Many people consider nicotine, marijuana, and alcohol gateway drugs. A National Institute on Drug Abuse survey found adults who use marijuana are more likely to develop an alcohol disorder than those who don't. Marijuana users under the age of 18 are 85 times more likely to try cocaine than children who don’t use marijuana. Not to mention, adults who drink as kids are more prone to cocaine use than adults who don't try alcohol during childhood.
Unfortunately, opioids and prescription drugs are becoming more popular as well. These substances increase the brain’s dopamine levels. Dopamine makes you feel good and activates your central nervous system’s reward centers.
Many people don’t realize it, but prescription drug abuse is the leading cause of overdoses in the United States. We hear so much about heroin and fentanyl killing people on a regular basis, but this isn’t the main problem.
Thousands of people are abusing medications like prescription opioids, which can be highly addictive. The other fact to consider is that over 80% of people who use heroin start off with prescription opioids.
