Question

If given the statement "Marijuana is a gateway drug; 98% of heroin addicts started with marijuana", what other piece of info must you consider?

a) how many heroin addicts there are in the world
b) how many people who aren't heroin addicts use marijuana
c) how many other drug addicts use marijuana
d) you are given all the information to interpret the stat

Answer 1

To fully analyze the claim that marijuana is a gateway drug, we must consider the number of heroin addicts, the relationship between marijuana use and heroin addiction, and the evidence provided in the statement.

Step-by-step explanation:

In order to fully analyze the statement "Marijuana is a gateway drug; 98% of heroin addicts started with marijuana", we must consider several factors:

1. How many heroin addicts there are in the world: This information is important because if the number of heroin addicts is small, the 98% statistic may not be as significant.
2. How many people who aren't heroin addicts use marijuana: This information helps us understand the correlation between marijuana use and heroin addiction. If the majority of people who use marijuana do not become heroin addicts, it weakens the claim that marijuana is a gateway drug.
3. How many other drug addicts use marijuana: This information helps determine if there is a common pattern among drug addicts, and if marijuana is consistently the first drug they try.
4. You are given all the information to interpret the statistics: It is important to consider whether the statement provides enough context and evidence to support the claim that marijuana is a gateway drug.