Gateway drugs are substances like caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol that can potentially lead to use of more dangerous drugs. Caffeine acts as a stimulant but can cause issues like headaches and sleep problems. Tobacco contains nicotine which is addictive and can lead to health issues including cancer and heart disease over long term use. Alcohol consumption causes both short term effects like loss of coordination but also long term health risks such as liver disease and cancer if abused regularly.
2. Gateway drug – it is a term to describe the use of
less destructive substances which can lead to
future possibility of using a more dangerous
substance.
Gateway Drugs
1. Caffeine – it is a plant-based product including coffee beans, cacao, and tea
leaves. It is as an additive to food and beverages such as chocolates, candies,
colas, tea, and coffee.
Effects:
a. stimulates your central nervous system (brain, nerve, and spinal cord)
b. wakes you up and makes you alert
c. causes palpitations, headache, nervousness, dehydration, and difficulty
in sleeping.
3. 2. Tobacco – it is a plant-based product which contains nicotine that acts as a
stimulant. It is used in cigarettes, pipe tobacco, and even the flavored shisha. It
can also be chewed, sniffed, or inhaled.
Effects:
a. Acts as a stimulant
b. Induces bowel movement
c. Suppresses appetite
d. Induces coughing
e. Causes bronchitis, heart disease, and lung cancer
f. Stains teeth
g. Leads to formation of blood clots
4. 3. Alcohol – is a chemical that has an instant effect on the body. Ethyl alcohol is
used in alcoholic beverages. Fermenting several materials such as potatoes,
grapes, grain, honey, and sugar produces alcohol.
Effects:
a. Taking small amount of alcohol can be relaxing but excessive drinking can
lead to lose control over behavior and become very uncoordinated.
b. Long term drinking can cause disease such as cirrhosis of the live, hepatitis,
anemia, dementia, depression, gout, and cancer.
