While all marijuana users do not go on to use harder drugs, they are, nonetheless, the population at risk for the use of harder drugs. When the use of marijuana expands, the population at risk grows greater. It is important to note that alcohol precedes marijuana in the developmental sequence and that alcohol serves as the gateway to other drug use. Stated simply, alcohol use precedes all other drug use. Identifying the adolescent alcohol abuser is difficult but possible.
Early recognition can result in early intervention and treatment.
And treatment is essential because frequent and heavy use of any drug among adolescents is often a coping mechanism for dealing with personal problems that need to be confronted and resolved if normal development is to occur. When drugs are used to cover feelings and to cope with stress, normal adolescent social and psychological growth is blocked. Those who have substance abuse problems are usually the last ones to realize or admit it. They think they can handle it and feel they are still in control. The process of falling into abuse and addiction is very subtle and the stages of addiction incremental.