Teen Pot Smoking Won't Lead to Other Drugs as Adults

Study Shows Marijuana Isn't a 'Gateway' to Other Drugs as Teens Turn Into Adults
By Salynn Boyles
WebMD Medical Reference
Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD

Sept. 2, 2010 -- New research finds little support for the hypothesis that marijuana is a "gateway" drug leading to the use of harder drugs in adulthood.

Teens in the study who smoked marijuana were more likely to go on to use harder illicit drugs, but the gateway effect was lessened by the age of 21, investigators say.

Harder drugs in the study referred to illicit drugs that include analgesics, cocaine, hallucinogens, heroin, inhalants, sedatives, stimulants, and tranquilizers.

The study is published in the September issue of the Journal of Health and Social Behavior.

(Original here.)