USING GATEWAY DRUGS AS PERCEIVED BY SELECTED

GRADE 10 STUDENTS OF DASMARINAS WEST

NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

A Research Paper Presented to

The English Department of
Dasmarinas West National High School
Dasmarinas, Cavite

In Partial Fulfillment
Of the Requirements in English Grade 10

Ruth Eguna
Hazel Kate Dangcalan
Jessica Aira Bonifacio
Julie Ann Divinagracia
Ronalyn Gujilde
Kate Abegail Oliveros
Jaemel Ann Tijol
Maridel Arcueno
Joshua Gasper
James Darielle Cruz
Mario Pompac

MARCH 2018
 INTRODUCTION
I. Background of the Study

Gateway drugs are the substances used that gives way to use more harder and dangerous drugs.

This milder substances includes tobacco/cigarettes, alcohol and marijuana are said to open

the door to more illicit drugs such as cocaine and heroin, which can lead to addiction.

Gateway drug theory is a comprehensive catchphrase for the medical theory that the use of a

psychoactive drug can be doubled the increase of the probability of the use of further drugs.

The theory is that once someone begin to use marijuana, drinks alcohol or smoke cigarettes,

they will be dependent in it and may open the door to use other drugs.

The idea of Gateway drugs being an issue started way back 1930’s. Other research on Gateway drug

Blossomed during the next decades. The concept of “Gateway drug theory” has been studied

since the year 1970’s by Denise Kandel. At it suggest that an adolescent experimentation with

alcohol , cigarettes and cannabis level up to More addictive illicit drugs later in adulthood

(Lynskey 2003). The researchers found out that licit drug use of either alcohol or cigarettes

precedes the use of marijuana, and marijuana use precedes the use of other illegal drugs.

The identification of this pattern led to the destination of alcohol, cigarettes and marijuana as

‘Gateway drugs’.

The Center of Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia (CASA) published a study (2007), stating

that children who is 12 to 17 years old who uses gateway drugs are more likely to use cocaine

after how many years depending on it, compared to those people who didn’t use gateway drug

In early age.

“This study—the most comprehensive national assessment ever undertaken—reveals a consistent

and powerful connection between the use of cigarettes, alcohol and marijuana and the subsequent
use of cocaine and other illicit drugs” said Joseph A. Califano Jr., CASA’s President and former HEW
Secretary.

According to Matt Gonzales (2011) the theory of consuming softer drugs can lead to use stronger

drugs has existed for decades. And countless studies proves that this transition is real.

And studies stated that there is a link between the use of softer drugs and the future use of

harder drugs. However, this theory is still controversial. There also been questions around the

influence of the drug dealers who may be ones offering other drugs, rather than being

themselves asked for new drugs.

Drug addiction here in the Philippines is a growing problem, but it is the one that Government tries to

fight and make a solution on. Drugs and alcohol have greater effects on teens than with adults

The signs of addiction can be hard to identified, and many adolescents don’t realize the long

term effect and damage in their bodies. Teenage years are know to be the time in trying new

things and asserting one’s independency. Teenagers often become tempted with the adult

activities, sometimes teens want to follow their parents deeds, try new things with their friends

and build their own identities. A 2015 study conducted by the National Institute of Drug Abuse

(NIDA) stated that more than 58% of 12th Graders had consumed alcohol and nearly 24% had

used illicit drugs in the past years. Teens abuse drugs for many reasons. Most teens say that

they used it to get high. Other says that they used drugs to escape from stress and problems

related to school and family. They may start using marijuana and drinking alcohol because

they are curious, because they want to fit in with others, or because they don’t think drugs are

dangerous.

A number of risk factors increase a teen’s pleasure in trying drugs, includes being in a family that

allows drug use. Having parents who uses drugs and having drug present in their community.

Half of the new users of drug are under age of 18. However, just because a teen has tried

drugs or alcohol doesn’t mean they will become and addict. Its more necessary to understand

why some of the teenagers are tempted to try using this kind of drugs.

Frequent surveys here in the Philippines constructed that there’s a lot of under age people such as

Students and teenagers became the most users of gateway drugs. Almost of them are still

dependent in the income of their parents receives. Despite of all the programs that the our

government promotes to avoid this, the number of gateway drug users are increasing as the

year passed by.

During the period of development or adolescents, participant use level of age 17 was positively

Associated with perceived friends drug use at progression of tobacco use throughout the age

of 17 to 22 was associated with an increased onset illicit drug use between 22 and 27
(addictive behavior Vol.23.,pp.144-156)

This study focuses on the causes, effects and factors why teenagers influence and try using this

kinds of gateway drugs. This study is limited on the influence and only wanted to know the

factors affecting the selected Grade 10 student of Dasmarinas West National High School.

We want to know the perception of teenagers when it comes in using Gateway drugs.

The importance of this study in Gateway drug is to inform the teenagers that using cigarettes and
 alcohol can lead them to become addict and dependent. We conducted this research also to

help Grade 10 Students not to be involve in this kind of drugs. It is necessary to have a

knowledge about this contemporary issue. This awareness can give a much deeper

understanding of their selves as student considering that the high school life is typically be set

of adjusment demand.

Gateway drugs, just like other illicit drugs ,have many factors that influenced teenagers to use it that

according to studies this may lead to the use of stronger drug substances and may caused

damage to your health and social life. Drug use behavior is caused by a variety of genetic and

environmental factors. Gateway drugs may be the one factor that affects a person attitude to

be attempted and try using more dangerous drugs.