Study says marijuana no gateway drug

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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


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402 thoughts on “Study says marijuana no gateway drug”

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  2. It wasn’t outlawed til 1937 & is still legal on the federal level.I find it interesting that the ones in charge of outlawing it do not seem to suffer the ill effects suggested. It brings me to another theory…Aliens in the white house JK lol.

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  4. I think it is amazing how false information can be so well promoted and credited, Marijuana is one of the best and safest herbs to use. It is natural, no possible overdose, has medical uses, and it has various methods of admissioin besides smoking.
    I have never heared of a long time weed smoker get cancer but I have know countless young tobacco smokers die from cancer and heart problems.
    SUPPORT CALIFORNIA PROP-19

    • Think again Anonimo! How about Bob Marley? He sure as hell died of cancer. Marijuana smoke contains significantly more poisonous substances and 10 times as much tar (if not more). Maybe there is no proven link (yet) between weed smoking and cancer but that doesn’t mean a thing. Weed might be good fun and an ‘appropriate’ drug, but it brings serious health risks. Especially for long time users. Not to mention psychological problems too.

      • Wow, you really don’t know your facts. First off, yes Bob Marley did die from cancer, however, it was not from smoking weed. in 1977 he injured his foot while playing soccer with some friends. The wound seemed pretty extreme for a simple soccer injury, and when it got worse instead of healing, he decided to see a doctor. Marley was diagnosed with melanoma, and an amputation of the toe was recommended. Now you saying that weed has 10 times as much tar than tobacco is completely false. Weed does have tar in it, however there’s only 33 % of the amount of tar in tobacco. And WEED DOES NOT CAUSE CANCER!

        • The smoke from weed can cause cancer… I’m sure you wouldn’t dispute that the smoke in cigarettes that goes straight to the lungs contains carcinogens and then enters the bloodstream traveling through the body… Marijuana smoke contains 50–70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than does tobacco smoke.

          • You’re disregarding the fact that cannabinoids, the active ingredients in marijuana, have anti-carcinogenic properties. Smoking marijuana delivers no net increase in cancer likelyhood to the lungs because the anti-carcinogens cancel out any carcinogens derived from the burning plant matter.

            When you eat it or vape it, the anti-cancer effects are even more profound.

      • if marijuana causes lung cancer or other diseases that tobacco causes why has that link not been proven? we have had alot of experience smoking tobacco and we know that it causes 438,000 deaths a year in the U.S.S. alone… we also know that 1 of 10,000 deaths per year is from coffee!!! so don’t you think that something like this would have come up from marijuana?

        • Since Marijuana is illegal, statistics can often not be correctly achieved.

          For example: a group does an anonymous survey on groups of marijuana users.

          If the government bothers, they can actually acquire a court order that forces that group to disclose the names.

          The government will then proceed to arresting and punishing those individuals under statutes.

      • your full of shit bro weed is one of the best plants in the world has oils for cars, most carbondioxside breathing plant in the world makes so many types of clothes. and theres not one recorded death in the world of someone dying from weed. so stuff what you just said up your arse. never lone that it gets you stoned outta your head (Y)

      • If nothing else, please read the forward to the book, “marijuana is safer” which was written by former Seatle chief of police Norm Stampler. The fact is if you don’t support marijuana being legalized, you are actually contributing to allowing the current drug realities to continue. If pot was legal a substantial number of people would not drink as much alcohol which any one with half a brain knows is the far more dangerous drug. By not supporting legalization you are an accessory to the crimes that are being committed due to alcohol misuse. If pot was legal there would be fewer deaths caused to innocent americans caused by drunk drivers.

      • bullshit. psychological and health problems. tell that to the big whigs producing tobacco and LEGALLY putting destructive additives in them to lower their own costs, while paying off our worthless government to keep their efforts legal…spark up a joint that has zeroooo additives, and if you’re worried about 1 thing out of the 932509347509 things that apparently cause cancer, use a vaporizer. and what psychological problems do you speak of? please give one valid source that is not from some republican asshole or money-hungry group that wants to continue to keep marijuana illegal so tax payers can continue paying for those who are “not law-abiding”…who can verify that smoking marijuana causes psychological problems dipshit.

