morphine for severe pain and codeine for milder pain or coughing.
Cocaine. Cocaine is a white powdery drug which is an addictive stimulant. It increases dopamine levels, leading to euphoria and heightened energy. Cocaine is also manufactured in a rock form called crack cocaine which creates an intense high that kicks in faster.
Joy powder is slang that could refer to the following drugs: Heroin. Cocaine. Marijuana. Morphine.
Alcohol. Alcohol is the most regularly used addictive substance in America, with nearly 29 million people aged 12 or older having a past year alcohol use disorder in 2023.
Anxiety, depression, and stress levels among Gen Z are at an all-time high. Many turn to substances like prescription drugs and psychedelics as a form of self-medication. Stimulants like Adderall and Xanax are often misused to cope with academic and social pressures.
Drug-free world
Lenmeldy. For 16 months, CSL's hemophilia B gene therapy Hemgenix was the most expensive medicine in the world. But that changed in March of last year when Kyowa Kirin gained FDA approval of Lenmeldy and priced it at $4.25 million.
All of the drugs on this list had a immense impact on the evolution of medicine and the evolution of mankind.