Steppingstone and Gateway Ideas: a Discussion of Origins, Research Challenges, and Promising Lines of Research for the Future

Overview

Journal Drug Alcohol Depend

Publisher Elsevier

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2012 May 11

PMID 22572210

Citations 10

Authors

James C Anthony

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

In this discussion of contributed papers for the special issue of DAD, the author draws attention to early American laws concerning cannabis and to statements made about the epidemiology of cannabis smoking and other drug use between 1858 and the contemporary scene, with coverage of opium, heroin, tobacco, alcohol, cocaine, kava, and other drugs. He discusses these steppingstone and gateway processes in relation to political environment and in relation to scientific challenges such as uncontrolled confounding. He provides a critique of between-individual research designs, including co-twin and co-sib designs of behavior genetics, as well as imaging research, where uncontrolled confounding often exists. He highlights the epidemiologic case-crossover design and prevention research experiments as potentially valuable approaches in new directions for research on the steppingstone and gateway processes.

Citing Articles

Persistence of extra-medical prescription pain reliever use and alcohol involvement among United States 12-20 year olds.

Parker M Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2019; 27(5):502-509.

PMID: 30869981 PMC: 6785979. DOI: 10.1037/pha0000262.

Gene variants and educational attainment in cannabis use: mediating role of DNA methylation.

Gerra M, Jayanthi S, Manfredini M, Walther D, Schroeder J, Phillips K Transl Psychiatry. 2018; 8(1):23.

PMID: 29353877 PMC: 5802451. DOI: 10.1038/s41398-017-0087-1.

Nonmedical prescription opioids and pathways of drug involvement in the US: Generational differences.

Wall M, Cheslack-Postava K, Hu M, Feng T, Griesler P, Kandel D Drug Alcohol Depend. 2017; 182:103-111.

PMID: 29220668 PMC: 5870126. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.10.013.

Longitudinal Studies on the Etiology of Cannabis Use Disorder: A Review.

Courtney K, Hernandez Mejia M, Jacobus J Curr Addict Rep. 2017; 4(2):43-52.

PMID: 29057198 PMC: 5644349. DOI: 10.1007/s40429-017-0133-3.

Does Starting to Smoke Cigars Trigger Onset of Cannabis Blunt Smoking?.

Fairman B, Anthony J Nicotine Tob Res. 2017; 20(3):355-361.

PMID: 28339595 PMC: 5896437. DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntx015.

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