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gateway drug

DEFINITIONS OF: gateway drug

1

n a habit-forming drug that is not addictive but its use may lead to the use of other addictive drugs

“one college athlete recently called beer a gateway drug for young people”
Type of:
drug of abuse, street drug
a drug that is taken for nonmedicinal reasons (usually for mind-altering effects); drug abuse can lead to physical and mental damage and (with some substances) dependence and addiction
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