Understanding Gateway Drugs

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Gateway Drugs are called as such because they are considered “gateways” into addiction to harder substances. They are, of course, also addictive in a more subtle way – they encourage the establishment of a seemingly innocuous habit that would later prove to be harmful not only to a person's health, but also (to a certain extent) the people around them. Gateway drugs are by no means as immediately dangerous as the harder stuff, but they nevertheless cause problems in the long run. One of the problems may very well be the triggering of a dependence mechanism that will be made even more dangerous when a more addictive drug is introduced to the system. It should be noted that that abuse of any substance – gateway drug or worse – is never a safe habit.

Gateway Drugs is often applied to drugs like marijuana, alcohol, and even tobacco. The belief is that early use of these drugs, mainly by teens and young adults, increases the likelihood that they will start using harder drugs like heroin, cocaine and club drugs later in life. This is an assertion that has been well studied and that is hotly contested by many special interest groups. While the mechanism of the “gateway drug” phenomenon is not understood there are well-documented correlations between early use of light intoxicants and later use of hard drugs. Where the studies tend to fall apart is in the certainty factor -- this is the assertion that all or most people who try “gateway drugs” later move on to harder substances.

marijuana is a gateway drug that has been the subject of much debate. On the one hand, marijuana is known to promote the “pothead” culture, which is portrayed by laid-back, charmingly funny individuals who are mildly out of touch (and mostly unemployed or without a real direction in life). On the other hand, many argue for the medicinal purposes of marijuana, which include curbing depression, alleviating nausea and encouraging food consumption among cancer patients – marijuana was also FDA-approved as a means to stop the growth of cancer cells. The most common way to take in marijuana is to roll it up and smoke it, although there is a myriad of ways to smoke it and ingest it orally.

Tobacco has to be one of the most prominent addictive substances in the world today. While it is currently believed to be more addictive than even marijuana with much thanks to nicotine, tobacco is still persistently tolerated in many levels of society. Considered in the past few hundred years as a sign of friendship and (to a certain extent) masculine camaraderie, smoking tobacco evolved into a recreational activity that many users claim to be a source of stress-relief and stimulation, a means to fit in, or a way to look really cool. The sad fact is that no matter how dangerous smoking tobacco is – in cigarettes, pipes and even the coveted cigar – it has become romanticized in such a way that even starting to smoke is not such a big deal anymore. Tobacco is, however, a highly addictive substance that poses more alarming health risks than other gateway drugs. It's known to not only cause major respiratory illnesses, but also circulatory problems, cancer and ulcers. Signs of tobacco abuse include frequency of smoking, inability to function without smoking, shirking meetings because of a no-smoking policy, and the inability to quit.

Alcohol based beverages can be considered gateway drugs in that alcohol abuse or alcoholism is a form of substance addiction that could potentially lead to the use of harder drugs. The consumption of alcohol, much like smoking tobacco, is considered a social activity and in moderation, is considered very cool. For some people, getting drunk is a way to loosen up and have fun; to others, staying sober despite massive doses of alcohol is a game to be won, a challenge that must be overcome. In media, drinking is generally portrayed as something young people do together although there are times when alcohol consumption is used to “drown one's sorrows” – to forget a rather painful experience, even just for a while.

The best way to keep your loved ones from escalating into more dangerous substances is to stage an intervention as soon as you recognize the signs of substance abuse in their appearance and actions. Simply put, a substance abuse intervention is a means of encouraging a substance abuser to seek professional help for his or her problems. We are here to help, so that your first step into addiction does not lead to the fatal finish line.

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For more information about Understanding Gateway Drugs visit the website, http://gatewaydrugs.com

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