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Buzzby

Bringing the Gateway Theory Back
News @ Nature hypes study on twelve rats
Maia Szalavitz | STATS | 07/06/2006

News @ Nature — the news affiliate of one of the most prestigious medical journals in the world, which tags itself as providing “the best in science journalism” — is not usually a source of drug war propaganda. But this week, in covering a new study on the effects of marijuana on the brain, it sure sounded like one.

The story was purportedly about research on rats which found that those given marijuana during the period roughly equivalent to human adolescence tended to take larger doses of heroin when given access to that drug later in life.

It’s an interesting finding and could add to our knowledge of how exposure to one drug can affect responses to other drugs. But Nature covered the study of just 12 rats as though it gives important support to the long-discredited idea that marijuana acts as a “gateway” drug, causing users who start “just smoking pot” to rapidly turn into heroin injectors or cocaine smokers.

News @ Nature said:

“Neuroscientists have found that rats are more likely to get hooked on heroin if they have previously been given cannabis. The studies suggest a biological mechanism — at least in rats — for the much-publicized effect of cannabis as a 'gateway' to harder drugs.”

But the article did not note that the problem with the “gateway theory” is that the vast majority of cannabis users never try harder drugs. While most illegal drug users start with the most widely available illegal drug — marijuana — most marijuana users start and stop with cannabis. Some 50 percent of high school students try marijuana before graduation, but just eight percent try cocaine, six percent try methamphetamine and less than one percent try heroin. This is why the Institute of Medicine, in a 1999 report on the use of marijuana as medicine, gave no credence to the gateway idea.

And while the article said that cannabis use might similarly predispose to amphetamine or cocaine use, it did not mention that the same authors had previously published a study finding no such effect with amphetamine.

Further, News @ Nature sure made both the researchers and the reporter covering the study sound far from disinterested and unbiased. The article quoted one of the study’s authors as saying that policies softening the law on cannabis were “ridiculous” in light of the existing evidence, and closed with the following:

“The discovery also warns against complacency that cannabis does not have any lasting effect in young people who use the drug. ‘Lots of mothers say 'oh well, at least it's not cocaine’, [the researcher] says. But this is not about the short-term effects. For adults to do it is one thing, but we have to consider the effects on children."

Let’s see: For the last 40 years or so we’ve run an uncontrolled experiment exposing at least half of America’s teenagers to cannabis. Obviously, it would be better if teenagers didn’t take the risk of exposing themselves to any psychoactive substances.

However, so far, no one has found any effects on mortality, there is no link with lung cancer, there are no deaths from overdosing, cognitive effects are minimal once the drug has worn off in all but the heaviest of users, and rates of use of cannabis and other drugs have waxed and waned over time. This scientist may believe her kids to be equally at risk when trying cannabis or cocaine — but she sure isn’t basing this belief on data. This is an interesting, but preliminary, study which should be covered; but it shouldn’t be covered without context.

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KWhite

I think the frenetic activity is a sign that we are getting to them. We are changing public opinion, this, of course, is the key to winning this battle and they know it.

No lie too small....

No hypocrisy too great.

When you are losing.

__________________
"Your mind is your own, your body as well, from the soul we need not speak, tend it well, making those decisions you deem worthy, aware all responsibility is in your hands when the smoke clears" Kelly L. White

"It is a principle of natural justice that when bad men make bad laws, or when unprincipled authorities compromise good ones, citizens are justified in protecting themselves from the very authority that compromised law and order." Gandhi

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dedbr

and they taught you that a good time came out of the tube, how many times would you hit the tube?

What have they proven with this experiment, really? That Pavlov was right about his dog? That rats will get high if they have nothing else to do but sleep, eat and have sex? Oh, wait a minute, they get to go to the bathroom too. I missed that one.

Ya know, it took me a while, but my dad had a saying about people like these, he called them 'educated fools'.

I know what he means now. For sure......

I read of an experiment where they gave lab rats as much heroin as they wanted. They self-administered till they died. If I was a rat locked up at the will of a human, I just might do the same thing.


Some Where In Ded Land......

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casketfour

i didn't read this but every ex-addict of any drug including myself (not counting cannabis of course) tried an even more addictive and deadly drug that we thought was "cool" before ever picking up that green leaf love called ...drumroll..




TOBACCO aka cigarettes aka chew aka black and milds etc etc etc .

The government is a bunch of hypocrites and liars

ps. for education factors check out the FDA LAW that EX ATTOURNEY GENERAL JOHN ASHCROFT ADMITTED TO EXISTING REGARDING TOBACCO GROWING IN THE US (you can look it up on google)

here's a spoiler it's an FDA LAW - hmmm aren't they supposed to be in charge what's good and bad as far as consumable products go?

well then this will be funny

Snowman623

News @ Nature — the news affiliate of one of the most prestigious medical journals in the world, which tags itself as providing “the best in science journalism” — is not usually a source of drug war propaganda. But this week, in covering a new study on the effects of marijuana on the brain, it sure sounded like one.

