Gateway Theory Debunked...Again

A 12 year study from the university of Pittsburgh pokes yet another whole in the wet paper napkin known as the "gateway theory."

From NORML:

No kidding. It's such a perfectly logical conclusion, it's hard to understand why anyone thought otherwise. Especially since one study after another has shown the exact same thing.

It shouldn't take 12 years of research by respected social scientists to tell us that trying one drug can't possibly have the psycho-pharmacological effect of making you want some different drug you've never tried before. Marijuana grows on trees. It's ubiquitous. That's why people try it first.

As for the "environmental factors" that actually are useful in predicting behavior, much thanks is owed to drug prohibition for creating a criminal subculture through which illicit drugs are widely available to young people. As a high school student, I had potential access to a far greater variety of drugs than I do now as professional drug policy reform activist. Alcohol was the one thing you couldn't get easily.

Inevitably, the "gateway theory" will not die a sudden death today. It will live on in the form of anecdotal accounts from marijuana "victims" whose progression into addiction will be taken out of context. It's a shame that so many people who are genuinely concerned about the drug problems facing America's youth nonetheless insist on misunderstanding basic facts about drug use.

Imagine the progress that could be achieved overnight if research such the Pittsburgh study were used to make policy.

http://stopthedrugwar.org/speakeasy_mai ... nked_again

Do you want to know a legitmate gateway to hard drugs?

DARE.... it's called the mere exposure effects...
Show kids in the inner city crack and they smoke it
show em a needle and they shoot it

I've seen it happen to many of my classmates in Detroit.

agreed completely, incomplete education is a big problem, cant tell kids not to take drugs they never heard off without alot more class time on why not and have actual evidence, of which several classes would come up as pretty safe, such as the tryptamines and phenethylamines... i do remeber 1st being introduced to datura through anti drug seminars at school, i was just lucky enough to be the sort that does his research and figures out whats what...

currently in new zealand, it is easier in most placed to get crystal meth than it is to get pot..legalise pot and the exposure/opportunity for meth decreases..