subject: Marijuana Is Not A Portal To Probable Drug Abuse [print this page] For decades, cannabis has been named as a gateway drug. This classification presumes that people who choose to make use of marijuana experience an increased chance of developing a substance abuse condition. Some assertions also suggest that using harmful illegal substances is nearly inescapable after a person consumes cannabis.
Even so, a 12-year study from the University of Pittsburgh concludes that the label is contrary to actual facts. The research moves deeper by emphasizing environment plays a larger role with abusing drugs as opposed to which substance someone consumes. The investigation confirms that cannabis is not a gateway substance and classifying it as being such likely stems from emotionally-charged talking points rather than examination of fact.
The Research Into Gateway Drug Claim
The study conducted had been headed by Ralph Tarter, Ph.D., and was made to determine if any correlation existed between initial cannabis utilization and future substance abuse along with dependency.
Scientists followed several males age 10-12 who'd all ultimately use legal or unlawful substances. Once they reached age 22, these individuals were separated into three groupings: those that used only tobacco and alcohol, people who made use of tobacco and alcohol to start with and then went towards marijuana usage, and lastly individuals who utilized cannabis initially followed by alcohol and tobacco. The analysis concluded that not one of the groups possessed any higher probability of acquiring a drug use concern.
However, there are better indications of more significant risk beyond drug preference. They evaluated 35 other variables in the participants environment and discovered 3 to be considerable in pinpointing elevated drug abuse likelihood. These variables were living in poorer local communities, growing up in areas having increased drug vulnerability, as well as getting raised inside households that have little parental involvement. All of these factors mean that setting plays a far more substantial part with drug use chances than any kind of gateway drug.
Common Sense Vindicated
I've long suspected underlying individual and environmental issues produce drug abuse problems rather than the drugs on their own, and this study justifies my thoughts. Substance abuse is merely a symptom of deeper troubles, and the substances are only filling that emptiness (at least until addiction begins).
To brand marijuana as being a gateway drug and declare it an overall enemy is a course of ineffectuality. If local communities desire to avoid addiction to harmful substances, they should attack the foundation of the problem. The real enemy is a failing atmosphere, and solving the problem is done by raising knowledge concerning the true causes of drug abuse and helping to strengthen the ties and atmosphere that young adults develop in.
