Gateway Drug Rehab

It is interesting to see that with the variety of substances that can be used and abused, there is now a need to classify them into smaller categories. Now there are substances that have been referred to as gateway drugs. These are substances that are considered as the lighter type of drugs. Examples of gateway drugs include tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, prescription drugs and even inhalants such as solvents, aerosol sprays and different types of gasses. Although referred to as being lighter, habitual use of gateway drugs are said to lead to the use of more illegal “hard” drugs such as heroin and cocaine. Abuse or addiction to these lighter drugs should require treatment at a gateway alcohol and drug rehab.

In the old days, there was no distinguishing line between light and hard drugs. Common sources of addiction include substances such as heroin and cocaine as well as alcohol. However, as some substances have been deemed illegal, they have become more expensive and harder to find. As such, people have become more creative and resourceful in finding other alternatives to get high. Besides being more affordable and available, peer pressure has also been accredited to the increasing rates of abuse with gateway drugs.

Recent studies show that addiction to gateway drugs early in life can later lead to addiction to the harder drugs. This is because users of gateway drugs become accustomed to the high provided by these substances that once they have escalated to using cocaine or marijuana, a higher dose is required to achieve the same effect. However, great care has being taken in selecting which substances should be considered as gateway drugs. There is great debate on this matter as the effect is different depending on the individual and the situation. Some teens and adults who start with gateway drugs such as inhalants or marijuana do not automatically become users of cocaine or heroin later in life.

As the definition of gateway drugs is still being worked out and carefully classified, an actual gateway drug rehab does not currently exist. There are rehab centers for drug detox dedicated to treating for the addiction of substances such as marijuana or alcohol but not for inhalants or other similar substances. For interventionists, it is vital for them to know what type of drug the individual is being addicted to. It determines how to best approach and solve a situation. The same goes with a gateway drug rehab. Although prevention is always better than finding a cure, there may come a time when individuals who have become addicted to gateway drugs need to find their own place where they can be treated.