Does smoking lead to other drugs?

[VOR]

I have a question about those who smoke tobacco, and it is more for non-scientific research than anything else.  For those of you who smoke(d) tobacco, did you move on to other illegal substances such as marijuana?  If so, do you think that smoking was the catalyst?  I am a prevention specialist and I believe in the gateway drug theory, however, I'm curious to see how accurate the theory is.

Thanx in advance,

[Canuckchick]

no. I smoked a bit of weed in my teens (cuz everyone was) and I'm right now dealing with a dependency to pain killers (cuz I needed them after a very bad illness and 3 surgeries) but they're totally unrelated to my smoking. I quit smoking in Jan 05.

[VOR]

Congrats on quitting.  I think that the gateway theory does hold some water, but I don't think that it's all inclusive or is absolute.  I think there are many other factors, i.e., surgery, or genetics, that drive addiction.

I started chewing tobacco when I was in 5th grade and quit when I was in Egypt while in the military.  I've never done illegal drugs, but did a lot of drinking when younger.  

I'm just curious, and thank you for your feedback.

[kathyjo]

I think that for most who began smoking young, it was a gateway drug. Peer pressure or "looking cool" was the reason that most teens give/gave for beginning and I'm sure those same reasons were the catalyst for pot and further experimentation. I am a product of the 60-70's as were my two drug addicted brothers. One lived to tell the tale but the other wasn't so lucky.
It is my sincere belief that it is absolutely a gateway to bigger things, this opinion has been my own experience.
Kathy Jo

[VOR]

Thank you for your input.  I have a lot of people who vehemently argue against the gateway theory.  I'm not saying I think that it's absolute, I just think that when a kid starts smoking cigs, they tend to get that "big chested" mature feeling.  The mentality is "Hell, if you're willing to do something like smoking cigs, then you're big enough to do other drugs."  I also think that many kids believe they are bulletproof.  I was giving a presentation to an 8th grade class recently and I was talking about inhalant abuse.  I was talking about how you can die from inhalant abuse and the kids were almost comatose.   When I talked about the side effects, one of which is involuntary passing of urine or feces, the kids freaked out.  One girl said she would rather die than poop her pants.  Amazing.  

I tell kids that in 20 years, meth could be a gateway drug; I hope not.  I'm sure there will always be an excuse for using drugs, but I think we need to continue to help these kids stay away from these substances to give them a better chance at success.

I'm very sorry to hear about your brother . . .

[FMXSMKR]

I'm not sure if "gateway" would be the correct term.  I think we all start smoking cigarettes in our teens because we are looking for a way to deal with our stress, depression or anxiety.  These issues are not usually addressed when we're kids so it seems a natural progression for other drugs to follow because eventually, the cigarette is not enough.  

Of course, like Kathyjo said, a LOT of teens start smoking because of peer pressure, but I would make a bet that the teen that started smoking for that reason was fairly unhappy to begin with.  But, then again, I realize not every stressed out teen starts smoking.  My 19yr old niece has never smoked and she has grown up under a tremendous amount of stress in the home.  

[FMXSMKR]

Lol, I think I just described the cigarette as a "gateway" drug.  I just woke up....not thinking straight yet.  

I better go get some coffee....

[Canuckchick]

Well, for me, I started smoking in 1976 when I was 12...but I'd tried pot 1st. I personally don't think cigarettes lead to other drugs...I think being a stupid kid leads to doing stupid things whether it be smoking weed, smoking cigarettes or drinking cheap red wine till you puke it all over your friends bedroom floor (yeah...that was me). I wasn't quite as stupid as some of my friends and I never tried acid or cocaine...but some of my friends who did those things didn't smoke either. I think the problem is more of an "I'm invincible and I can do anything and never get hurt" attitude that all kids have. Plus, it's a game of follow the leader. If one does it then they all do it.

Everyone is different and everyone has a different experience but whether I'd ever smoked or not it wouldn't have made a difference to my doing other stupid things. I can say the same for the group of kids I hung out with back then. We just did what we did cuz we were kids and kids can be dumb like that.

[VOR]

Well, here is what I'm looking for and I hope I can find it here.  My job is to help kids stay away from drugs.  You bring up great points about peer pressure and feelings.  How do you think we should approach drug prevention with these kids?  

Kids don't want to be preached to; they get enough of that already.  So how can we, as a community, affect these kids.  Do you think real-life examples will help?

Just curious.

[kathyjo]

I have 2 children. My son is 22 & my daughter is 19. My son has (in the past) experimented with some drugs and we talk openly about it. He knew about both of his uncles (my brothers) and many of his dad's cousins who have had alchohol and drug problems, but this didn't seem to phase him. He did what he wanted.
Canuckchick hit the nail on the head when she stated that kids believe they are invincible........half the things I did as a kid were so stupid and I cringe when I think about it : )
My daughter doesn't seem to be interested in the party atmosphere yet, but she will be going away to college.. Hopefully I have given her the tools to make good/right choices.

I believe strongly in learning through others mistakes. It worked for me.....kept me in line, but neither of my brothers seem to appreciate their older sister (me) relating horror stories that I had lived through....friends over-dosing and some dying.

What helped me quit smoking tobacco was the incessant commercials being shown on t.v. about the many things that could and will happen to a smoker. Very graphic and relentless! NYC is really coming out strong against smoking & smokers. They offer free gum or patches, whatever way you chose, as long as you chose to : )
I was so stressed by the man with the hole in his throat, the woman who lost fingers, the man that lost his leg, the lungs of a cadaver and the children who lost their parent to cancer.
Maybe it worked on me because I am older, but it worked and I am grateful : )

I feel your concern for their welfare and perhaps that will help convey your sincerity to these kids. Sometimes just knowing that someone cares, can make all the difference. Good luck!
Kathy Jo

[Jizi]

I started smoking in my teens also, smoked for 10 years. I definitly don't think smoking could lead to other drugs, I've smoked pot a few times in my life and yes I have experimented with other illegal drugs when i was younger, call it my wild days. Anyway I don't believe I did those drugs because I was smoking cigarettes. Most my friends who did drugs when we went out weren't even cigarette smokers. So I don't believe that theory. I do thank God however I never became addicted to any of those drugs I did. Smoking was a hard habit to break I couldn't imagine coming off of a drug