Legal Drugs Are the Most Addictive: Alcohol and Tobacco Trump Cannabis

The Nationwide Study of Addictions 2022, conducted by the Polish Academy of Sciences, has exposed a striking disparity between the addiction rates of cannabis and legal substances like alcohol and tobacco in Poland. Alcohol and tobacco are the most addictive substances, reported by 49% and 37% of the study participants, respectively, while cannabis addiction stands notably lower at 14%.

According to the latest addictive drugs research, about 10% of people who have ever dealt with cannabis will likely develop an addiction, as informed by Dr. Alicja Binkowska, a neurocognitive scientist, head of WeedTeam, and consultant for the Polish Psychedelic Society. However, this number pales in comparison to other legal drugs, like nicotine and alcohol.

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Addictive Drugs in Poland: A Detailed Insight

What addictions most commonly affect Poles? Which compulsive behaviors do they often have to deal with? Here are the most important findings from the Nationwide Study of Addictions 2022.

The addictive drugs study project was initiated by psychologists from the Polish Academy of Sciences to support people recovering from addictions. The research was conducted using the Nałogometr (Addiction Meter) application. During the study, the app was downloaded by over 20,000 individuals, of whom 15,477 answered the questions and participated in the survey.

Demographics of the Participants

Nearly 60% of the sample were men, while approximately 40% were women. Those who did not identify with any of the previously mentioned genders accounted for less than 1% of the surveyed group. The largest group of participants were adults aged 25 to 44. The majority of participants came from smaller towns with populations below 100,000 residents.

Most Common Addictions in Poland

Alcohol and tobacco were the most frequently declared addictions among the participants of the study. Following these were behavioral addictions such as overeating and pornography consumption. Next in line were cannabis and amphetamines, which are illegal substances in Poland and are the most common reasons for seeking therapy for addictive drugs, according to the EMCDDA report from 2021.

Cannabis addiction

Cannabis addiction was declared by more than 14% of the participants in the study. This addiction was more prevalent among men than women or individuals who did not exclusively identify with any of the previously mentioned genders. The most affected age group was young adults (25-34 years old), but this addiction was also frequently declared by younger individuals aged 17-24.

Detailed Results of the Study

The participants of the study declared the following addictions, among others: alcohol (49%), nicotine (37%), overeating (30%), pornography (23%), cannabis (14%), computer games (6%), amphetamines (5%), work (5%), cocaine (3%), compulsive sex (3%), tranquilizers (2%), and benzodiazepines (2%).

Alcohol and Tobacco at the Top

Nearly half of the study participants (49.3%) stated that they struggled with alcohol addiction. This group was predominantly composed of men, mainly within the age range of 35-44. One-third of those declaring alcohol addiction came from cities with populations of up to 100,000 residents.

Nicotine was the second most commonly declared addiction after alcohol. It was reported by almost 37% of the study participants, mostly men. The most significant number of participants that stated nicotine addiction fell within the age range of 25-34. This addiction was not specific to the place of residence, as it affected individuals residing in both smaller cities with populations of up to 100,000 residents and larger ones with populations exceeding 500,000 residents.

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(Featured image by Maria Orlova via Pexels)

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