Gateway Drugs are fast becoming an important topic for consideration with many gateway drugs examples getting listed daily. This is because it’s believed that it’s very rare for someone to try cocaine or heroin for the first time and not have tried other substances before. Instead, most people who try these kinds of drugs have already used what are called “gateway drugs.”
This makes it important to examine what Gateway drugs are before checking out the list of popular examples.
What is a Gateway Drug?
Gateway drugs are medications that may become habit-forming and lead to the use of other, more addictive drugs in the future. The notion that ingesting “softer” drugs might lead to the use of more potent narcotics has been around for many decades. Several studies have shown that this shift is genuine.
Gateway drugs are compounds that pave the way for the use of more harmful and addictive narcotics when used. Milder substances, like nicotine or alcohol, are thought to open the door to more dangerous drugs, such as methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine, which may lead to addiction and other problems.
Increased dopamine levels are induced by marijuana, alcohol, nicotine, and other gateway substances that improve the pleasure. The dopamine rush generated by gateway drugs throughout adolescence causes the brain to release less dopamine during maturity, resulting in a downward spiral. A consequence of this is that individuals seek out harsher substances that generate more spectacular dopamine releases.
Cross-sensitization is a term used to describe the process by which gateway drugs prime or prepare the brain for a reaction to other substances. There is a corresponding increase in brain activity, which may lead to consumers seeking out harsher drugs. There’s so much to learn about cross-sensitization and how it affects the body.
Top Gateway Drugs in 2022
Now that you know what gateway drugs are and what they do, the next important thing is knowing what drugs are gateway drugs. To help you with this, we’ve made a gateway drugs list that contains every detail you need to know.
While it is well recognized that substances such as alcohol, marijuana, and nicotine function as “gateway” drugs, the exact mechanism by which this occurs is unclear. Compounds that are regularly utilized, such as narcotic pain relievers, prescription medications, and other substances, have been added to this category. Read on to learn more about these gateway drugs.
Marijuana
A lot of individuals recently wonder “Is Marijuana a gateway drug?”.Many individuals who do not want to become heavy users of marijuana use marijuana as a stepping stone to getting addicted to it. Furthermore, marijuana has a well-established reputation as a non-addictive, natural drug that is not harmful to one’s health. In order to avoid getting hooked or overdosing, marijuana is supposed to be safe to ingest in moderation, and it is even said to provide a wide variety of medicinal advantages.
If you ignore the disagreements about the many medical uses of cannabis, marijuana users are more likely to take harder substances such as heroin, cocaine, and ecstasy than non-marijuana users. Marijuana usage may be tolerated by some individuals without the development of an addiction, but this is not the case for everyone. The use of marijuana is one of the most obvious gateway drugs since it just takes one puff to transform you into a full-fledged drug addict.
Alcohol
Wine, beer, and a range of liquors, which are among the most popular alcoholic beverages in the United States, are also gateway substances to other drugs. People who get addicted to drugs often begin with alcohol, which is a substance that is considered socially acceptable.
It is common for individuals to begin drinking as a social activity, but it quickly becomes a part of their daily routine. Individuals eventually resort to alcohol as a means of dealing with the difficulties of their daily lives; they begin to count down the hours until they can get home, open a can or bottle, and start drinking.
While it is possible that the individual may not acquire alcoholism as a consequence of their excessive drinking, they nevertheless face the risk of getting dependent on drugs. Intoxication may cause this, or continuing to drink for the purpose of enjoyment and relaxation may result in this happening as a consequence of continuing to drink.
Nicotine
For those who smoke, it’s just another habit, like drinking coffee or soda that they have to get used to. The problem is that it’s commonly mistaken for a gateway drug. When someone starts smoking, they’ve already started taking a substance and have become used to the feeling of relief they obtain from doing so. When it comes to having a good time or feeling better, some people find it easy to go from smoking to snorting cocaine or smoking marijuana.
The vaping and e-cigarette movement, which includes vaporizing tobacco, has made smoking cigarettes more socially acceptable. The usage of e-cigarettes has been linked to an increase in the number of young people smoking. They are intended to help people stop smoking, but e-cigarettes do the exact opposite. However, young people who begin smoking are more likely to use drugs in the future. One reason nicotine is a prominent choice for gateway drugs is because of this.
Prescription Drugs
Prescription drug misuse is on the rise. NIDA estimates that 52 million adults 12 and older have taken prescription medications non-medically. Prescription opioids are the most misused.
Prescription medicines cause heroin usage. Heroin is a synthetic opioid that may be mixed with prescription medications like fentanyl for a stronger high. Many prescription medicines have comparable effects to heroin, leading many opioid addicts to switch to it.
Ecstasy
Ecstasy may be a gateway drug to cocaine and methamphetamine. Part of the reason is rave culture’s poly-drug usage. Early Ecstasy usage raises the chance of subsequent use of stronger drugs.
Steroids
Steroid users risk opioid addiction. A New England Journal of Medicine study discovered that 9% of opiate addicts in a local treatment clinic had steroid usage histories. None of the patients had a preexisting drug addiction.
Caffeine & Sugar
Caffeine & sugar, that you would find in coffee and energy drinks boosts energy and alertness. Research in the Journal of Addiction Medicine found that persons who drank energy drinks were two to three times more likely to experiment with drugs. Cannabis and amphetamines were popular.
Getting Help
Gateway drugs are drugs that start people down the road of serious addiction. If you’re interested in learning more about faith-based treatment options for addiction in Southern California, contact Covenant Hills Treatment by calling 844-268-8412 today.