        • You smoke dried hay every day for 2 years, and I’m sure you’ll end up with some kind of a psychological problem.

          You smoke some kind of a grass full of THC every day for 2 years, you end up fubar.

          Still don’t see the relation?

    • As marijuana stands right now with its illegal status I must say it is a gateway drug. But if it were legalized I feel that would change. I personally don’t see marijuana as any more harmful than alcohol.

    • I’m in high school.

      Kids that smoke marijuana usually don’t do very well.

      Is there a link between that and the very high THC levels in the “very-safe herb”?

      THC destroys brain cells, how is that good for you?

      • THC doesn’t destroy brain cells, it activates cannabinoid receptors. Do you have a logic or philosophy class? If so, pay better attention and you’ll learn why anecdotes are a terrible thing to base an argument on.

  5. You know whats funny im an underage and yet I have people run around get my cigars, K2 (basicly like weed) and you never hear a single person complaining about 18+ers buying underagers that shit.

    • Sure can. Just like any other drug, including the ones in your bathroom and coffee maker. Your comment sounds like you’re saying “if you take a substance that alters your body or mind, you may be ruining your life.” But have you considered how many drugs you take every day? Theres a difference between Drug use and Drug abuse. Whether a drug is being used or abused is up to the user, so people ruin lives, not pot.

    • If nothing else, please read the forward to the book, “marijuana is safer” which was written by former Seatle chief of police Norm Stampler. The fact is if you don’t support marijuana being legalized, you are actually contributing to allowing the current drug realities to continue. If pot was legal a substantial number of people would not drink as much alcohol which any one with half a brain knows is the far more dangerous drug. By not supporting legalization you are an accessory to the crimes that are being committed due to alcohol misuse. If pot was legal there would be fewer deaths of innocent americans caused by drunk drivers.

    • The kids right! There are more and more studies being done proving marijuana’s beneficial points. The main negative effects are caused by the carcinogens from the smoke, the actual active ingredients can be useful for many patients suffering from many disorders and diseases such as and not limited to: Bi-polar disorder, AIDS/HIV, Chrons disease, and glaucoma. In fact This so called “drug” has been said to help eliminate cells that turn into cancer in the lungs. THC and related “cannabinoids” appear to be “a new family of potential antitumoral agent.”

  8. I think marijuana should not even be considered a drug since there are no adverse side effects. People only problem with marijuana is the sterotypical “pot smoker”. These so called “pot smokers” are portrayed as lazy, un-active, and troublesome kids. I, myself smoke marijuana; but i also maintain an A/B avereage in school. So it makes me angry when we are portrayed as bad people just because marijuana was made illegal by william hearst. He was mad that he was losing money do to increase Hemp Paper at his lumber cooperation and he helped create propaganda about how its bad, even though; scientifically proven it only has benefits. The only drug that has no adverse side effects….

  9. i my sciance case study we are doing about the debate of cannabis being used as a medical drug i personaly agree becausei take it but also because it would save the police’s time and effort because thay wont have to raid peoples house’s but i just want to know what every one else thinks? thanx

  11. Any drug can be used as a gateway drug, and any drug can be abused. I think there are people who can use marijuana on occasion. But yes most people have problems using drugs. Lots of people have a problem with drugs and should go to a Drug Rehab treatment program.

    • “Most people have problems using drugs.”
      That’s a wild claim, can you prove it? Because most drug users I know function just fine.

  15. How come this study only focused on marijuana, alcohol and weed? How many of those who participated ended up using harder drugs? How can they determine which is a gateway drug without that additional info?
    Regards,
    Manu | Giochi di auto

  20. Helps others feel better when stressed or upset, makes the aching pain go away where ever it hurts… what’s so bad about chronic? To be honest I’m on it. I’m not brain dead, I don’t feel lazy I’m active. If you feeling sad. Hey!!! I have something for you to make you glad. If you can’t sleep why count sheep then just blaze a joint sooner or later you’ll be in a deep sleep. PEACE!!

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