# List of commonly abused substances

NOTE: This is only a set of typical examples.

- Absolutely *any* substance or lifestyle can become [an addiction](addiction.md) if someone doesn't observe [diminishing returns](money-economics.md).
- From another angle, all addictive substances are simply a form of codependency.

## Drugs and mind-altering substances

Over-the-counter drugs

- Analgesics
- Codeine
- Dextromethorphan
- Loperamide

Caffeine

- Coffee
- Tea
- Energy drinks

Nicotine

- Cigarettes
- Cigars
- Chewing tobacco
- Snuff

Street drugs

- Hallucinogenics
  - Ayahuasca
  - LSD
  - PCP
  - Peyote/Mescaline
  - Salvia
- Heroin
- Khat
- Kratom
- Cannabis/weed
- MDMA
- Methamphetamine
- Cocaine
  - Crack cocaine

Inhalants

- Paint, paint thinner, spray paint
- Gasoline, butane, lighter fluid
- Glue
- Nitrous oxide

[Alcohol](fun-alcohol.md) (for the escape)

Prescription drugs

- Depressants
  - Barbiturates
  - Benzodiazepines
  - Non-benzodiazepines (Z-Drugs)
- Opioids
  - Fentanyl
  - Hydrocodone
  - Hydromorphone
- Stimulants
  - Amphetamine/Dextroamphetamine
  - Methylphenidate
- Hallucinogens and Dissociatives
  - Ketamine
  - Psilocyibin/Mushrooms

Other drugs

- Anabolic steroids
- Any antidepressant
- Antianxiety medication

## Ritual activities

- Activity/work
  - [Career development](jobs-2_goals.md)
  - [Computer use](computers.md)
  - [Cleaning](home-housekeeping.md)
  - [Cooking](cooking.md)
  - [Creating results](results.md)
  - [Maximizing productivity](success-4_routine.md)
  - Physical labor
- Consumerism
  - [Advertised](marketing.md) fashions
  - [Vacationing/traveling](fun-vacations.md)
- [Cultural](people-culture.md) activities
  - [Cars](autos.md)
  - [Religious events](religion-answers.md)
  - Recovery and rehab groups
  - Concerts
  - [Cults](people-culture-cults.md)
- Details
  - Obsessing over details
  - Career work in details (e.g., science, accounting)
  - Perfectionism
- Drinking (for the ritual)
  - Ritually drinking
  - Shotgunning drinks
  - Bars/pubs
  - Wine tasting
- Eating
  - Anorexia
  - Bulimia
  - Dieting
  - Orthorexia (health food)
  - Compulsive overeating
  - Sugar
    - Candy
    - Chocolate
  - Fast food
- [Exercise](body-exercise.md)
- Golf
- Media and [stories](stories-why.md)
  - Books/reading
  - Emails/web browsing
  - Learning and education portals
  - Movies/TV
    - Binge-watching
  - Music
  - Pornography
  - Self-help books/seminars
  - Smartphone use
  - Social media (infinite scrolling)
  - Video games
    - FPS games
    - MMO gaming
  - Celebrities
  - Thought leaders
- Smiling/pretending things are fine
- Smoking/smoke breaks
- Spiritual or religious rituals
- [Talking](language-speaking.md)
- [Technology](technology.md) use

## Excitement/Risk

[Danger](safety-riskmgmt.md)

- Arguing/[conflicts](people-conflicts.md)
- Chaos
- [Crisis](hardship.md)
- Fire (pyromania)
- Profanity/inappropriate behavior
- Theft/stealing (kleptomania)

[Emotions](mind-feelings.md) (of any type)

- [Dysregulation](mind-awareness-dysregulation.md)
- Masturbation

Gambling

- Casinos
- Lottery tickets
- [Investing](money-investing.md)

[Going into debt](money-2_debt.md)

[Lying](people-lying.md)

- False lifestyle maintenance
- Blaming others

[Fear](mind-feelings-fear.md)

- Horror movies
- Terror/news

Pain

- Cutting
- Inflicting pain (sadism)
  - Abusing others (aggression)
- Receiving pain (masochism)
  - Abuse from others (codependency)
- Being physically ill

Procrastination

Prostitution

[Relationships](relationships-marriage.md)

- Attention/admiration (i.e., [narcissistic behavior](mind-neurodivergence-clusterb-narcissist.md))
  - Conflict drama
  - Social media (attention-seeking)
  - Exhibitionism
- Gang/club/church affiliation
  - Institutionalization (e.g., prison, military, college, inpatient hospitalization)
  - Receiving medical help or therapy
- Love/Romance
- [Sex](relationships-sex.md) (nymphomania)
- Spying/voyeurism/gossiping
- [Friendships](people-friends.md)
  - [Pets](fun-pets.md)
- [Family connections](people-family.md)
  - [Having a child](parenting-children.md) (specifically, when a child is expected to meet a parent's needs)
  - Parental association
- [Receiving pity](https://gainedin.site/victim/)

[Spending](money-3_budget.md)/shopping

- Online shopping
- Bargain-finding

Sports

- Extreme sports
- Racing sports

## Thoughts

Anger (rageaholic)

- [Watching news](information.md)

Conceit

- Self-abased conceit (e.g., false humility)

Control

Fear/worry

- [Political](politics-conservativeliberal.md) anxiety
- [Doomsday preparation](hardship-disaster.md)

Hope (even if it's false)

Cynicism/negativity

- Seriousness

Sadness

- Depression
- Grief (PGD, or Prolonged Grief Disorder)

Shame

Imagining things

- Romantic projections
- Financial aspirations
- Imagining being in fantasy worlds

[Philosophy](philosophy.md)

- [Certainty](mind-understanding-certainty.md)
- Hopelessness (i.e., post-modernism)
- New thoughts

[Planning](success-3_goals.md)

Spiritualized thoughts

[Success](success-1_why.md)

- [Fixing the past](hardship-ptsd.md)

[Understanding](mind-understanding.md)

- [College education](jobs-college.md)

[Science](science.md)

[Trade-specific learning](jobs-specialization.md)

[Victimizing](hardship-ptsd.md)

## Safety

Hoarding

- Stockpiling wealth

[Having children](parenting-children.md)

- [Babies](parenting-babies.md)
- Having many children

Acquiring various [forms of power](power-types.md)

- Acquiring [social status](people-image-why.md)

Planning for the future (e.g., [retirement](money-investing.md), [insurance](money-insurance.md))