A gateway drug is a drug that opens the door to abusing harder drugs. Smoking tobacco or marijuana can lead to the use of much more harmful and dangerous drugs such as methamphetamines, cocaine, or heroin.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, “Tobacco use is associated with alcohol and illicit drug use and is generally the first drug used by young people who enter a sequence of drug use that can include tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, and harder drugs.” According the U.S. Center for Disease Control, the younger a child starts smoking, the greater the potential for addiction. Tobacco is not just a gateway drug, but may also contribute to negative behaviors such as fighting, carrying weapons, attempting suicide, and engaging in high-risk sexual behaviors.

Marijuana is notoriously known as “the” gateway drug, and this is because it is the world’s most commonly used illicit drug. The Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University found that adolescents who smoke marijuana are 85 times more likely to try cocaine than their non-marijuana-smoking peers, and 60 percent of teenagers who try marijuana before they turn 15 go on to try cocaine. Marijuana is a dangerous drug and leads to impaired perception and judgment, diminished short-term memory, and loss of concentration and motivation.

If you or someone you know are experimenting with tobacco, marijuana, or any other drug, the behavior may lead to drug abuse. Drug and alcohol abuse should not be ignored. If left untreated, addiction can escalate into a major problem. Contact Solace Counseling and get started on the road to recovery today!