Gateway Drugs

What is a Gateway drug?  Gateway drugs are those that lead to the abuse of other more harmful drugs.  Generally, alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana are considered to be Gateway drugs.  The theory is that young people begin using alcohol and tobacco because they are available.  To a young person, there is a lure to drinking and smoking (or dipping) because such use is exciting, risky, and it’s what adults do.  Marijuana is increasingly available as it becomes legalized.  Marijuana use is likely to increase the more it is decriminalized, particularly if it becomes completely legal, and marketed and distributed like alcohol and tobacco products.

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