Addiction comparison- what is more addictive?

Addiction is expressed in 2 ways, Physically and Physcologically. All the legal drugs you listed above have physically addictive properties. Morphine and alcohol withdrawls, when severe enough, can even cause death. On the other hand, marijuana has no known physically addictive properties. Physchologically, marijuana is addictive, but just as much so, and often less so, than the legal drugs listed above. Good question!

You'll get different answers from different people ranging from the accuarte to the ridiculous.

Most of the other answers you have received talk about the chemical aspects of one substance or another. The absolute fact is that this has little to do with the addictive nature of one substance over another -- and my case in point to prove this is to point to activities that are also addictive that have no substance induced into the body -- gambling, sex or even work.

My answer is based upon addictions research and is backed up by studies conducted by addictions expert patrick carnes.

The addictive aspect is based upon the brains reaction to any substance or activity -- drugs, alcohol, sex, gambling. The brain releases a chemical called dopemine. It controls the pleasure center in our brain.

For addicts, their brain releases more of this dopemine that for other folks. That's why -- for example -- a gambling addict isn't into winning...just the high they get from the action (gambling). Ask Pete Rose as it relates to gambling. Ask Jimmy Swaggart or Bill Clinton as it relates to sex. Ask any work-aholic you know. Ask any shop-aholic why they buy things they don't even need just to get the rush when they buy something -- even if they cannot afford it.

The insidious nature of crack cocaine is because it does a great job of releasing this dopemine into ones brain. It is what makes it so very addictive of a substance. Yet there is great evidence that supports that when an addict gets into recovery from a substance -- they then get into another addictive behaviour -- like sex, shopping, gambling or work.

I'm not making this up. Search for dopemine in google or yahoo. This is the key to understanding why one person becomes addicted to things and someone else does not.

Hope this helps.

It really is a great question and there is some truth in the other answers (they are not wrong) -- they just omitted the most important part of the answer -- this issue with how dopemine plays out in the brains of people.

Good luck.

Nicotine...one of the most addictive substances within easy grasp of most people.

Caffeine...less addictive except to a certain portion of the population.

Morphine...very addictive. Has caused some real problems in people for the past few centuries and is closely controlled.

Alcohol...more addictive than caffeine, again for the pesky segment of the population and to certain genetic descendants.

Marijuana...alot of fun, but apparently not very addictive at all.

Hope that answers it.

Science is just understanding how addictive nicotine is, although nowhere near as addictive as morphine.

Alcohol, caffeine and pot have no physiological addition, but could have a psychological addiction

well marijuana isnt addictive but the others nicotine is the most addictive and street drugs herion is the most addictive

well i dont hear too many ppl lol robbing banks to buy coffee or smokes