No matter how seemingly harmless or even legal a substance may be, there are still risks with regular use. You’ve probably heard of the term “gateway drugs” before, but have you ever wondered how it applies to you or your loved ones and their substance use?
Well, what may seem harmless now may pose serious health and safety risks later on. Here’s what you need to know about gateway drugs.
The term “gateway drugs” carries some controversy, largely due to its connotations derived from the widely criticized War on Drugs in the US. However, there is validity to the theory of gateway drugs beyond political ideology.
For example, those who use marijuana before the age of 17 are up to six times more likely to develop a dependency on alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs later in life.
To be clear, that does not suggest that those who use marijuana or other gateway drugs are predetermined in any way to become addicted to other drugs. Still, the correlation is strong enough that we can consider marijuana, hallucinogens, and other substances to be a “gateway” for future substance abuse. This is especially true when used at younger ages.
The most commonly known and used gateway drug is marijuana. 37% of teens in the US report using marijuana at some point. It is by far the most widely used illicit substance, especially for younger people.
However, it’s far from the only one. Other gateway drugs include hallucinogens and synthetic substances, including:
These are relatively easy to obtain, many are widely accepted in society, and they can lead to harder drug use.
Should you assume that because somebody uses marijuana once that they will become addicted to hard drugs? No.
However, when these gateway drugs form habits, there are reasons for concern. To understand why, we must first understand the difference between addiction and dependence.
Addiction is characterized by chemical dependence. This means that your brain relies on a particular substance to balance its neurotransmitters and function properly. Marijuana and many other supposed gateway drugs do not do this.
Conversely, dependence is psychological. A substance doesn’t need to be addictive for somebody to believe they need it to function or feel good. When dependence forms, gateway drugs become a serious concern.
Moreover, somebody who has already relied on a substance is ultimately more likely to consider using harder substances, especially as the effects of the gateway drug begin to wane. Essentially, if you are used to feeling high from marijuana and you can no longer get high with a reasonable amount, you are more likely to consider using harder substances to achieve the desired effect.
Another serious concern is where you purchase these substances. More and more, we hear stories about illicit drugs (including gateway drugs) laced with Fentanyl and other potentially lethal substances. This is especially concerning for younger people, as they cannot purchase marijuana from a licensed dispensary in states where marijuana is legal.
For these reasons, gateway drugs can be a serious concern. Once regular use and dependence have formed, the risks increase dramatically.
Treatment for gateway drugs is just as important as treatment for harder substances. If anything, it’s more important to stop before the situation escalates, especially for younger users with developing brains. This should be a great concern for parents with teens who regularly use these substances.
Consequently, if you or your teen are abusing any substance regularly, regardless of whether or not you are physically addicted, treatment can help. The good news is that treatment for most gateway drugs doesn’t come with severe withdrawal symptoms, which means that an outpatient treatment program is sufficient for treatment. This will cause the least disruption to your life and give you the tools you need to live a successful, sober life.
On the other hand, waiting and allowing your dependence to escalate puts you or your teen in a dangerous situation that may require inpatient rehab to treat. The sooner you find help, the better!
If you or a loved one are abusing gateway drugs and you’re worried about escalating, now is the time to find treatment. The sooner you do, the less risk you have of escalating or accidentally using a dangerous substance. Fortunately, help is available to those who need it.
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