10 Most Common Addictions in the U.S.: What You Need to Know

3. Marijuana Addiction

Marijuana addiction is one of the 3 most common addictions in the United States,⁷ despite being an illegal drug in some states. As cannabis becomes more socially acceptable, rates of this addiction may continue to rise. People consume marijuana in various ways—smoking joints, using bongs or vaporizers, or eating THC-infused edibles like gummies and baked goods. THC creates the “high” that marijuana users experience.

Risk Factors

The younger you are when you start using marijuana,⁸ the higher your risk of addiction. The drug’s potency also plays a role. Today’s marijuana is far more potent than in the past, with THC levels that can be 3–5 times stronger—and stronger weed means higher addiction risk.

As more states legalize cannabis, scientists are developing more potent strains. According to Tom Freeman, Director of the Addiction and Mental Health Group at the University of Bath, high-potency marijuana has 4 times the risk of addiction.⁹

Effects

There’s a relationship between marijuana use and mental health issues,¹⁰ but we need more data to determine which one causes the other. Research shows that marijuana addiction shares symptoms with mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. Long-term marijuana use also causes memory problems. 

Treatments

Most marijuana rehabs focus on counseling. During treatment, you might engage in a few types of talk therapy:

• MET
• CBT
• Contingency management

Scientists are still researching medications to treat cannabis addiction. 

4. Opioid Addiction

The opioid addiction crisis continue to devastate communities across the United States. These prescribed or illicit drugs play a role in nearly 75% of all overdose deaths.¹¹

Fentanyl is a particularly deadly opioid, one of many synthetic painkillers that can cause addiction and overdose deaths when misused. The CDC reports fentanyl overdose deaths tripling¹² from 2016-2021. Other opioids include prescription drugs like Oxycodone and Hydrocodone.

Risk Factors

Many factors contribute to opioid addiction, like genetics, environmental factors, and mental health issues. Childhood trauma also makes you more vulnerable. Chronic pain is a major risk factor,¹³ especially if you manage it with an opioid prescription. 

Effects

Opioid abuse has many health risks. As your tolerance goes up, you may need higher and higher doses to manage physical pain. This addiction also cuts into the time you spend with loved ones and family members, damaging your relationships.

Opioid use can be life-threatening. What makes opioid overdoses so lethal is respiratory failure: the drug suppresses your breathing until you simply stop, and without rapid medical intervention, this can be fatal.

Treatments

Opioid addiction treatment plans typically combine multiple approaches: 

• Medications like methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone alleviate opioid cravings. These prescriptions require close medical supervision to ensure safety and effectiveness.
• Talk therapy is a vital part of recovery. Research shows that medication-assisted treatment works best when combined with counseling.¹⁴
• Complementary therapies such as acupuncture, meditation, and yoga can help manage withdrawal symptoms and reduce stress during recovery.

5. Cocaine Addiction

Cocaine is a potent stimulant that speeds up the central nervous system, creating intense but short-lived highs followed by severe crashes.It comes from the coca plant, which is native to South America. About 1.5 million people have cocaine addiction in the United States.¹⁵ Nearly 25% of these people are teenagers. Some studies suggest that teens are more vulnerable to cocaine addiction¹⁶ than adults. 

Risk Factors

While genetics and age play important roles, cocaine addiction is particularly devastating because of how it attacks the brain’s reward pathways. The drug creates such powerful highs that your brain rewires itself to crave only cocaine, leaving you unable to find joy in everyday experiences.

Effects

Cocaine causes a wide range of physical symptoms, potentially requiring medical care and hospitalization. Snorting cocaine harms your nasal passages,¹⁷ causing nosebleeds, sinus issues, and respiratory problems. Smoking crack cocaine causes lung damage. Cocaine also impacts your cardiovascular system as it reduces blood flow throughout the body. 

Treatments

Most rehabs treat cocaine addiction with behavioral therapy. Contingency management and various types of CBT are especially beneficial treatments. There are currently no FDA-approved medications for this condition. 

6. Methamphetamine Addiction

Reports show that in 2019, over 2 million American adults used methamphetamine,¹⁷ up from 1.6 million in 2015. In the same time period, the number of deaths and arrests related to methamphetamine skyrocketed.

Meth is often smoked, but it can also be snorted or injected into the bloodstream.

Risk Factors

Several experiences increase your risk of meth addiction:¹⁸

• Drinking
• Smoking
• Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Family history of legal issues
• Family history of drug use

Effects

Meth addiction causes many health problems¹⁹ and mental health symptoms: 

• Anxiety
• Organ damage, especially to the lungs, liver, and kidneys
• Dental problems
• High blood pressure
• Permanent neurological changes

Though meth isn’t a hallucinogen, it often causes paranoia and hallucinations—especially during extended binges when users stay awake for days at a time. 

