New Study disproves old Propaganda that Pot Leads to "Harder" Drugs
The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) once told us that "marijuana users are 8 times more likely to have used cocaine, 15 times more likely to have used heroin, and 5 times more likely to develop a need for treatment of abuse or dependence on ANY drug." These statistics, according to the ONDCP, prove that marijuana is a gateway to the use of other drugs. But new research proves that these numbers are slanted and taken out of context.
The Journal of Health and Social Behavior, found that Marijuana is not a “gateway” drug, as was supposed according to long-held beliefs that marijuana leads to the much more dangerous drugs such as meth, ecstasy, cocaine and heroin.
The study’s findings called into question the six decade long belief that has shaped prevention efforts and governmental policy and caused many a parent to panic upon finding a bag of weed in their kid’s bedroom.
These new findings are drawn from conclusions of an extensive 12-year University of Pittsburgh study, which followed 1,286 young adults who attended public schools. Twenty-six per cent were African American, 30 per cent were white and 44 per cent were Hispanic.
The studies showed that young adults who didn't complete high school or go to college were more likely to use marijuana and other drugs as teens who studied, got good grades and focused on their education.
The studies also linked those who were not working after high school with being more likely to use harder drugs.
"In light of these findings, we urge U.S. drug control policymakers to consider stress and life-course approaches in their pursuit of solutions to the drug problems," write the study's authors, Van Gundy and Cesar Rebellon, both associate professors of sociology at UNH.
While those who smoked marijuana as teens were more likely to move on the harder drugs while they were still young, findings show that this “gateway effect” decreased as they got older and disappeared altogether once teens reach young adulthood at age 21.
The studies also linked those who were not working after high school with being more likely to use harder drugs.
"In light of these findings, we urge U.S. drug control policymakers to consider stress and life-course approaches in their pursuit of solutions to the drug problems," write the study's authors, Van Gundy and Cesar Rebellon, both associate professors of sociology at UNH.
While those who smoked marijuana as teens were more likely to move on the harder drugs while they were still young, findings show that this “gateway effect” decreased as they got older and disappeared altogether once teens reach young adulthood at age 21.
Researcher Karen Van Gundy, a sociologist at the University of New Hampshire, shared: “We were somewhat surprised to find the gateway effect wasn’t that strong during the transition to adulthood. It really didn’t matter if someone used marijuana or not as a teen.”
It appears that drug use can be linked more to stress, such as from failure to graduate or find a job. This implies that anti-drug efforts should be geared towards keeping kids in school and ensuring that they have opportunities for employment, rather than threatening them with punishment.
It did come to a surprise for many however, that according to the study, the most important factor influencing illicit drug use is an individual's race or ethnicity, considering whites are most likely to use harder drugs such as heroin or cocaine, followed by Hispanics and then by African Americans.
But, back to the figures of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) propaganda telling us that
"marijuana users are 8 times more likely to have used cocaine, 15 times
more likely to have used heroin, and 5 times more likely to develop a
need for treatment of abuse or dependence on ANY drug." How do these figures fit into the equation? What do these statistics tell us about the gateway affect?
What is actually going on is that people have different toleration of and requirements for, taking risks. Those who will engage in a high risk behavior are naturally more likely to engage in lower risk behaviors. So, the ONDCP declaration that "99 percent of those who use other drugs will have begun by smoking a little weed" is a natural and logical progression of people who are prone to risky behavior.
Just as 99 percent of the people who jump out of airplanes probably started out by flying in them first doesn't mean that most people who fly in planes will end up jumping out of them, if most people who use heroin started out smoking pot doesn't meant that most people who smoke pot will end up using heroin.
When it comes to marijuana as a gateway to other drugs, of all people who have tried marijuana, less than one third will try cocaine or hallucinogens, and less than four percent of marijuana smokers will try heroin.
It did come to a surprise for many however, that according to the study, the most important factor influencing illicit drug use is an individual's race or ethnicity, considering whites are most likely to use harder drugs such as heroin or cocaine, followed by Hispanics and then by African Americans.
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| Example of old anti-marijuana propaganda |
What is actually going on is that people have different toleration of and requirements for, taking risks. Those who will engage in a high risk behavior are naturally more likely to engage in lower risk behaviors. So, the ONDCP declaration that "99 percent of those who use other drugs will have begun by smoking a little weed" is a natural and logical progression of people who are prone to risky behavior.