Hmm maybe put out some bad stories about marijuana when instead of recent documents proving marijuana doesnt serve as a source for lung cancer but maybe even help prevent certain cancers because marijuana kills dead brain cells that cause certian cancers.

The story was purportedly about research on rats which found that those given marijuana during the period roughly equivalent to human adolescence tended to take larger doses of heroin when given access to that drug later in life.

Of course they are testing animals. Animals live for emotions and have no knowledge to ask why they made that desicion. So then if THC and Herion both raise emotional feelings then its doesnt take a rocket scientist to fiqure out they would want to continue taking the drug and in doing to fulfill their needs.so then their tolerance increases and then they take more and more. And 2nd no human/animal should be taking any drug before they have reached adulthood neways.The brain needs to be developed before any outside chemical reacts with it.Common sense, and with it being giving to them so young of, course they will lead to addiction.Your earliest habits are hardest to break.especially if u cant ask why.

It’s an interesting finding and could add to our knowledge of how exposure to one drug can affect responses to other drugs. But Nature covered the study of just 12 rats as though it gives important support to the long-discredited idea that marijuana acts as a “gateway” drug, causing users who start “just smoking pot” to rapidly turn into heroin injectors or cocaine smokers.

Once again animal rats being tested.same as above really.

News @ Nature said:

“Neuroscientists have found that rats are more likely to get hooked on heroin if they have previously been given cannabis. The studies suggest a biological mechanism — at least in rats — for the much-publicized effect of cannabis as a 'gateway' to harder drugs.”

But the article did not note that the problem with the “gateway theory” is that the vast majority of cannabis users never try harder drugs. While most illegal drug users start with the most widely available illegal drug — marijuana — most marijuana users start and stop with cannabis. Some 50 percent of high school students try marijuana before graduation, but just eight percent try cocaine, six percent try methamphetamine and less than one percent try heroin. This is why the Institute of Medicine, in a 1999 report on the use of marijuana as medicine, gave no credence to the gateway idea.

Yea true marijuana is just the most used illegal drug in america.Most teens use it because they think its a safe way to get high.There right btw. Where are the alcohol statistics thats a major factor.marijuana, alcohol and nictone are more appealing and easy access at a young age then harder drugs and reasoning why harder drugs are so lower then these theres.Hmm and if marijuana was legalized in the states and the federal goverment regulated everything and sold it at safe spots all those young teens and adults who have no care in the world for ne other drug could get their marijauna safe and outta harms away from the harder drugs.Its a human desicion to put whatever they want into themselves because they have the feeling of wanting to do it.Unlike animals, humans have both feelings and the knowledge to know.So this time with humans as the study it clearly proves that most of the people didnt take other harder drugs because they knew of the consequences so its clearly the persons decision to take whatever drug they want.But if one surpasses this and their feelings get the better of them they are now addicted and have a serious disease.To state that marijuana is a gateway drug is like asking a retorical question and its keep america in limbo for EVER. It is just human nature.Of course its a gateway drug but only for the people that take marijuana as the first chemical reaction to the brain and body. and thats because its brings to a whole new world. but for others its whatever brings you to that gate whether it be nicotine, alcohol, herion, coke, crack or w/e. You have now been brought to the gate and its your desicion to open that gate if you so please.

And while the article said that cannabis use might similarly predispose to amphetamine or cocaine use, it did not mention that the same authors had previously published a study finding no such effect with amphetamine.

Further, News @ Nature sure made both the researchers and the reporter covering the study sound far from disinterested and unbiased. The article quoted one of the study’s authors as saying that policies softening the law on cannabis were “ridiculous” in light of the existing evidence, and closed with the following:

“The discovery also warns against complacency that cannabis does not have any lasting effect in young people who use the drug. ‘Lots of mothers say 'oh well, at least it's not cocaine’, [the researcher] says. But this is not about the short-term effects. For adults to do it is one thing, but we have to consider the effects on children."

all drugs taken at a young age will have long term effect.that desicion they make plays on what they do later in life whether for the good or bad.

Let’s see: For the last 40 years or so we’ve run an uncontrolled experiment exposing at least half of America’s teenagers to cannabis. Obviously, it would be better if teenagers didn’t take the risk of exposing themselves to any psychoactive substances.

Better marijuana to be the first those then any other drug.sad to say.

However, so far, no one has found any effects on mortality, there is no link with lung cancer, there are no deaths from overdosing, cognitive effects are minimal once the drug has worn off in all but the heaviest of users, and rates of use of cannabis and other drugs have waxed and waned over time. This scientist may believe her kids to be equally at risk when trying cannabis or cocaine — but she sure isn’t basing this belief on data.

ditto

 

Buzzby

How do you kill a dead brain cell? In zombie movies you have to blow their heads off...

Snowman623

lol my bad meant to say old brain cells that can be cancerous.was a lil high when posted