What is the meaning of the term gateway drug. Is marijuna the definitive gateway drug?
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Answers:
Contrary to what "Princess" said, it is not called a gateway drug because you "get tired of it" and move on to a better drug. It is called a gateway drug because the chemical compounds of marijuana (primarily THC) bind to the body's naturally produced opioids that effect the receptors of our neurotransmitters. An overabundance of opioids sets off a chain reaction in the brain (including the release of dopamine) which causes the high. There have been several studies on addiction which indicate that, in some people, once those neurotransmitters have been artificially stimulated, the natural "reward circuit" of the brain becomes "rewired" so to speak. In some people, the brain, unbeknowst to the user, seeks to find the means to put the "reward circuit" back on track. Scientists haven't determined yet how long it takes to occur or how much THC it takes to throw the "reward circuit" out of whack. (One joint? Ten joints? Fifty joints? Too many variables in the individual user.)
Pot is considered the "gateway" because once the THC binds (as discussed above) it opens a pandora's box in some people. New DNA studies are looking into the possibility that there is an "addiction" gene in some people which would explain why pot is a gateway for some people and not others. They hypothesize that if you have the "addiction" gene, once that pandora's box is open, the brain cannot get the lid back down.
But what do I know? Princess seems to think she's an authority on the subject. (She better hope her DNA is perfect and her neurotransmitters don't go out of sync.)
Other Answers:
a gateway drug is supposedly a drug that u start on and then eventually get tired of so u move to a "better" drug.me personally i dont think that marijuana is the gate way drug i feel that its the person who smokes the pot and so called friends that that person has . i know this because i have smoked it and i never done n e other drug .never wanted to ..
When ppl start smoking pot and then go to something else i dont feel that they go to the other drug for the high because they cant get high off pot n e more i feel that they go to the other drug because they know some one who does it and has access to it ..And not only that but some "friends" try to talk u in too doing other drugs. Its just that people need to be smarter then the average bear and learn the word NO!
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me..... I dont care what research u have .. i was giving my opinion to the question. I know alot of ppl who smoke and got into other drugs because of the ppl they hung around.. take ur research and shove it where the sun dont shine.. For all researchers who "say" they know the effects of pot , u can kiss my A**,,.,,,,,
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