Know the Score - Info & Advice on Drugs In Scotland
Info & Advice on Drugs in Scotland for...
You , Parents and Professionals
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What happens?
A Couple of Facts
Possession of a controlled drug is against the law and could lead to a criminal record. You can find out more about this in the section Drugs And The Law.
Some young people are more likely to get addicted and go on to develop serious problems and need specialist help. See How do drugs work and what are their effects? and the Drugs A-Z for more information.
And theories...
The so called 'gateway theory' (which suggests that the use of drugs such as cannabis leads to the use of other drugs such as heroin and cocaine) is a hotly debated and controversial topic.
- We know that many of the people who come into contact with drug services as a result of serious problems with drugs such as heroin, began their drug taking by experimenting with cannabis.
- We also know that dealers who sell cannabis may also offer, or try to persuade customers to experiment with, other drugs.
On the other hand, we know that some young people will give up drugs of their own accord, without any major problems. They might know people who have either tried cannabis and given it up, or who continue to use cannabis occasionally, without any obvious signs of developing an addiction or moving on to other drugs.
Recent research has highlighted the physical risks of cannabis use (for example, the respiratory effects of smoking the drug). Cannabis has also been associated with conditions such as schizophrenia, psychosis, depression and anxiety.
The bottom line
Whilst young people appear to be more vulnerable to addiction than others, all drug taking is potentially dangerous and carries serious risks to physical and mental health.