WEB SITE LOOKS AT MARIJUANA USE BY STUDENTS

Researchers at San Diego State University have created a Web site allowing
students to perform a confidential self-assessment of their marijuana use.

The researchers created e-TOKE -- the electronic THC Online Knowledge
Experience -- in response to research from the Harvard School of Public
Health showing that the percentage of college students using marijuana is
increasing.

"The latest research from Harvard shows the use of marijuana is
significantly influencing campuses," said Douglas Van Sickle, dean of
students at San Diego State University.

The number of college students who used the drug in the last year increased
from 23 percent to 30 percent from 1993 to 2001, according to the study.
About 98 percent of students who use marijuana also binge drink or use
other illicit substances.

The e-TOKE program is designed to motivate students to reduce their
marijuana use by using personalized information about behavior and risk
factors, Van Sickle said.

In addition to demographic information, the Web asks students to enter data
about their use of marijuana, spending patterns and lifestyle choices.

Responses are compared with national and local college norms, allowing the
program to provide personalized feedback comparing students to their peers.
It also discusses the negative consequences of marijuana use and provides
links to campus and community resources.

E-TOKE is a spinoff of another program called e-CHUG, used at more than 100
colleges and universities across the United States for alcohol assessment
and intervention.

That program has been used more than 77,605 times and has effectively
lowered students' levels of binge drinking, Van Sickle said.

E-TOKE is being tested at San Diego State and five other institutions:
Colgate, Duke and Texas A&M universities, the University of Nebraska and
the University of San Diego. It will be ready for nationwide subscription
in April.

UNC has no plans to sign onto the program. "I can't say we would be
interested in buying the program," said Dean Blackburn, assistant dean of
students. "But we are interested in giving out resources to let students
obtain the information and help they need."

And some say e-TOKE and other programs of its type aren't really useful.
"It takes more than a Web site," said Steven Steiner, founder of Dads and
Mad Moms Against Drug Dealers, an anti-drug organization. "What we need to
do is change the culture."

Steiner said college students are influenced by pro-drug organizations and
"liberal ideologies" on campus. He said it would be better for colleges to
hire more conservative professors instead of spending money on programs
like e-TOKE.

Tom Angell, communications director for Students for Sensible Drug Policy,
said the site should provide neutral information about drug use.

"We need accurate, nonjudgmental and reality-based information," he said.
"We haven't really seen too much in the United States."