California University of Pennsylvania campus police didn't find evidence of drugs on Sept. 10, at Vulcan Village, when they were called to investigate; but police, students, and faculty feel the university is no different from others around the country when it comes to drugs on campus. Statistics show many college students have a drug problem.
A 2011 Core Alcohol and Drug Survey, conducted by the health center at the university which polls students of two and four-year educational institutions anonymously, yielded these results: over 17 percent of students living on campus "currently use (in the past 30 days) marijuana," and almost 9 percent of that same group use "three times a week or more." The national average for usage three time a week of more is 7 percent.
"I think it's way higher than that," said California University junior Josh Richards. Richards said that students have seen recent legalization and decriminalization of marijuana in some states, and that this may play a role in the use of drugs being deemed more socially acceptable; citing recent legalization laws passed in states such as Colorado.
Campus police are aware of the presence of controlled substances on campus, as Officer Robert Kwiatkowski said, "Do we have drugs on campus? Absolutely."
Kwiatkowski, an officer with over five years of experience said "I know we don't have a drug problem," demonstrating that, while he feels "nothing is a backburner issue," the campus police bring the "control" to the term "controlled substance."
Most on-campus arrests for possession of a controlled substance are handled by the campus police, without assistance from the surrounding California borough police.
Kwiatkowski said such incidents and arrests are more the exception than the rule for university students, as he said most students don't engage in this type of behavior, and that it usually dies down once students become acclimated to the university and personal responsibility.
Kwiatkowski said being away from home and living independently is a freedom that is new to most students. "It's a freedom some people can handle, and some people have a difficult time with," Kwiatkowski said.
Some campus administrators and students plainly do not accept that there is no drug problem at the university. Donna George, Alcohol and Drug Prevention Specialist at the institution states firmly "drugs are definitely here."
George said that the survey numbers in the Core survey indicate that "1 in 10" students are smoking marijuana three times a week or more. "That's a problem" George said.
Stephanie Southerland, a senior at the university echoes George's statements. "Any amount of illegal activity is a problem," Southerland said. "Any drug at any level is still going to be a problem."
George, with the CORE survey numbers in hand, said "It makes you wonder how many other students are quietly going through recovery."
Southerland and George said they support an on-campus, 12-step, recovery program.
George is currently working to implement such a support program, one that would provide aide for students already in recovery at the university. She is writing a grant to acquire the proper funding for the program at this time.
If a student has more support programs in place, "that student has the opportunity to change the course of (his or her) life," George said.
Philip Hough is a junior English major, studying journalism and political science at California University of Pennsylvania.
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