COLLEGE STUDENTS MUST KNOW THEY CAN LOSE AID

Consider the irony.

A new study shows that marijuana use among college students has continued
to rise during the last decade.

At the same time, the penalty for those caught and convicted of illegal
drug use has become more severe.

According to researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health, marijuana
use was up by more than 22 percent among college students between 1993 and
1999.

At the same time, a new law went into effect this school year that denies
college financial aid to those with drug convictions.

The new law has affected approximately 7,000 students across the nation so
far, according to U.S. Department of Education figures.

Students lose one year of federal eligibility for a first conviction on a
drug-possession charge and two years of eligibility for a second conviction.

A third conviction comes with an indefinite suspension.

Drug use among college students remains below the high levels reached in
the 1970s when it peaked at 37 percent in 1978.

But it is still cause for concern.

During the last several years, university administrators have focused on
binge drinking on campus. They have developed prevention programs to keep
students from abusing alcohol.

It is time to include illicit drugs in that campaign. The message should
emphasize the high price they could pay because of the new financial aid law.

Experimenting with drugs can have severe consequences on access to an
education, as those 7,000 college students already have found out this fall.

An education is not worth losing over drugs.