Urban legends about drugs rugs have always been a topic of rumors and urban legends. But sometimes facts get lost in the sensationalism, so having accurate information about drugs is a vital part of understanding abuse and addiction. Relying on rumor is not a good way to get information about such powerful substances, so we’re here to bust some popular drug myths. Myth: You Can Get Addicted to Heroin the First Time You Use It Heroin has an undeniably high addiction potential. But that doesn’t mean that every person who tries heroin gets addicted to it. In fact, only 23% of people who try heroin end up developing a substance use disorder. 1 The key word is develop : Addiction isn’t something that happens after a single use. It’s an entire set of behaviors that surround drug use, including a sense of compulsion to use despite negative consequences. What many people think of as addiction is actually tolerance and dependence. This is when the body and brain become so accus...
