New study suggests alcohol – not cannabis – is the real “gateway” to problematic drug use

A recent study with more than eight thousand young people dispute claims that cannabis is a 'gateway' drug, finding that young people 'overwhelmingly' try alcohol first, followed by tobacco. Researchers Amy M. Cohn and Hoda Elmasry say using cannabis before alcohol or tobacco is "rare" and may even protect against future substance abuse problems.

According to the study, published in the scientific journal “Alcohol and Drug Dependence”, in 2022 just under half of the US population (45%) lived in a state with some form of legal access to cannabis, with the trend towards drug reform. cannabis now spreading to the rest of the world. However, old allegations perpetuate the myth that cannabis is a 'gateway' drug, with concerns that increased use among young people could lead to stronger and potentially high-risk substance use.

In what is believed to be the first study of its kind, the researchers explored the topic in more detail, examining how many young people tried cannabis before alcohol and tobacco and whether this was related to later substance use.

According to the authors “to our knowledge, no studies have examined whether cannabis use before alcohol and tobacco, compared with cannabis use at the same age as alcohol or tobacco, confers a higher risk of reporting current use. of various substances and other drugs”.

Young people 'overwhelmingly' experiment with alcohol before cannabis
The survey found that young people experience alcohol "overwhelmingly" before cannabis or tobacco, and cannabis use before either substance was rare.

The scientists analyzed data from more than 8.000 young people, collected through the study Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health, which recorded whether they had ever used alcohol, cannabis or tobacco and the age at which they first tried them.

They then examined the associations between starting cannabis before, at the same age or after starting to use alcohol or tobacco, with substance use in the last 30 days.

The results showed that trying cannabis first, before alcohol or tobacco, was "relatively uncommon" (only in 6% of cases).

Only 9% of individuals who claimed to have ever used cannabis reported starting cannabis before alcohol and tobacco, but the prevalence of starting cannabis at the same age that alcohol or tobacco was tried for the first time was more common (21,8%).

Furthermore, those who tried cannabis first were less likely to have substance abuse problems when compared to those who tried other substances at the same time.

The authors conclude that “alcohol is overwhelmingly experienced before tobacco or cannabis. Initiation of cannabis before alcohol and tobacco is uncommon and may even protect against future alcohol use.

“Those who started cannabis before alcohol and tobacco appeared less likely to have a broad constellation of substance use and mental health vulnerabilities compared with those who tried cannabis at the same age when they tried at least one other substance. Deterring the initiation of cannabis with various substances can bring benefits to public health”, they state.

Growing Evidence Refutes the “Gateway” Theory
Other studies in this area also contradict the idea that cannabis is a “gateway” drug. Last year, University of Washington researchers found that young people consumed less alcohol, nicotine and over-the-counter pain relievers after cannabis was legalized for adult use.

Investigators assessed trends in the use of alcohol, nicotine, and nonprescription pain relievers among a group of more than 12.500 young adults (ages 18 to 25) in Washington state after legalization in 2012. Contrary to concerns about harmful effects in society at large, according to the study, “the implementation of legalized non-medical cannabis has coincided with the decrease in the use of alcohol and cigarettes and the misuse of painkillers”.
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This article was originally published on CannabisHealth.