Just as 99 percent of the people who jump out of airplanes probably started out by flying in them first doesn't mean that most people who fly in planes will end up jumping out of them, if most people who use heroin started out smoking pot doesn't meant that most people who smoke pot will end up using heroin.
When it comes to marijuana as a gateway to other drugs, of all people who have tried marijuana, less than one third will try cocaine or hallucinogens, and less than four percent of marijuana smokers will try heroin.
Have you ever believed that marijuana was a Gateway Drug? Or do you believe that the government fabricated this myth as an excuse for marijuana persecution? Do you believe that race or economics are more important factors for people to start using harder drugs? Let Addicts Not Anonymous readers know what you think with a comment, bellow.
Written By: Tom Retterbush
Email: tomretterbush@gmail.com
Updated: 5-16-12
You may also be interested in reading my new article, The End of a 40 Year Old Drug War Conspiracy is finally in Sight, from Sunday, June 19, 2011, on Conspiracy Watch.
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Marijuana Myths Marijuana Facts:
Email: tomretterbush@gmail.com
Updated: 5-16-12
You may also be interested in reading my new article, The End of a 40 Year Old Drug War Conspiracy is finally in Sight, from Sunday, June 19, 2011, on Conspiracy Watch.
A Review Of The Scientific Evidence
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Marijuana is Safer: So Why Are We Driving People to Drink?
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This site is rather strange for me. you talk here that drugs are not drugs indeed. But everybody knows that with time any drugs make people suffer.
ReplyDelete"But everybody knows that with time any drugs make people suffer."
ReplyDeletePeople who can control themselves and use moderation won't see any negative consequences of using something like mj. The drug war causes tons more damage than any drug it prohibits. But go ahead and keep living in your fairytale land where the DEA is actually effective at doing their jobs and keeping drugs out of ARE CHILDREN.
This would make smokers happy that their marijuana doesn't let them crave for other drugs.
ReplyDeleteWe all know that marijuana is a drug that can cause harmful effects to human body. However, in other countries, marijuana is used to treat some diseases. But for me, marijuana is still a dangerous product.
ReplyDeletenewport cigarettes
Why are you against it? Have you ever tried it? Have you ever extensively read the studies and evaluated the data? It seems to me as if you are a biased person brainwashed into believing "marijuana is Bad" by government propaganda. I feel sorry for you.
DeleteThis is righ, marijuana is a drug which can cause harmful effects. The best alternative is e cig in my opinion
ReplyDeleteActually, there are precisely ZERO harmful effects caused directly from smoking marijuana. Do some research and see if you can find ANY legitimate studies that show any harmful effects caused by marijuana use. Do you know how many people die each year from smoking marijuana? ZERO. None. No one ever in the history of the world has ever died from marijuana use - because it's not toxic. Mind-altering, sure, but not toxic. It doesn't kill brain cells, either - that study was done on monkeys a loooong time ago and they put gas masks on them so they were only breathing in smoke for 2-5 minutes at a time and then reported that inhaling marijuana smoke kills brain cells. Not true - lack of oxygen for extended periods of time kills brain cells, so naturally, breathing in smoke of ANY kind for that long will kill brain cells. Marijuana actually promotes healthy brain cell development. Do your homework on marijuana and the history of the cannabis plant - or, you can smoke your cancer stick and rock the oxygen tank in a couple of years. I'll take my greens over tobacco any day.
ReplyDeletevery well put..Samantha..i could not have said any better..may we marijuana rule..and we all live in peace..please check out my youtube.."Emt caught smoking weed"it should give a greater insight..jroll84..
Deletenow samantha to take it to the extent that there are ZERO harmful effects caused by marijuana is out of the question though it is not as harmful as they try to make the public think marijuana is harmful to your lungs and after many years you can have breathing problems. though it can never cause cancer it can blacken the lungs but it will take about 10 times as long by smoke a few joints a day as compared to a pack of cigarettes a day.
ReplyDeleteCustomized my ill informed friend you must do some research because it its completely false to blame marijuana or any drug for that matter for peoples downfall in life people start to fail ain life and look to marijuana as an out and they enjoy the feeling it gives them and develope a psychological addiction and spend all their money on bud so as the health insurance companies would say its "preexisting conditions"