Gateway Drugs

Can some socially acceptable and apparently harmless substances lead to addiction? Gateway drugs can open the path to the dark world of addiction. It’s virtually impossible to come across a person who uses hard drugs, like cocaine or heroin, without first experimenting with less harmful and more socially acceptable substances. This article explores the concept of a gateway drug and looks more into the science behind them to answer some of the most asked questions about the substances that open the doors to substance abuse. What is a Gateway Drug? Many people believe that continued use of certain gateway drugs can, over time, lead to developing a substance use disorder and using harder drugs. The popular “gateway theory” states that young people who use less harmful drugs are more likely to use illicit drugs later in life. Proponents of the theory believe that less dangerous drugs cause the brain to develop a unique “taste” for highly addictive substances. When combined with an addictiv...