Experimentation to Addiction: How Fast Can It Actually Happen?

"The worst thing was that the drugs made me feel great to start with"

I never heard anyone in school saying they “can’t wait to grow up and become a heroin addict”. 

That certainly wasn’t my plan, and I thought it could never happen to me. 

It all started with a cigarette outside the school gate during lunch.

I was just a kid. Misunderstood, hyper-curious, insecure. One smoke turned into a habit. That habit opened the door to cannabis, then ketamine, amphetamines, MDMA, and ultimately addiction. Before long, I was snorting cocaine regularly. Then came crack. Then heroin. 

The worst thing was that the drugs made me feel great to start with. 

By the time I realised how bad things had gotten, addiction had me in a chokehold. 

The Quick Descent: A Personal Story 

One high led to the next, and each new drug made the last one seem tame until eventually I became habituated and desensitised. I didn’t realise at the time what I was actually craving was connection, acceptance, and inner harmony. My use of drugs only buried my head deeper in the sand.

From my first cigarette to smoking heroin, it took less than four years. 

“Whatever you can’t say no to controls you”, and I couldn't say 'no'. I told myself I could stop anytime, but the truth is, sobriety began to feel like dying.

That’s how fast casual experimentation became daily Class A drug dependency. 

How Fast Can Addiction Take Hold? 

Addiction isn’t about a lack of willpower; using drugs changes the circuitry of the brain. For some people, perhaps those with a natural dopamine deficiency, that process is more profound. Some substances hijack that process more quickly than others. 

Here’s what UK data and global research show: 

Nicotine: Some young people show signs of dependence within days of first use. One UK study found over 60% of adolescent smokers struggled to quit after only a few weeks of smoking (ASH UK, 2023). 

Cannabis: Roughly 1 in 10 adults and 1 in 6 young users will become addicted. Cannabis use in adolescence significantly increases the risk (NHS, 2023). 

Cocaine: Crack cocaine in particular has a very high addiction potential, with psychological dependence developing quickly, sometimes after just a few uses (Frank UK). 

Heroin and other opioids: These can cause physical dependence in less than a week of regular use. According to UK Home Office data, heroin remains the most common opiate linked to overdose deaths (ONS, 2023). 

The Teenage Brain and Risk 

Young people are especially vulnerable. During adolescence, the brain’s reward systems are in overdrive, while the parts responsible for decision-making and impulse control are still developing. 

That’s why 90% of people who end up with addictions started experimenting with substances as teenagers. Early use massively increases the risk of long-term addiction. 

In my case, once I stepped onto that ladder, I moved up the rungs fast. You never think you will be the one who spirals out of control. But drugs don’t care about your background, your dreams, or how “together” you think you are. 

No one is immune from addiction. 

The Myth of “Controlled Use” 

I used to tell myself “I’ll only do it on weekends”, or “I’ll only do it when I’m with that person” or “I’ll only do it when I’m in that area”. But that is the biggest lie. Addiction creeps up quietly, like a crocodile lurking in the shallows, ready to strike. It starts behind the scenes, but before long, it takes center stage. 

It isn’t always about the quantity; it's about the frequency and the motivation behind why you’re using it. 

Looking back, I didn’t use drugs to make myself happy. I used drugs to make me forget that I’m sad. I used them because something inside me hurt, and the drugs felt like the answer. 

But my use of drugs only ever created more problems.

The Fast Road to Ruin and the Long Walk Back 

Getting clean hasn’t been straightforward. Rebuilding my life has taken years. But the road to destruction? That was a rapid descent. Addiction didn’t knock. It kicked the door right off the hinges.

Today, I have the honour of speaking in schools and colleges. I don’t go in with scare tactics so much. I go in with truth and compassion and give the respect that is due.

I'm not there to preach at young people and tell them how to live their lives.

I’m there to reassure them I know what they’re going through, and they’re not alone. I’m there to start the conversation early rather than the conversation starting at a funeral, or in a rehab, or a prison. 

I’m there to prevent the first day. Not the worst day. 

Final Words: Awareness Is Prevention 

If you’re a young person experimenting, ask yourself: What am I really looking for? 

If you're a parent, teacher, or youth worker, have the hard conversations. Don’t assume someone “just trying a bit of weed” is harmless. 

So... 'experimentation to addiction' – how fast can it happen? 

It can happen very fast. And for some people, rapidly and uncontrollably. 

Are you willing to take the risk and find out if you’re the one with addiction?