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Study says marijuana no gateway drug

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”

  1. 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.

    • 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.

  3. 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.

  6. 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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  9. 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

      • 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

        • 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

  11. i smoke pot every day…….i am 15 and i was doing cocain for 13 months….weed did lead me to it….but it was not weed that did that. it was me….whoever says its a gateway drug never did it….weed and lsd is positive…harder stuff sucks man…

  12. Thanks for sharing information for marijuana I really impressed and want some more stuffs again for this post.

  13. hi, my name is adam im 16, yes 16 and i’ve been smoking weed since i was 10 or so, honestly its been a positive effect on “my life” my grades in school have went from mybe D- and F to B and A’s when i first tried it i was like what ever it was just a first time thing. i smoked weed agian was i was in 8th grade and my grades were trash at that point but i starting smoking more offten and my grades started to go up, but it was getting to risky for me and cost for the weed was to much “rember i was an 8th grader at that point” so i decided it was over rated, but then agian started to smoke pot in the 9th grade i was smoking mybe once a month and my grades or ok but then my 10th and 11th year have been great smoking weed almost everday i have mostly A’s and no disapline issues the only negatives i have are short term memory loss, lazyness, and a mad case of the muchies which isnt bad because i am a skinny 6’1 guy who needs to put on weight, also i have been ditching to much school.If anyone or any parents want to talk to a kid who had first had exp. right at this point in life just reply back

    aka Rastaman lol new nick name from friends
    have a nice day hope u learned somthing new
    p.s im going to ditch tommorw and smoke and i made pormise it will be my last time and i will need to to keep my promise so some write back and check up on my goal =]

    • You know Rastaman..

      Perhaps you should rearrange your priorities. Marijuana is a very severe drug, and it causes severe harm to your nervous system.

      “Only memory loss”. Typically, when a human being tries to recall certain things, it’s usually at a lightning speed. After alchohol or tabacco use, those nervous instincts are often slowed down.

      After Marijuana, memory loss kicks in, and it eventually becomes an obstacle in many things.

      Try not to skip, skipping makes causes you to delay on schoolwork.

      A 16 year old youth shouldn’t be smoking weed. They should be in school, and doing things that are fun, but also harmless to themselves.

      Trust me, I should know.

      http://www.georgeedwardchan.com

      • “Typically, when a human being tries to recall certain things, it’s usually at a lightning speed.”

        Can I have what you’re smoking? You seriously can’t be serious.

    • I’m 17 years old. I have been smoking for over a year now every other day or so. Marijuana,Weed,Pot,Cannabis, whatever doesn’t make me want to skip school, it actually makes me want to prove a point. Weed doesn’t effect my school work one bit. I’m an average high school student with C’s,B’s,and A’s like i have done before smoking and still getting those grades with smoking. i had problems going to bed at night since I’ve been about 13.Marijuana has helped me fall asleep at about 10 every night. because of this i can wake up early go to school and not fall asleep in class. Calling Weed a Gateway drug isn’t very bright. One day you just don’t start smoking and think to yourself…. ” Dude i totally want to do some Crack now.” It doesn’t work that way. The point I’m trying to make is that you priority’s on life don’t change.If they do its not because of weed its because of you.

      • I highly doubt marijuana had anything to do with your grades improving. You were probably just more motivated to get better grades and decided to study harder.

  14. The study should be done on more than 214 boys. And have females participate too. This needs to be more accurate. Or how is it true? What population did you survey? What kind of environments do these boys live in?

  15. Marijuana was only outlawed from white people in power because colored people used it. I still think that a person n=may need Drug Rehab if marijuana affects their life negatively.

    • Marijuana was actually outlawed because it would have been one of the most used materials in the U.S. such as clothing, fuel and other commodities. It would have taken a huge revenue from cotton, tobacco, linen, and others. So the big wigs of these manufacturers had pull with people in the government to have it outlawed.

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