Multiple Drug Use Considered in the Light of the Stepping-Stone Hypothesis

Abstract

In this section, we dealt with the question of why 75% of those who start to use one illicit drug (mostly hashish) also start to “experiment” with other drugs. First we examined Lewin's theories, one of which says that the food habits often change when the subject changes over to another eating group. Transcribed into drug terminology, this means that users will try out other drugs when they start to participate in a subculture in which these drugs are available. It became clear that participation in a subculture, or rather subcultural involvement, is an important variable in the increase of the use of drugs, and notably for the following reasons.

(a) The use of more drugs than one (hashish, in combination with LSD and/or opium) turns out to be related with the various criteria for subcultural involvement and the appreciation for these drugs (particularly for hashish).

(b) A higher frequency of the use of hashish is related with, again, the three criteria for subcultural involvement, the valuation of the drugs and the frequency with which LSD is taken. The frequency of LSD use was also found to have a certain relationship with the variables mentioned above. The frequency of opium use does not show this relationship, or does so only in a very slight degree. Consequently, it may be concluded that the use of opium is a more personal choice and is, thus, less subject to subcultural dynamics. This is in complete harmony with the rather unfavorable image which opium has in the subculture.

The influence which the subculture has, notably on the frequency with which hashish and LSD are taken, becomes even more important when we consider that these frequencies are not influenced by the length of the period during which these drugs are used.