Can Tobacco Use Lead to Drug Abuse?

Considering the 400,000 tobacco related deaths each year one would think tobacco has more than enough complications; however, a 2000 study conducted by the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health shows that tobacco use increases one's risks of using illegal narcotics. The researchers used data gathered by the 1994 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse. This data concluded that of the 17,809 respondents, 65.8% of participants who smoked were:

• 7 Times more likely to have tried marijuana

• 7 Times more likely to have tried cocaine

• 14 Times more likely to have tried crack

• And 16 Times more likely to have tried heroin

These results were even more concerning when applied to the younger age groups. The 12-15 age range smokers were 44 times more likely to have tried crack than their older counter parts. While the number of people who smoke has decreased from around 40% to less than 30% ,the rates for drug rehab applicants have almost tripled. When interviewed about habits nearly 85% of applicants admitted to being smokers. Among the five categories of primary drugs surveyed heroin users had the highest levels of smoking habits. Additionally, frequency of primary drug use and frequency of overall drug use correlated with cigarette smoking.

Tobacco and Teens

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has stated, "the experience of smoking can teach youngsters to use a psychoactive drug to influence mood and alertness, as nicotine does, and then reinforce that behavior.Smoking cigarettes prepares young people for the relevant mode of ingestion for one of the next drugs in the sequence - namely marijuana." In general smoking is the first drug experience peers share; similar to the use of marijuana it is hidden and outside most societal acceptance standards. Smoking introduces teens to the sensation of inhaling a drug and desensitizes them to the feeling of smoke entering their lungs.

• Tobacco is generally the first drug used by young people who enter a sequence of drug use that can include tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, and harder drugs.
• Illegal drug use is rare among those who have never smoked and cigarette smoking is likely to precede the use of alcohol and illicit drug.
• The amount of tobacco use is directly related to other drug use.
• Tobacco is officially recognized as an addictive drug.
• There is a dramatic association between smoking and illicit drug use.

Gateway Drug Theory

The "gateway drug theory" describes the phenomenon in which an introduction to drug-using behavior through the use of tobacco, alcohol, or marijuana is related to subsequent use of other illicit drugs. The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) provides the following illustrations:

• Among 12-to 17-year-olds with no other problem behaviors, those who drank alcohol and smoked cigarettes at least once in the past month are 30 times likelier to smoke marijuana than those who didn't. These correlations are more pronounced for girls than boys: for girls, 36 times likelier; for boys, 27 times likelier.
• Among 12-to 17-year-olds with no other problem behaviors, those who used all three gateway drugs (cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana) in the past month are almost 17 times likelier to use another drug like cocaine, heroin, or LSD. These correlations are stronger for boys than girls: for boys, 29 times likelier; for girls, 11 times likelier.