Through the gateway into drug addiction:
Most people don’t just start off with hard drugs. They start with softer or legal drugs first, then, when they want a better or more intense high, they combine drugs or start doing harder drugs.
Here are some of the drugs which people often start out with, and then become tempted to start out on the path of taking harder drugs:
Marijuana
This is one of the top illegal drugs used in America. There’s a couple ways this could be made into a gateway drug.
One way is to smoke laced marijuana cigarettes. Many drug dealers want their users to become addicted to more expensive or harder drugs. They will sell marijuana laced with other, stronger drugs, to create an addict.
Another way is that users can become dissatisfied with the high they accomplish when using marijuana, and want something more. They can then turn to harder drugs which cause a more intense high.
Alcohol
Alcohol is one of the top three most common drugs used in America. Often alcohol use isn’t quite enough for the user. This is why it can be used with other drugs to increase the buzz. It’s pretty common with drug use to drink as well. This can work the other way around too – alcohol use can lead to drug use.
Medical or Prescription Drugs
Prescription pain killers or other prescription drugs can be addictive in their own way. However, drugs like opiates, anti-depressants, ADHD drugs, and more can open the door to hard illegal drugs. This is due to the fact that many prescription drugs can cause a mental and physical addiction. When the prescription runs out, they may feel they have to have that feeling, or a similar feeling again.
Over-the-Counter or Legal Drugs
There are drugs like nitrous oxide, cough medicine, and more, which can be legally obtained, but which can give a user a high. These aren’t generally considered addictive; however, they can lead the way to using other, illegal drugs which ARE addictive.
If you know anyone who is consistently using any of these drugs, or has gone on to harder drugs, contact us at (877) 850-7355.
Sources: NY Times, NCBI, NIDA, Interviews
