What Are Gateway Drugs?

You’ve probably heard the term gateway drug before. But what are gateway drugs? Are they really as dangerous as many people would have you think?

Below, we will answer the question, “What are gateway drugs.” We’ll also explore how you can get professional help for an addiction to gateway drugs or any type of illicit substance.

If you’ve ever wondered, “What are gateway drugs?” here’s your answer. Gateway drugs are substances that individuals often use before moving on to harder substances. The best-known example of a gateway drug is marijuana, although tobacco is also sometimes lumped in this group.

There are numerous theories surrounding the use of marijuana as a gateway drug. They suggest that using this drug will often lead to using harder drugs like pills, cocaine or even heroin.

The reason that this is sometimes true is that gateway drugs like marijuana boost dopamine levels. For example, a marijuana addiction will cause elevated dopamine levels in users. This will cause increased pleasure. In turn, the increased dopamine and pleasure will cause these individuals to be more prepared for positive responses to other substances. This is a process called cross-sensitization. Cravings grow stronger, and brain activity heightens whenever mind-altering substances are used.

Gateway Drugs–A History

The term gateway drugs goes back to the mid-20th century when television programs and medical professionals began using it. These sources warned individuals who started using drugs like marijuana that they could slowly advance to using harder drugs like cocaine and heroin.

The term really came to be used prevalently in the 1980s. This was with the advent of programs like D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) in public schools.

Take Charge of Your Life

If you are currently addicted to a gateway drug such as marijuana, quit while you’re ahead and get help. Professional drug facilities such as Beaches Recovery in Jacksonville, Florida can help you stop abusing marijuana. We can also help prevent you from moving on to harder drugs.

It’s never too late to get help for a drug abuse problem or full-blown addiction. Our highly trained counselors and therapists are the best in their fields. They will help you with whatever you need during your treatment. Beaches Recovery has numerous programs to offer, including:

Intensive outpatient program
Residential drug rehab
Men’s treatment
Women’s treatment
Holistic treatment, including art, fitness, and music therapy

Clients at Beaches Recovery will usually begin with detox at our Tides Edge facility and then transition into full rehab treatment with various forms of therapy, including:

Anger management therapy
Family therapy
Group therapy
Post-traumatic stress disorder therapy
12-Step approach or Non 12-Step approach recovery program
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Dialectical behavioral therapy

You will notice that in this list of therapies we have included holistic treatment. At Beaches Recovery, we feel that it is essential to treat the mind, body, and spirit. This is in addition to treating the addiction itself. We have numerous therapies that care for you holistically.

To begin treatment right away, give Beaches Recovery a call at 866-605-0532. Your health and wellness should be your top priority. Addiction shouldn’t be in control of your life. Take back that control by getting the help you need for your addiction.