Gateway Drug (Noun)
Meaning
A habit-forming drug that is not addictive but its use may lead to the use of other addictive drugs; "one college athlete recently called beer a gateway drug for young people".
Classification
Nouns denoting man-made objects.
Examples
- Many parents have come to regard marijuana as a gateway drug, fearing that its use by their children may eventually lead to harder substances like heroin or cocaine.
- Critics argue that tobacco is not only a gateway drug to other addictions but also a killer in its own right.
- The so-called gateway drug theory is often used to describe the process by which individuals become addicted to various substances, often starting with milder ones such as beer or cannabis.
- One outspoken public figure recently called e-cigarettes a gateway drug, warning that their widespread adoption among young people may be fueling an emerging health crisis.
- Experts point to studies revealing that nearly three-quarters of people who use cocaine started with a gateway drug such as beer, marijuana, or tobacco products.