Study: The ‘gateway drug’ is alcohol, not marijuana

[loyalsister]

10. Where does this OCD connection come from?

Found it... I know many many people who have mental illnesses and I don't see this connection to OCD. The role of illegal drugs in mental illnesses is typically self medication.

edited to add...

The OCD tendencies are only connected in terms of self medication. The idea that addiction is a manifestation of OCD is way off base.

Although the symptoms of people with OCD who develop substance use disorders are similar to those who do not, research has demonstrated that those who develop substance use disorders are often less educated, often have other forms of mental illness in addition to OCD, and had OCD symptoms that began at an early age. Indeed, most people report that their OCD symptoms developed well before they developed a substance use disorder. Importantly, people with OCD who develop substance use disorders are at a greater risk for suicide and hospitalization.

http://ocd.about.com/od/livingwithoc1/a/OCD_substance_use.htm