Treatments

Most methamphetamine addiction recovery programs focus on behavioral therapy, integrated with additional evidence-based and complementary treatments.  According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), CBT and contingency management are “the most effective treatments for methamphetamine addiction.”²⁰

7. Gambling Addiction

Because research into this condition is so new, it’s hard to accurately assess how many people have a gambling addiction. But some reports estimate that “roughly 1 percent of American adults, or about 2.5 million people, have a severe gambling problem.”²¹

Risk Factors

Men are at a higher risk for gambling addiction.²² You might also be more vulnerable if you were raised by a single parent or a parent with an addiction. 

Effects

Unlike substance use disorders, behavioral addictions don’t involve chemical dependence. Even so, the effects of gambling addiction²³ can be overwhelming—both mentally and physically:

• Anxiety that’s only relieved by gambling
• New or worsening depressive symptoms
• Financial hardship
• Strained family relationships

Treatments

When you’re ready to recover from gambling addiction, your care team will help you choose the right treatment plan. That means something different for everyone. While individual, group, and family therapies are typically central to treatment, effective programs often use multiple treatment methods. Most programs recommend at least one type of talk therapy to treat gambling disorder:²⁴ 

• CBT
• Psychodynamic therapy
• Group therapy
• Family therapy

Many people also benefit from 12-Step programs like Gamblers Anonymous (GA), which offer community-based support throughout the recovery process—whether you’re just starting treatment, actively in rehab, or maintaining sobriety.

8. Internet and Gaming Addiction

As our lives become increasingly digital, internet and gaming addiction has emerged as a serious behavioral health issue. Unlike many other addictions, defining and measuring these conditions is still evolving.  Various studies claim that anywhere from 38–90% of internet users have internet addiction.²⁵ Another survey reports that 3.3% of people who play video games have a gaming addiction.²⁶ 

Risk Factors

Gaming and internet addiction are more common among men.²⁷ Several factors also make these conditions more likely: 

• Depression
• Anxiety
• ADHD
• Social isolation
• Aggressive behavior
• Low self-esteem

These factors create a concerning cycle: Unchecked internet use can worsen all of these symptoms, complicating both the addiction and the mental health conditions underlying it.

Effects

Excessive gaming can have serious health effects:²⁸ 

• Back pain
• Eye strain
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Sporadic eating habits
• Sleep problems

Internet addiction also isolates you from loved ones. In more severe cases, it can seriously interfere with work or school.

Treatments

A growing number of rehabs treat internet and gaming addiction. However, this is a new area of study. Researchers warn that until we have more data, we should approach all treatments for these addictions as experimental.²⁹ 

Despite these concerns, mental health professionals recommend a few types of therapy for internet and gaming addiction:³⁰ 

• CBT
• Wilderness therapy
• Family therapy

9. Food Addiction

Various reports estimate that anywhere from 5.8–56.8% of Americans have a food addiction.³¹ Experts also note the overlap between food addiction and eating disorders like bulimia nervosa. 

Risk Factors

Food addiction and drug addiction often co-occur. Either one might make the other more likely. Severe childhood abuse can also lead to food addiction³² in adulthood. This condition is more likely for people with depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem.

Effects

While food addiction can make you gain weight, that’s not true for everyone. More consistently, it leads to overwhelming feelings of guilt and shame. 

Treatments

Food addiction recovery can include weight loss, but that’s not always the right approach. To treat the root cause of this condition, experts recommend approaching it like a binge eating disorder. CBT and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) are popular treatments for food addiction.³³

10. Pornography Addiction

Like any other behavioral addiction, excessive pornography use can be very serious. But we don’t yet understand the scope of the issue in the United States. That’s partly because news sources commonly circulate false statistics about online pornography.³⁴ 

Risk Factors

Porn addiction is more likely³⁵ for people with certain characteristics:

• Male
• Younger age
• Religious
• Novelty-seeking

It’s also more common among people who spend a lot of time online. 

Effects

Studies link excessive porn use with anxiety,³⁶ depression, and sexual dysfunction. Porn addiction might cause these symptoms, or vice versa. Porn use also affects relationships, as this condition can make it easier to objectify your partner. Over time, that disconnect can drive a wedge between you. 

Treatments

Most rehabs for porn addiction offer several types of therapy. However, researchers say that CBT “might be the most effective technique³⁷ for such patients addicted to pornography.” Some people also attend 12-Step groups like Porn Addicts Anonymous.

To learn more about treatment options for addiction, search our collection of rehabs to take virtual tours, read reviews, see pricing, and more.

FAQs

Q: What are the most common addictions in the United States?

A: The most common addictions in the U.S. include alcohol addiction, nicotine addiction, marijuana addiction, opioid addiction, cocaine addiction, methamphetamine addiction, gambling addiction, internet and gaming addiction, food addiction, and pornography addiction.

Q: What are the causes of alcohol addiction?

A: Genetic predisposition, a family history of alcohol abuse, co-occurring mental health issues, easy availability of alcohol, and social pressure to drink can all contribute to problem drinking.

Q: How is opioid addiction treated?

A: Rehabs typically treat opioid addiction through a combination of medications (such as methadone) and talk therapy. Medications help alleviate cravings, while therapy addresses the underlying psychological factors that led to the addiction in the first place.