ON-CAMPUS DRUG VIOLATIONS RISE AS DRINKING VIOLATIONS DECLINE

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."