Marijuana is not a “gateway” drug that predicts or eventually leads to substance abuse, suggests a 12-year University of Pittsburgh study. Moreover, the study’s findings call into question the long-held belief that has shaped prevention efforts and governmental policy for six decades and caused many a parent to panic upon discovering a bag of pot in their child’s bedroom.
The Pitt researchers tracked 214 boys beginning at ages 10-12, all of whom eventually used either legal or illegal drugs. When the boys reached age 22, they were categorized into three groups: those who used only alcohol or tobacco, those who started with alcohol and tobacco and then used marijuana (gateway sequence) and those who used marijuana prior to alcohol or tobacco (reverse sequence).
Nearly a quarter of the study population who used both legal and illegal drugs at some point – 28 boys – exhibited the reverse pattern of using marijuana prior to alcohol or tobacco, and those individuals were no more likely to develop a substance use disorder than those who followed the traditional succession of alcohol and tobacco before illegal drugs, according to the study, which appears in this month’s issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry.
“The gateway progression may be the most common pattern, but it’s certainly not the only order of drug use,” said Ralph E. Tarter, Ph.D., professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy and lead author of the study. “In fact, the reverse pattern is just as accurate for predicting who might be at risk for developing a drug dependence disorder.”
In addition to determining whether the gateway hypothesis was a better predictor of substance abuse than competing theories, the investigators sought to identify characteristics that distinguished users in the gateway sequence from those who took the reverse path. Out of the 35 variables they examined, only three emerged to be differentiating factors: Reverse pattern users were more likely to have lived in poor physical neighborhood environments, had more exposure to drugs in their neighborhoods and had less parental involvement as young children. Most importantly, a general inclination for deviance from sanctioned behaviors, which can become evident early in childhood, was strongly associated with all illicit drug use, whether it came in the gateway sequence, or the reverse.
While the gateway theory posits that each type of drug is associated with certain specific risk factors that cause the use of subsequent drugs, such as cigarettes or alcohol leading to marijuana, this study’s findings indicate that environmental aspects have stronger influence on which type of substance is used. That is, if it’s easier for a teen to get his hands on marijuana than beer, then he’ll be more likely to smoke pot. This evidence supports what’s known as the common liability model, an emerging theory that states the likelihood that someone will transition to the use of illegal drugs is determined not by the preceding use of a particular drug but instead by the user’s individual tendencies and environmental circumstances.
“The emphasis on the drugs themselves, rather than other, more important factors that shape a person’s behavior, has been detrimental to drug policy and prevention programs,” Dr. Tarter said. “To become more effective in our efforts to fight drug abuse, we should devote more attention to interventions that address these issues, particularly to parenting skills that shape the child’s behavior as well as peer and neighborhood environments.”
Indeed, according to the study, interventions focusing on behavior modification may be more effective prevention tactics than current anti-drug initiatives. For example, providing guidance to parents – particularly those in high-risk neighborhoods – on how to boost their caregiving skills and foster bonding with their children, could have a measurable effect on a child’s likelihood to smoke marijuana. Also, early identification of children who exhibit antisocial tendencies could allow for interventions before drug use even begins.
Although this research has significant implications for drug abuse prevention approaches, Dr. Tarter notes that the study has some limitations. First, as only male behaviors were studied, further investigation should explore if the results apply to women as well. Also, the examination of behaviors in phases beyond alcohol and marijuana consumption in the gateway series will be necessary.
From University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
I totally agree, weed is not a gateway drug at all. The only reason it’s even “considered” such is because of it’s “illegal” status that forces it to be sold by the same people that sell actual hard drugs and.
Kind of hilarious that this says it’s not a gateway drug, but the ads from drugfreeworld say the exact opposite.
