On-campus drug violations rise as drinking violations decline
By: Anne Baker
Posted: 1/7/08
Alcohol, once the stereotypical beacon of collegiate life, is beginning to share equal prominence on college and university campuses with another substance: illicit drugs.
Northeastern has joined the growing number of colleges that see more students getting picked up for drugs.
From 2004 to 2006, the number of students arrested by Northeastern University Division of Public Safety (NUPD) for drug violations rose from 59 to 85, while the number of those arrested for liquor law violations declined from 115 to 75, according to the Safety and Security Information Report for 2007- 08.
"We believe the change [in the alcohol] numbers in the last few years is because of a campus-wide focus to widely notify incoming students that Northeastern University will not tolerate underage drinking, public drinking or abuse of alcohol," said Associate Director of Public Safety Jim Ferrier.
The report is a compilation of crime statistics all universities are required to release under the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. It lists the number of all reported crimes involving Northeastern students, including drug and alcohol violations, as well as weapons violations and other crimes. The report is released every fall and given to all incoming freshmen in their welcome packets, Ferrier said.
"We hope to use this as a reminder that they are in a city and to be aware of these issues as they live, work and go to school in the city," he said.
While the report may have aided the decline in alcohol violations at Northeastern, drug violations have continued to climb across the country.
From 1993 to 2005, the proportion of students who use marijuana daily more than doubled from 1.9 to 4 percent, while the use of illegal drugs other than marijuana rose 52 percent, according to a March 2007 report by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse. The study also found significantly more students now use marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy and heroin than in 1993.
"I am not sure what is causing the rise in drug violations, but we are seeing it," Valerie Randall-Lee, director of the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution, said in an e-mail. "It is very clear that drug use crosses all economical and cultural levels. It seems to be more pervasive right now in our student culture."
Although the Safety and Security Report does not detail the specifics of the drug violations, both Randall-Lee and Ferrier agree marijuana is the most common drug used by students. But a growing number of Northeastern students are turning to prescription medications as well, Ferrier said.
"There's a significant percentage of students for whom prescription meds are also a problem," he said.
While drug use is on the rise, alcohol abuse remains a constant threat to the health and lives of most college students, an issue school officials do not take lightly. Randall-Lee said substance abuse will continue to be something they fight against, primarily through education.
"In the end, students will choose on their own what they want to do," Randall-Lee said. "But I do believe it is important that we try to get the information to them in as many avenues as possible, and they can choose whether they will accept it."
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