Gateway drug effect
SUBSTANCE-RELATED DISORDER
Stepping-stone theory; Gateway theory; Stepping stone theory; Steppingstone hypothesis; Steppingstone thesis; Steppingstone assumption; Stepping stone hypothesis; Gate way theory; Gateway hypothesis; Gateway assumption; Gateway theorem; Steppingstone drug; Gateway drug; Gateway drugs; Gateway Drugs; Steppingstone theory; Gateway Drug; Gateway drug theory; Gateway issue
The gateway drug effect (alternatively, stepping-stone theory, escalation hypothesis, or progression hypothesis) is a comprehensive catchphrase for the often observed effect that the use of a psychoactive substance is coupled to an increased probability of the use of further substances. Possible causes are biological alterations in the brain due to the earlier substance exposure and similar attitudes of people who use different substances across different substances (common liability to addiction).