But these are studies from people with preconceptions, they say it is and they find a way to prove it through yellow journalism. look at studies that have no starting opinion and that revolve around simple facts. That, my friend, is science, not twisting ideas and stats to make people believe what you believe.
but zach you say these studies are from people with preconceptions? no, wrong! studies weigh out each side equally, hes not saying that marijuana IS NOT a gateway hes just proving to people that marijuana isnt the only gateway like people had previously ASSUMED hes proving that nicotine alcohole and marijuana are indeed gateways but marijuana is not the #1 gateway or #4 it is all circumstacial if a kid has access to drugs, whichever is most convienient they would probably go with so if a kid has an older brother that can buy beer hes probably going to drink because of the easy accesibility if his brother sold weed he would probably buy the weed ….but he did this not to legalize!! BUT to show to others with facts and 12 years of reasearch, proving other peoples theories, misconceptions and opinions obviously wrong because thats ALL they were
definitely agree with you james, however i wouldnt say i completely agree with this study, as ive had an alcoholic father for years, which has actually made me not want to be a drinker, despite having frequent access to it. weed on the other hand is something i had to seek out to try. the ‘gateway’ theory is hogwash if you ask me, people will do what they prefer to do, and blaming extenuating circumstances of any kind, whether it be ‘cigs led me to crack’ or ‘booze was always around’ just doesnt make much sense. it all comes down to a persons curiosity, and beyond that they can decide for themselves, the drugs arent deciding for them, people.
I think it’s only a gateway drug because of the prohibition against it, if you didn’t have to go to a drugdealer to get it, you’d be much less likely to even be introduced to the more harder drugs.
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i enjoy your article. great job. keep it simple
The truth! Marijuana will never cause “side effects” such as hallucinations, where a simple prescribe drug will. IE.
Celexa is an antidepressant in a group of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). It works by restoring the balance of serotonin, a natural occuring substance found in the brain, which helps to improve certain mood problems.
WARNING: You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an antidepressant, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment with Celexa.
Fact speak for themselves.
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Sales of legal drugs that mimic cocaine skyrocket
By Jennifer Hough
Monday, January 11, 2010
“ALTERNATIVE lifestyle” shops around the country have been selling out of new legal drugs which recreational users are substituting for cocaine.
They are labelled as plant food or novelty bath salts “not for human consumption”.
Their user-friendly names are Charge, White Ice or Snowblow and they cost about € 30 a gram.
Synthesised in laboratories to mimic the effects of illegal drugs such as cocaine and amphetamines, legal powder substances on sale in head shops – retail outlets that specialise in drug paraphernalia – are the latest craze to hit the legal drugs trade.
Industry sources have indicated sales of the substances – Snowblow is advertised as a BZP-free Columbian powder substitute – have skyrocketed in recent months, sometimes even selling out on busy weekends.
Ingredients, according to their packaging, are caffeine and other herbal extracts and vitamins, but it is known they contain drugs called flephedrone mephedrone, street name mcat, or methylone.
The rise in mephedrone use came following the ban of another drug, BZP, in March last year.
Mephedrone has already been banned in Sweden (where it was linked to the death of a young woman in 2008), Denmark and Israel.
But it is legal elsewhere because it is not derived from any of the banned Class A drugs.
It comes instead from a compound of cathinone, which is a Class C drug, and derivatives of this drug are not currently controlled.
While little is known about the drugs, side-effects are said to include nose bleeds, nose burns, hallucinations, blood circulation problems, rashes, anxiety, paranoia, fits and delusions.
Senior lecturer in pharmacology at University College Cork, Dr John Cryan, said products like Charge and White Ice comprise chemicals which are structurally not so different from those used in illicit substances.
The biggest exporter of legal powders are China, the powders can easily be ordered in large volumes. A striking example of this is the site: http://legalpowder.cn.com
Off course it’s not a gateway drug, it’s simply government propaganda.
Growing Weed
your right its not a gateway drug. Watch the Union. It shows all the lies the government says about weed
Deaths in the United States in a typical year
•Tobacco kills about 400,000
•Alcohol kills about 80,000
•Workplace accidents kill 60,000
•Automobiles kill 40,000
•Cocaine kills about 2,500
•Heroin kills about 2,000
•Aspirin kills about 2,000
•Marijuana kills 0
You got that right weed does not kill any body
I know this isn’t what you meant, but there are deaths recorded that are due to marijuana use. Medical marijuana users have been denied healthcare (denied life saving transplants because of their legal use of cannabis). They didn’t die directly from marijuana use, but they could have possibly lived if they were not denied healthcare because of their marijuana use. It’s a messed up world we live in. http://www.komonews.com/news/18475224.html