Researcher's Study of Twins Bolsters 'Gateway Theory' (For Early Marijuana Use)

Medscape ^ | 2003 | Brown University Behavior Letter

[shrinkermd]

Many studies have examined the "gateway" theory, that marijuana use at a young age leads to use of harder drugs as a person grows older. While there is a general consensus among studies that those who use marijuana are much more likely to use hard drugs and that hard drug users usually use marijuana first, there is lively debate surrounding the reasons for these dynamics.

[presidio9]

And what do you have against individual choice? Do you feel threatened that some might not make the same choice as you, or are you just some kind of fascist who likes telling people how to live, or not live, their lives?

I am not against individual choice. I just value human life.

[PaxMacian]

Your attempts at insult are futile and infantile. I know my IQ.
And, I know my reading comprehension skill level as well.
You are sorely mistaken about what the article states.

[PaxMacian]

Your attempts at insult are futile and infantile. I know my IQ.
And, I know my reading comprehension skill level as well.
You are sorely mistaken about what the article states.

[PaxMacian]

GOD MADE HERB
GOD SAW THAT IT WAS GOOD
GOD GAVE IT TO MAN

Genesis 1:11
Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth"; and it was so.

Genesis 1:12
And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:29
And God said, "See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.

[Wolfie]

Like I said, you subscribe to the gateway theory when it suits you, and ignore it when it does not.

[presidio9]

Your attempts at insult are futile and infantile. I know my IQ. And, I know my reading comprehension skill level as well. You are sorely mistaken about what the article states.

I am afraid you in fact do not seem to know your reading comprehension level at all, and I have serious doubts about your IQ. The article clearly states that the study started with 311 pairs of same sex twind before determining drug use history. Your insufficient comprehension led to your flawed conclusion. Don't believe me? Read it again.

(if you get stuck on any big words email me privately and I'll try to help you out)

[presidio9]

Very pithy observation that. You potheads are a cerebral bunch.

[presidio9]

Poison ivy is an herb. Does the Bible command us to use poison ivy for food?

[jayef]

Oh, brother!!!

[jayef]

I'm still waiting for the study that names the actual substance or compound in marijuana that causes cravings for, or reenforces the use of some other substance.

[headsonpikes]

"Pot use makes kids 85 times more likely to try cocaine."

A person who can draw that conclusion from reading this study has no non-trivial understanding of the scientific method, statistics, and the rules of inference. So as a contributor to this debate, you have nothing substantive to share.

OTOH, your presence here reminds young lurkers of what exactly is at stake in this argument - 'live and let live' American liberty versus 'making the world perfect' progressive socialism.

I'll take my chances with freedom.

[PaxMacian]

"colleagues examined 311 pairs of same-sex twins. The researchers found that, relative to their co-twins who had not used marijuana by age 17, those who had used marijuana experienced elevated lifetime rates of other drug use,"

That says the whole sample of 311 were matched pairs of early users and non-user twins. There is no mention of determining history within the group. If you have some quote to back up your statements about the article show it.

[jayef]

And yet there are still far fewer cocaine users than marijuana users. Explain.

[presidio9]

That says the whole sample of 311 were matched pairs of early users and non-user twins. There is no mention of determining history within the group.

It says no such thing. You are making an assumption. This is a common symptom of faulty reading comprehension.

[MrLeRoy]

What is NOT accepted---nor true---is the researchers' assumption that "twins, having been raised in the same household, would have environmental experiences that were highly concordant."

Nobody is exactly the same, but twins have the closest enviornmental experience, and are therefore accepted as the best subjects for these types of studies.

You're babbling---twin studies have NOTHING to do with closeness of enviornmental experience; in fact, twin studies often involve twins raised separately.

But feel free to keep parading your ignorance for our amusement.

Bump.

[AxelPaulsenJr]

Poison ivy is an herb. Does the Bible command us to use poison ivy for food?

No, but the Bible does command us to treat our bodies as a temple. I.E. to take care of it. And putting sorry crap like pot and the other hard drugs into one's body is not taking good care of said same body.

By the way, Ozzy Osborne a notorius user of illegal drugs, says that the use of pot led his son Jack, to be a user of harder more addictive drugs.

[MrLeRoy]

Children who drink are 50 times more likely to use cocaine than non-drinkers.

Right. And kids who smoke pot are 85 times more likely to use cocaine than non pot-smokers.

So if pot is a gateway drug, then alcohol is as well.

[presidio9]

And yet there are still far fewer cocaine users than marijuana users. Explain.

Man you guys are slow. Look, it's really quite simple: The fact that pot smokers are 85 times more likely to use cocaine does not mean that every pot smoker uses cocaine.

[Servant of the Nine]

I am not against individual choice. I just value human life.

I value gold, but that doesn't give me any right to stick my nose into how other people use or waste or throw away theirs.

You have made a series of crude and baseless insinuations about my beliefs, starting with a totally false accusation of favoring baby killing.
You are a pecksniff busybody trying to stick your nose into other peoples business, because you delight in telling them what to do. You must have a sad pathetic life.

So9