SURVEY: MARIJUANA MOST USED ILLEGAL DRUG

Behind marijuana, cocaine is the most used illegal drug on campus
according to an unscientific survey conducted by the Daily Titan this
semester.

In the wake of a massive drug bust last week at San Diego State, which
resulted in the seizure of 50 pounds of marijuana and four pounds of
cocaine, the results of the survey carry more meaning than could have been
anticipated.

The Daily Titan conducted the voluntary survey online during the month of
April. The newspaper received 260 usable responses during that time from
undergraduate and graduate students and alumni.

The results show 39.2 percent of students said they have used illegal
drugs since the time they enrolled in college.

Another online survey, which was part of the National College Health
Assessment, was conducted in May of 2007 by Cal State Fullerton in
conjunction with the American College Association had over 400 responses.
The survey by CSUF said just over 29 percent of students had smoked
marijuana, which contradicts the Daily Titan's findings by almost 10
percent. Results could differ drastically because the Daily Titan's survey
was unscientific.

Following marijuana, cocaine is the next most popular illegal drug
according to the Daily Titan survey, with 10 percent of respondents saying
they have tried it. Just over one percent said they are currently using.
The CSUF survey did not include cocaine.

Many articles have said young adults are drawn to the drug for its ability
to increase adrenaline. They tend to believe it helps them stay alert
while studying or to stay out longer when partying.

Over 38 percent of respondents to the newspaper's survey said they have
used marijuana since they enrolled in college and 15 percent of them said
they currently use it.

"Marijuana is and remains the drug of choice for college students," said
Sean Hogan, who teaches the course Treatment Issues in Drug Addiction at
CSUF. "There is less parental influence in college and more peer
influence. It's easy to give in."

The survey also reveals 14.6 percent of students have used prescription
drugs illegally.

The use of prescription drugs becomes illegal when an individual takes
more than the recommended dosage or takes it without a prescription.

"Research tends to indicate an increase in the abuse of prescription drugs
amongst college students," said psychology Lecturer Lori Phelps, who
teaches substance abuse classes. "The current cultural paradigm supports
the use of medication for every type of disorder, mental or physical, so
not only are the drugs more available as a result, there is also an
implicit message, which is that drugs work to fix problems."

Prescription drugs have been viewed as safe and effective because there is
a tendency to medicate, Phelps said. Commercials for prescription drugs
send a message that by using those drugs you'll feel better, look better
and love better.

"Of course they're going to seek them out. It almost wouldn't make sense
not to," Phelps said.

Hogan said parents have made prescription drugs easier to come by and use.
They can easily find them at home, or get a prescription.

"Pills are also the easiest to hide," said Hogan. "They are easily
ingested and don't always have visible effects."

"Most students in college are just experimenting," added Hogan. "They
aren't always abusing...As long as people are attending class, they
probably don't have a problem."

Using becomes abusing when the habit starts to affect responsibilities,
Hogan said. It can affect relationships, work and school negatively and
often has legal problems associated with it.

Sgt. John Bedell of the CSUF University Police said there is usually at
least one arrest on a weekly basis on campus that is related to illegal
substances.

He said methamphetamine is the second most common drug they see behind
marijuana. Only 2.3 percent of Daily Titan respondents said they had used
methamphetamine since enrolling.

Most arrests come from vehicle stops and complaints of odors in the dorms,
Bedell said.

In 2006, the last year statistics were made available, there were 26 drug
related arrests made on campus and in on-campus student housing, according
to University Police.

Of the 260 respondents, 38 (14.6 percent) said they had attended class
under the influence.

Even after the recent events at SDSU, Bedell said they have no intention
of taking any actions on campus.

The year-long investigation at SDSU arrested a total of 96 people ,of
which 75 were students.

"The particular students involved in the alleged possession of large
quantities of drugs intended for sale are not at all representative of
college students in general," said Phelps. "Situations like those at SDSU
make interesting news so they get reported and unfortunately contribute to
the perpetuation of misconceptions."