Reduce the Use of Gateway Drugs

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  • Drugs like marijuana and cocaine are not nearly as significant of a gateway drug to heroin as prescription painkillers.

People addicted to prescription painkillers are 40 times more likely to abuse heroin, according to the CDC's report. By comparison, cocaine users are 15 times more likely to use heroin and marijuana users are just three times more likely to use heroin, the CDC noted.[1] In addition, those with alcohol use disorder are 18 times more likely to use prescription drugs than nondrinkers, according to a NIDA-funded study.[2]

Yet for some, intentional misuse of prescription drugs follows experimentation or regular use of other drugs.
Half of young people who inject heroin surveyed in three recent studies reported using prescription drugs before using heroin [3]
The CDC blamed over 33,000 deaths on opioids in 2015, less than half of which were linked to pain medication. However, painkillers still are a gateway drug for many users. In Ohio, nearly two-thirds of the people who overdosed on heroin or fentanyl received at least one opioid prescription in the seven years before their deaths.[4]
While most people who misuse prescription opioids do not go on to use heroin, the small percentage (about four percent) who do account for a majority of people recently initiating heroin use.[5]
 

Study on Risk Factors Leading to Opioid Misuse

The National Monitoring of Adolescent Prescription Stimulants Study (N-MAPSS) was conducted from 2008 to 2011. Participants 10–18 years of age were recruited from entertainment venues in urban, rural and suburban areas of 10 US cities. Participants completed a survey including questions on their use of prescription opioids. The study found:

 

  • Youth were more likely to report opioid NMU (Non Medical Use) if they reported past 30 day marijuana and alcohol use, compared to never use.
  • Both males and females were more likely to have opioid NMU if they were smokers.

Learn more about that study and related studies.[6]

Information on Legalizing Recreational Marijuana

While more states are legalizing recreational marijuana, the statistics coming out of Colorado raise significant concerns about the impact of that policy approach.
[1]

 

Promising Programs & Practices

High School Sports

High School students who are active in sports are much less likely to use marijuana.[7]

  Physicians are also starting to better screen patients whom they believe are abusing drugs. The Drug Abuse Screening test is an instrument used for clinical screening and treatment evaluation. It is composed of 28 self reported items that yields a qualitative index of problems related to drug abuse. [8] If physicians are able to deter the distribution of highly addictive prescription medications to people how have a history of drug abuse, then less people will have access to this gateway drug.

 

Tools & Resources

TR - Reduce the Use of Gateway Drugs

Scorecard Building

Potential Objective Details
Potential Measures and Data Sources
Potential Actions and Partners

Resources to Investigate

RTI - Reduce the Use of Gateway Drugs

PAGE MANAGER: [insert name here]
SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT: [fill out table below]

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Sources


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