By Alec Matuszak
Staff Writer
Everyday people use drugs for a variety of reasons. Some may use prescription drugs, as prescribed by a doctor. Others may use drugs like marijuana recreationally, to enhance a good time or become more social with friends. For whatever reason people use drugs, they can be found within almost any community, including college campuses.
According to a 2015 University of Michigan news article, student drug use, especially marijuana use, has signifcantly increased since 1991. The percentage of daily marijuana users has increased from 3.5 percent in 2011 to 5.1 percent in 2013. Why the increase in usage? There could be many reasons. First, according to Pew Research Center, about 69 percent of Americans believe that alcohol is more harmful than marijuana. Second, the increase in daily marijuana use could be due to how easy it is to obtain. A 2009 Columbia University study found that 40 percent of teens could get marijuana within a day, with some even stating it is easier to get marijuana than cigarettes.
Although these statistics may seem quite troubling, the fact is that marijuana is safer than many of the other drugs that college students could be taking, like Xanax or cocaine. According to DoSomething. org, a website for young adults to inspire social change, about two in three college students are ofered prescription drugs by their senior year. According to addictionhope.com, cocaine is more popular at clubs and parties, and is used to increase euphoria and pleasure.
Rich Grillo, a junior psychology major, admits that the possibility of drugs on LIU Post’s campus scares him a bit. “Some people behave a little diferently when times are tough, especially around fnals week,” he said. “I could see how the stress could get to them and make them do something like that, but I would never do it myself,” he said. Grillo’s solution to the problem? “Make fnals easier,” he joked. “Honestly, I think [Post] does a pretty good job. I think they could be a little more open about it. Talk to people; see what help they need. I feel like they kind of forget that we’re people and also students,” he said.
Charlie Moerler, a senior broadcasting major, feels uncomfortable around students who do drugs. “It’s a little sketchy. I have no problem with the people who do [drugs] but I don’t like when people walk around campus and you can clearly smell that it’s on them,” he said. Regarding Xanax and Adderall usage during fnals week, Moerler thinks there is a line that shouldn’t be crossed. “I don’t have a problem with people [using], I have a problem when people overuse it,” he said. “I think it kind of gets in their head that fnals may be a little too difcult and that taking Adderall and other stuf like that is the only way to pass them, and get through them easier,” he said. Finally, Moerler believes that drug cases on campus should be carried out on an individual, caseby-case basis.
According to the LIU Post campus drug policy, “The Campus supports federal, state and local laws regarding illegal drugs, narcotics and other controlled substances. Possession or sale of such drugs is a violation of applicable laws and Campus policy.”
Associate Dean of Students, Adam Grohman stated that LIU Post supports all state and federal regulations related to the possession or personal use of illegal substances. Grohman stated that the Office of Community Standards assists students “in addressing matters as related to the use of illegal substances so that they can ensure success both in and out of the classroom environments.” The LIU website states that the “mission of the Office of Community standards is to promote student understanding of rights and responsibilities as individuals and as members of the Campus community.” This office is responsible for the handing down of punishments to students who violate the Code of Conduct.
According to the LIU Annual Security and Fire Safety report, which is publicly available on the LIU website, there were 193 drug and liquor arrests, on Post’s campus in 2014, the most recent year reported.
For counseling information on campus, visit the Center for Healthy Living or contact Lynne Schwartz at 516-299-4162 or lynne. schwartz@liu.edu
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