Gateway drug effectThe gateway drug effect (alternatively, stepping-stone theory, escalation hypothesis, or progression hypothesis) is a comprehensive catchphrase for the often observed effect that the use of a psychoactive substance is coupled to an increased probability of the use of further substances. Possible causes are biological alterations in the brain due to the earlier substance exposure and similar attitudes of people who use different substances across different substances (common liability to addiction).
BetelThe betel, Piper betle, is a species of flowering plant in the pepper family Piperaceae, native to Southeast Asia. It is an evergreen, dioecious vine, with glossy heart-shaped leaves and white catkins. Betel plants are cultivated for their leaves which are most commonly used as flavoring in chewing areca nut (betel nut chewing). The term betel was derived from the Malayalam word vettila via Portuguese. Piper betle is originally native to Southeast Asia, from India to Philippines, Timor-Leste and the Lesser Sunda Islands and Peninsular Malaysia to Indochina (Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar).
