The Latest Gateway Drug Is: Coke . . . But, Like, Coca-Cola
If you're a "slippery slope" enthusiast, you know all about "gateway drugs" . . . the SLIGHTLY naughty stuff that can turn Ned Flanders into El Chapo.
A new study found that there's a new gateway drug to be concerned about: COKE. Not cocaine . . . Coca-Cola. (???)
Researchers studied more than 2,000 kids between nine and ten years old . . . and discovered that those who drank caffeinated soda on a daily basis are TWICE as likely to admit to trying alcohol a year later.
The author of the study says one possible explanation is that the caffeine and sugar can induce effects on the brain, making that person "more sensitive to the reinforcing effects of harder drugs like alcohol."
Or, maybe kids who struggle to regulate their impulses may be more likely to try caffeine early on . . . leading to experimentation with harder drugs like alcohol as they get older.
(Study Finds / Taylor & Francis Online)
Originally posted on November 9th, 2023