Study finds that people who enjoy using drugs are more likely to use drugs. Who would have thought!

But more than that, tobacco is an interesting drug.

The "gateway" effect between cannabis and tobacco in the UK is encouraged by government which has consistently refused to run a safer use campaign aimed at cannabis users to discourage the smoking of tobacco filled joints. Tobacco also leads to more cannabis use as consumers roll joints to satisfy the tobacco craving.

Tobacco seems to be a good "mixer" drug, it enhances the effect of many drugs, hence the "beer and fags" tradition. From personal experience of knowing quite a few people with drug misuse problems - heroin mostly - all of them have been heavy tobacco users.