Marijuana Is Gateway to Hard Drugs in Twins Study

— CHICAGO (Reuters) - Teen-agers who smoked marijuana before turning 17 were more likely to use and abuse harder drugs and alcohol as young adults, a study of Australian twins released on Tuesday said.

The "gateway" hypothesis -- where the use of "soft" drugs can lead to a desire for "hard" drugs offering a more intense high -- appeared to be born out in the study of 311 sets of fraternal and identical twins. All the twins included one who had begun smoking marijuana before age 17 while the other had not.

The study found those who had smoked early in life were between two and five times more likely than their nonsmoking siblings to abuse alcohol or harder drugs such as cocaine and heroin when they reached their 20s or 30s.

Among the early marijuana users, 48 percent reported using cocaine and other stimulants as adults, 35 percent tried hallucinogens, and 14 percent used heroin and other opiates. Forty-six percent said they later abused or became dependent on marijuana, and 43 percent became alcohol dependent.

Among smokers before age 17, 48 percent abused or became dependent on an illicit drug, while 33 percent of the early nonsmokers became abusers later on in life.

But early marijuana use by no means guaranteed abuse of other drugs later on, said the authors of the study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

"I think one important thing to say to the parents of a 16-year-old using marijuana is that the majority of kids who use cannabis do not go on to experience problems with drugs or alcohol, but it's important that we, as parents and as a society, recognize that there is an increased risk," said Andrew Heath, a professor of psychiatry and director of the Missouri Alcoholism Research Center at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, who led the study.

"There is a fairly long history of research showing that early cannabis use is associated with increased risks for later use of so-called 'hard drugs,' but that research is based on the fact that most heroin and cocaine users report first having used cannabis," said study author Michael Lynskey of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research in Brisbane, Australia, a visiting psychiatry professor at Washington University.

"I think it often is implicitly assumed that the association between cannabis and other drugs is somehow pharmacological, that using cannabis changes your brain or makes you crave other drugs," Lynskey said. "But there are a number of other potential mechanisms, including access to drugs, willingness to break the law and likelihood of engaging in risk-taking behaviors."

In an accompanying editorial, Denise Kandel of Columbia University and the New York State Psychiatric Institute, said the study's findings suggested anti-marijuana smoking programs targeting youth can avert later abuse of harder drugs.

"For youths who have already used marijuana, the issue is: can and should intervention programs be developed to target this group at very high risk for progressing to other substances? It appears so," she wrote.

I guess I've been around here for about 5 years or so now. Time sure flies!

When Jim Robinson started this site, it was because he was fed up with the liberal media, and how they would not let people worldwide know about the corruption of the Clinton Administration. A few of us, equally concerned, (with great luck) found it fast.

In the early days, FR was a day-to-day operation, always on the brink of bankruptcy. Jim kept on, and we chipped in when it became too much. We knew how important this site was, and is. Sometimes, it came down to the wire, and we wrote checks, and sent them in, as best we could.

Look at it now. We all get our best information from this site. It is huge, with thousands of posters, and millions of readers. Yet Jim still keeps it alive because of his conviction, and he is absolutely NOT making a profit on it. He just believes. As do we.

BTW, did you know that the founder of this site is in a wheelchair (sorry Jim; I know you think it doesn't make a r*ts a$$ difference. Hey, some folks out there need to come down a peg, like I have.).

Think of it! In the darkest days of the Clinton Administration, there was a lone internet site where people with integrity, brains, and sheer gumption could discuss the dangers faced by the US. Not on CNN, for sure.

Earthmovers like Drudge, Ann Coulter, Rush, WFBuckley, his brother, Savage, Buchanan, both houses of Congress (many) check in to see what we think.

The opposition checks it out, too. Like the NY times staff, CNN, etc. Trust me, they all come here to read. Even YOUR post. You know by now how they are whining about Rush? We're next, as soon as they figure out how they can trash this site without it getting a million hits.

I've been broke; I've been not broke. I've slept in my car. I know how it feels to be squeezed tight with bills. Folks with giant bills: You're not alone, and you have friends here. :)

If you love this site as much as I do, please, please sign up for automatic payment of just $3 per month. Don't be embarrassed if you think this is too little. It absolutely is not. You $3 a month folks are our grassroots movement heroes. Be proud. Become one of the thousand points of light here, and you will so feel proud every month. We'll thank you for it, and are so glad to have you on board.

I know things are rough out there. But you are tough, and a member of the greatest grassroots freedom movement in 100 years. Together we are making history, and will change the world, as we already have. The best is yet to come.

Most countries out there would consider this website illegal. They hate us, for our freedom. Their systems cannot stand, in the face of Freedom. The people there read us when they can, when they are “allowed” to, and are not being tortured. They flock to us, America, because they want to be free. Help us help them.

Would you please, please consider signing up for just $3 a month? Please? That’s all it takes, really, believe it or not. You will make a world of difference, to, well, the world. Be proud, Americans, and please help out!

I agree with you. In seeing family members ambushed by alcohol, I have come to regard it as evil. My wife drinks, I haven't for years (I just don't like the next day feeling), and we go out with friends that drink, but I still think it is evil.

The problem is with alcohol is that it is more insidious than, say, cocaine or heroin, where, when you take them, you know you will have hellacious problems. Many people drink alcohol without problems. That is why it is so pernicious to some.

I don't recommend (or believe we have a Constitutional right, without an amendment, to) ban any of it though.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.