Weed is Not a Portal to Future Substance Dependence

For many years, weed has become labeled as a gateway drug. This classification means that people who choose to consume cannabis have an increased probability of developing a drug abuse problem. A few claims actually state that the usage of hazardous illegal drugs is nearly inevitable after a person uses cannabis.

Even so, a 12-year investigation from the University of Pittsburgh proves that the label is contrary to genuine facts. The study moves even further by stating environment takes on a greater part with abusing drugs as opposed to which drug someone consumes. The research confirms that marijuana isn't a gateway substance and identifying it as being such most likely stems from emotionally-charged rhetoric rather than analysis of fact.

The Research Into Gateway Drug Claim

The research carried out had been headed by Ralph Tarter, Ph.D., and was created to see whether any relationship existed between initial marijuana use and potential future drug abuse as well as dependency.

Researchers followed several young men ages 10-12 that would all ultimately use lawful or unlawful substances. When they reached age 22, the individuals ended up separated into three categories: those who used exclusively alcohol and tobacco, people who made use of alcohol and tobacco to start with then went towards weed usage, and finally individuals who utilized marijuana initially followed by alcohol and tobacco. The study determined that none of the subsets had any increased chance of acquiring a substance abuse issue.

However, there are better signs of increased associated risk outside of drug selection. They reviewed 35 variables in the young mens' lives and discovered 3 as being significant for determining higher substance abuse odds. These variables included living in poorer local communities, growing up in locations with increased drug accessibility, and getting brought up inside households with very little parent guidance. These factors imply that atmosphere represents a far more important part with addiction likelihood than any sort of gateway drug.

Practical Sense Vindicated

I've often suspected underlying personal and environmental issues generate substance abuse concerns instead of the substances on their own, and this analysis agrees with my thoughts. Substance abuse is actually a symptom of deeper troubles, and the substances themselves are merely filling up that emptiness (at least up to the point dependence takes hold).

To brand marijuana as being a gateway drug and express it as an outright enemy will be a course of ineffectiveness. If local communities want to prevent addiction to hazardous drugs, they have to attack the foundation of the issue. The true enemy is a failing environment, and fixing the issue is done by boosting attention in regards to the accurate causes of substance abuse and helping improve the connections and atmosphere that young people grow up in.

Come to The Effects of Weed Network for additional information regarding the positive effects of weed and harmful effects of weed, a side-by-side look at indica vs sativa, and anything else having to do with marijuana.