PREVENTION

OF SUBSTANCE
USE AND
ABUSE
GATEWAY DRUGS
 GATEWAY DRUGS
Gateway drugs are drugs (as alcohol or
marijuana) whose use is thought to lead to the
use of and dependence on a harder drug (as
cocaine or heroin).
 First used in the year 1982.
 GATEWAY DRUG THEORY
 The term gateway drugs is used to explain a
theory that hypothesizes that the use of
certain drugs may lead to an increased risk in
the use of other drugs and involvement in
criminal behavior.
 Typically gateway drugs are defined as
alcohol, marijuana or cigarettes which are
inexpensive and readily available.
Why do you need to
develop the right
behavior and
attitude to prevent
and control gateway
drugs?
Why should
adolescents learn to
prevent and control the
use and abuse of
gateway drugs?
Advertisers of caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol
may have already put warning labels like
“drink moderately” or “cigarette smoking is
dangerous to your health” but they still
promote their products to appeal to different
customers. Gateway drugs affect different
people-men and women, rich or poor, old or
young and continue to alter their lives.
Learning about the abuse of
gateway drugs aims to make you
realize that these adolescent and
emerging adult problems could
have been prevented or controlled if
one avoided gateway drugs.
You may have seen others use it, but it is a misconception
that gateway drugs are part of growing up. In fact, the
majority of adolescents and adults do not use gateway
drugs.
There are law in the country like RA 9211 or the Tobacco
Regulation Act of 2003. These laws are made and
implemented for the good of everyone. When violators are
caught, they have to face serious consequences like paying
a fine or being jailed.
Using gateway drugs is a personal choice. Will you decide
what is best for your health, or give in to the pressure of
advertisers or your peers? What you decide everyday
affects your health and has an impact on others as well.
 GROUP ACTIVITY
Given the sheet of paper from your teacher,
Cite down different ways to help a chain
smoker stop smoking.
THANK YOU