Drug usage continues to lurk
By Angela Archunde
COPY EDITOR
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Photo Illustration By Amanda Seef |
It’s Friday night and before going out to the bars, students gather with their friends to “pre-game.” A few partner up to play beer-pong. Others sit on the couch and smoke a bowl. It’s nothing out of the norm. But behind the closed doors of the bedroom, some friends snort a few lines of coke. One of your friends may even plan to slip a roofie into someone’s drink that evening.
You may think that your group of friends is different, but this situation is more common than you think. Illegal drug use is becoming an increasingly large problem on college campuses nationwide.
Gary Metz, coordinator of the alcohol and substance abuse studies program at the College at Brockport, says that alcohol, marijuana and tobacco are the most prevalent drugs on college campuses. These three drugs are gateway drugs, meaning they can lead to further use of other substances.
“Our attention needs to be applied toward gateway drug use,” Metz said.
Libby Caruso, director of student health and counseling services says that drug use is harder to track because alcohol is more obvious and apparent.
“People can generally function if they are using drugs until they get too far into it,” Caruso said. “Our students have enough pressure, so why do drugs?”
Research indicates that if a person remains drug free until the age of 21, chances are they won’t use. Metz says by using before that age, students are placing themselves at a higher risk.
“College is about making decisions including our lifestyle and choosing our social support networks,” Metz said. “By hanging around people who do drugs, you are detracting yourself from a positive experience and developmentally delaying yourself from making good decisions.”
Amy Seager, a senior at the College at Brockport, has remained drug free during her college career. “If you can’t have fun with your friends sober, then what’s the point of establishing relationships with people you only hang out with when you’re getting drunk or high?” Seager said.
During high school, Seager did use alcohol, but did not like the effects it had on her. “I just really regret the stupid things I did when I was drunk, and I really see no point in putting myself in that situation anymore,” Seager said. “And smoking marijuana would just make me lazy, which I really don’t need as a college student.”
Robert Kehoe, chief of University Police said excluding alcohol, the most common “drug of choice” by far at Brockport is marijuana.
“During 2006 (the most recent year for which the statistics are readily available), there were 43 arrests and 30 Student Conduct referrals for illegal drug possession on campus,” Kehoe said. “These were virtually all for possession of marijuana.”
According to the American Council for Drug Education, there is growing evidence that marijuana may affect the brain, lungs, heart and immune system. It may also lead to a decreased ability to concentrate, and may affect the ability to learn and remember new things. It states marijuana - withdrawal symptoms may cause reactions similar to withdrawal from heroin, cocaine and alcohol.
Marijuana has been associated with poorer academic performance, according to the Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse and Violence Prevention.
Kehoe says that University Police has exercised a “zero tolerance” policy for illegal drug possession for many years.
According to the 2007-08 Your Right to Know and Academic Policies Handbook, standards of conduct prohibiting the unlawful possession, use or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol will be subject to local, state and federal laws.
Under Section IV of the Your Right to Know Handbook, illegal substance use is not permitted. Under no circumstances may illegal drugs be bought, sold or manufactured at the College at Brockport. Students who violate this may be subject to immediate termination and/or law enforcement. Prohibited behaviors defined by the college apply to off-campus as well.
The American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment (ACHA-NCHA) administered a random drug survey to the College at Brockport in the spring of 2007, and 192 students responded.
While alcohol was still the most commonly used substance among students, the results showed that approximately 25 percent of those students had used marijuana. Six percent had used cocaine or crack.
Approximately five percent had used amphetamines, diet pills, speed or methamphetamine. One person responded to intentionally using Rohypnol or roofies and GHB, or Liquid X. Two percent of the students admitted to using Ecstasy or E.
“I am sure that other illegal drugs, including heroin, cocaine, hallucinogenic mushrooms and crystal meth are also on our campus, but are nowhere nearly as prevalent as is marijuana,” Kehoe said. “I am also certain that various kinds of prescription medications, including highly addictive painkillers such as oxycodone, are being abused by a relatively small percentage of students.”
The college is currently undergoing the same survey for the spring of 2008. Approximately 2,600 random e-mails were sent to students, and more than 400 students have already responded. Results will be made available in the summer months. Students are encouraged to participate in the survey.
The Office of National Drug Control Policy conducted a study looking at teenagers, ages 12-17, and prescription drug abuse. According to the Center for Disease Control, there was a 62.5 percent increase in deaths in the U.S. from drug poisoning as a result from the use of prescription and illegal drugs between 1999 and 2004.
“Teens are abusing prescription drugs because they believe the myth that these drugs provide a medically safe high,” read the study.
“People think because they are prescription drugs, that they can’t be abused,” Joshua Fegley, health promotion coordinator, said.
Caruso says although it is an uncommon occurrence, there has been theft of prescription pads. The Health Center now keeps track of each prescription that is written from each pad. Caruso says some people also get the same prescription from different doctors and get each prescription filled at a different pharmacy, including the Health Center.
“It is a long delay before we are notified about the situation, but again, it is a rare occurrence,” Caruso said.
Metz says a college environment always needs to be vigilant. “They need to structure a positive and supportive college experience to lessen drug use,” Metz said.
Fegley says the college tries to cover all aspects of health and that always includes alcohol and drug abuse.
“Once a year, we go into the freshman academic planning seminar and do an alcohol and drug awareness program,” Fegley said. “We have done voluntary alcohol screenings around campus, and we can reach off-campus students by posting information in the off-campus student newsletter.” Tables have also been set up in the Seymour College Union with information and outreach programs.
Metz says there are several things we are doing and we can do. “We need to create a safe environment for student learning,” Metz said. “Anything that detracts from that needs to be looked at.”
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), a study was conducted in January of 2004 looking at drug-related problems among emerging adults — young people ages 18-25. After a series of research presentations, they identified the importance of identity issues and their relationship to substance abuse.
“Colleges are a time for transition, and educators need to support the students, and help them make good decisions that may last them the rest of their life,” Metz said. “Drug use has no place in that equation.”
The Your Right to Know Handbook states, “information on rehabilitation, counseling or re-entry programs available to substance users, abusers or people in recovery is available in the Student Health Center, Counseling Center and/or Employee Assistance Program.”
Caruso says she discusses predatory drugs, or drugs that increase the chance of being sexually assaulted, with students in the classroom, examination room or even during a sports physical.
“Students come in with a variety of visits and we deal with them as a health concern, not a legal concern,” Caruso said. “If we have to, we will transfer someone immediately to detox. People who come in are trying to treat mental health issues, or judicial issues with street drugs. They find it self medicating.”
Kehoe says he feels illegal drug use is certainly an issue of concern on all college campuses, including Brockport, as well as within our society as a whole.
“I have no reason to believe, however, that the extent of this problem at Brockport is any worse than at any other institution of similar size,” Kehoe said. “In fact, it is probably less of an issue here than at many other schools.”
Using and abusing drugs can lead to addiction which may lead to a lifelong problem. “It can cost you your friends, family, your spouse or significant other, your job, your education and even your freedom if you get into trouble with the law,” Metz said. Metz says it is a parasitic relationship between you and the drug.
“People who do drugs are not bad people,” Metz said. “But they do have a serious health problem and we’d be happy to help them.”
To learn about illicit and prescription drug related suicides on college campuses, be sure to check out next week’s issue of The Stylus.
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