Insight into "What is a Gateway Drug?"

Times are changing. Remember when you were a kid and everyone was told that marijuana was the "biggest and baddest" gateway drug? Marijuana has now been legalized in certain states for medicinal use, and in other states for recreational use. That is not to say that marijuana is not an addictive substance, this just means we might want to rethink things and say that a drug is not good or bad, but that it is simply, a drug.

What are Gateway Drugs?

A gateway drug is a substance that when used, leads to the use of other, more serious, substances. For example, cocaine and heroin. Some now say that prescription drugs, and not marijuana, are the predominant gateway drugs today. If you think about it -this idea makes sense. They are, in fact, legal substances. They are typically stored in cabinets that are easily accessible - so others in the house know where they are. People who abuse the drugs may be prescribed them and they just continue getting the script filled - even though they no longer need them but have become addicted to them.

Examples of Gateway Drugs:

* Morphine

* Oxycodone

* Hydrocodone

* Alcohol

* Tobacco

Since alcohol is a legal substance, it may be the most popular gateway drug. There is great peer pressure associated with alcohol consumption - especially amongst the younger crowd. It is also one of the gateway drugs to cocaine. Cocaine helps to keep people awake and alert. When people who abuse alcohol also abuse cocaine, they are able to stay up and drink longer. What they may not realize is that mixing substances (especially a stimulant and a depressive) may have deadly results.

Long-term Effects of Concurrently Abusing Alcohol and Cocaine:

* Paranoia

* Issues swallowing

* Malnutrition

* Perforated septum of the nose

* Loss of olfactory senses

* Nosebleeds

* Runny nose

* HIV or hepatitis

* Hoarseness

* Legal issues that were perpetuated while intoxicated

* Injuries due to violence

To reiterate, just because something is legal, does not make it "ok" or "good.". A drug is a drug. Apparently, a deadly gateway drug is, indeed, a legal one. Other examples of gateway drugs that are legal are tobacco products, such as cigarettes, chew, and cigars. Studies have shown that using tobacco products does increase the likelihood of the use of cocaine in the future. It is legal, but it is a drug.

Interesting Findings

The Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia (CASA) has released findings from a study done with children from ages twelve to seventeen. They found that the contributing factor for cocaine use was previous use of all three gateway drugs - alcohol, tobacco products, and marijuana:

* 90% of people, in fact, who tried coke had used all three gateway drugs first. About 45% of those people said they used cigarettes first, then tried alcohol, then marijuana, and finally on to cocaine.

* Kids that smoke pot are eighty-five times more likely to try cocaine than those kids that do not use marijuana.

* Kids that drink alcohol are fifty times more likely to use cocaine that kids who do not drink alcohol.

Should you have additional questions regarding what the gateway drugs to cocaine are, or for more information on exactly what are gateway drugs, call us for further information now. Do not wait, seek treatment if you need it. You are worth it.