Why are tobacco and alcohol “gateway drugs”?
Gateway drugs are those substances which when consumed increase the use of other more addictive and harmful substances. Alcohol and nicotine are the drugs to which an adolescent is first exposed. This gives way to other drugs like heroin, cocaine and amphetamines towards adulthood.
According to gateway drug theory, exposure to alcohol and nicotine early in adolescence results in dopamine peak and pleasure at an earlier age, which is reduced towards adulthood. This leads the individuals to seek other drugs for more dopaminergic responses and thus to maintain the pleasure.
In addition to this, gateway drugs also cross- sensitizes the brain, which increases brain activity and the individual seeks stronger drugs.
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