Drug use on campus: a higher education

"[The drug scene] is not visible, and not nearly as visible as the drinking, for obvious reasons, but it's definitely present whether you see it or not," one sophomore said.

According to the Tufts Police Department's (TUPD) Police Blotters for the past few months, many calls relate to loud parties and alcohol, but just as often, the department receives a call about illegal drug use.

In fact, it is just as likely that the TUPD will file a complaint relating to "a strong smell of marijuana emanating from a dorm room" as they will about a group of drunk students being disruptive. More surprising to many others is the less visible, but active, drug scene on campus, involving the use of harder drugs, such as cocaine.

Marijuana is the most frequently used illicit drug for college-aged students. According to the 2000 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, the 18-20 year old age group has the highest rate of current illegal drug use, with marijuana at the top of the list.

Tufts students who use marijuana can find themselves in an increasing national percentage. A Harvard School of Public Health study of US college students concluded that marijuana use is rising. As of 1999, 15.7 percent of students claimed to have used marijuana in the previous month.

According to a 2001 study by the Core Institute on Alcohol and Drug studies, that number went up, with about 20 percent of those students surveyed reporting having used marijuana at least once within the 30 days prior to the survey, while one to three percent of those surveyed had used another drug, be it cocaine, an amphetamines, a sedative, or a "designer drug."

Marijuana use is reportedly highest at competitive northeastern colleges, such as Tufts, according to the survey. "I've never had any trouble getting weed. It is by far the most accessible drug on campus," one freshman said. "I think it's easier to get pot here [at Tufts] than on a lot of other campuses; the rules seem more lax, but it is difficult getting the harder stuff if you don't know the right people."

The administration and Health Services see things slightly differently. "I would have no reason to believe that Tufts would be any different than any other institution relating to illegal drug use on campus," Health Services Director Michelle Bowlder said.

"If you asked me which drugs were out there, I would probably say, we know that there's pot, and ecstasy, and other kinds of club drugs. And that there might be small amounts of other drugs used but I couldn't give you any numbers."

Many students claim that marijuana serves as an alternative to alcohol, and is often more easily accessible on regular nights when there is not a party due to age restrictions on alcohol. Other students commented that it leaves them more in control of their actions than alcohol does.

However, although marijuana seems to be the most popular and widespread drug on campus, there are a significant number of students who use other "harder" drugs, whether on an experimental basis or habitually.

"Many students also use [cocaine] as a drug of choice, although less than weed. Coke is more for parties on campus et cetera, than it is for daily usage," one junior girl reported.

Others agree that cocaine, though less commonly used than marijuana, is not hard to come by at Tufts. "Coke does have a larger presence than people realize, and it kind of goes along with the school because people here have money [and can afford to buy expensive drugs]," one sophomore said.

Although Health Services declined to release statistics for confidentiality reasons, there have been reported cocaine-related incidents among students. "I have friends at [one fraternity] who have had pretty big problems with coke," one sophomore girl said. "I have seen people get pretty sick and they have to call TEMS. People will do [cocaine] before they go out and then drink and the combination is just not good."

However, other students commented that cocaine is only popular among certain students, many freshman having never seen it used on campus. "We don't all have the money to indulge a cocaine habit. It's very expensive and even though a lot of people here have money, only a certain number have that kind of money," one student exclaimed.

When asked about other drugs, the most popular response related to prescription drugs, such as Aderol and Ritalin -- two drugs that are commonly used to treat Attention Deficit Disorder by controlling hyperactivity. With the recent growth in prescription medications given to young adults, some students on campus sell or give their prescription drugs to friends, who proceed to mix it with alcohol. This combination greatly increases a student's chances of losing consciousness and can be deadly.

One student said that he has given out his prescription drugs when he and his friends were drunk or when they needed to stay awake to study for an exam or write a paper.

"Prescription [drugs] are used far too often on campus. From Ritalin, to Aderol to Vikadin," one junior said. "People use these drugs to concentrate when they're studying, or to enhance the effects of alcohol in their system. Either way it's stupid."

One conception among university administrators, students, and parents is that fraternities are the sites of the most extensive and risky drug use and drug induced behavior, a controversial accusation that often upsets members of the Greek system.

Some students, including members of the fraternities on campus, reported that drug use is just as likely to found in off-campus houses or dorm rooms. However, others reported that certain fraternities are notorious for their extensive drug use.

"There is one fraternity that always has obscene amounts of [cocaine]. If you want to buy, you go there," one sophomore reported.

The notion that drug use is widespread in the Greek system is may have some truth, but is limited. "Drugs are for sure used in frats on a weekly basis, but I don't think it's fair to lay the blame solely on the Greek system," one student said. "I know a fair share of students who are not affiliated with the Greek system and do drugs. Drugs on this campus are [very common] and everywhere."

When asked if she has been a witness to or a participant in using drugs, the same student said, "I do come into contact with drugs quite often. Many times it's at off-campus parties. People smoke freely at parties, and do coke more in secret in bathrooms."

According to the National Survey on Drug Abuse from the US Department of Health and Human Services, the percentage for annual usage of any type of illicit drug for full time college students is 36.1 percent, while any illicit drug besides marijuana is 15.6 percent. These percentages are slightly lower than those of people aged 18-21 who have not attended college, at 40.9 and 22.0 percent.

"Any given night you can get a hold of drugs...usually you know someone who sells or your friends know someone. There's no central location but you can always get some," one freshman stated.

A junior agreed that "If you don't have a friend that sells weed or coke, your friends do. There are a large amount of suppliers in our midst. But people like to keep their selling low-key."

For students who wish to change their drug habits, Tufts does provide services to anyone who might need them. In addition, due to the recent departure of the Drug and Alcohol Abuse Counselor, Health Services is currently searching for someone to replace him.

"Tufts has historically had a drug and alcohol counselor but I think that we would like to feel like our mental health professionals at Health Services and the Counseling Center are skilled enough to work with people with substance abuse problems," Bowdler said. "It's pretty rare that someone wants a referral for in-patient treatment but we know the available resources. We feel likes the best way to provide students with help is to assure them that their problems will be kept confidential, and that the most important thing is that they get help if they need it."