Final answer:
Alcohol can start young people on a path to use other illegal drugs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The drug that can start young people on a path to use other illegal drugs is alcohol. Alcohol is often easily accessible to underage individuals and its use can lead to experimentation with other drugs. Research has shown that alcohol use during adolescence increases the risk of using other illicit substances.
For example, studies have found that teens who start drinking before the age of 15 are more likely to develop a substance use disorder and are at a higher risk of using drugs such as marijuana, club drugs, and stimulants.
It is important to note that while alcohol can be a gateway drug, not everyone who consumes alcohol will go on to use other illegal substances. Factors such as genetics, environment, and individual differences also play a role in substance abuse.
Learn more about Alcohol as a gateway drug