DISCOURAGING STUDENT DRUG USE

A new campaign was launched earlier this week to encourage Mac students to
have 'the time of their lives' at university -- without using drugs.

The Time of Your Life, A Natural High kicked off Tuesday, Oct. 14,
providing students with information on substance abuse as well as alternate
forms of recreational activity. A combined effort between McMaster's Campus
Health Centre, the Centre for Student Development and McMaster Security
Services, the program aims at conveying an anti-drug message to students
and, in turn, reducing the number of fines issued for drug use and
possession on campus.

According to Cathy O'Donnell of McMaster Security Services, Mac has seen a
dramatic increase in drug use over the last couple of years.

"Drugs have just actually become active on campus in the last two years,"
said O'Donnell. "Eight years ago, we didn't have known drug use on campus."

Although student affairs recently implemented a $130 fine for drug use and
possession at the university through its Student Code of Conduct, the
organizing groups behind the campaign wanted to help discourage drug use by
offering information to students in a positive forum.

"It is not about blaming. It is not about finger-wagging, `you shall not'
kind of thing. It hopefully takes an informative, educational,
non-judgmental tact," said Jane Radix, health and education co-ordinator
for the Health and Wellness Centre of Student Health Services. "You can't
put everything in publications, so we thought a website would be the best
way to go.

"So, all the posters say is `The Time of Your Life' and we're hoping that
phrase will pique students' interests to say, `OK, what's this about?'
because, again, we want to avoid that `you shouldn't' attitude."

In the 2002-03 academic year, 31 cases of drug possession were reported.
The money collected from fines was put toward funding the anti-drug efforts
and addressing the increasing incidences of drug use.

"It was identified that, in the last few years, [drug] use seems to be
creeping up. So, then student affairs said, `let's entertain proposals as
to what kind of efforts can we put out here to try to decrease this
trend,'" said Radix.

Radix sees the combined effort among the three groups as one of the
campaign's strengths.

"What was kind of neat is that, rather than departments bidding for this
funding and everyone one having a different program, it is a collaborative
effort between those departments that have to do with the results or the
consequences," added Radix.

"We don't really like collecting the fine," said Phil Wood, associate
vice-president student affairs. "Because we're an educational institution,
we would rather handle it in another way instead of fining people."

With its various promotional materials and prize incentives, the campaign
intends to do just that. In addition to the posters and bookmarks being
distributed throughout the campus, the website is also a valuable resource.

The site looks at safety issues and the rules of the Student Code of
Conduct as well as providing information on alternate stress reduction and
coping techniques. Students can also participate in weekly discussion
groups and enter a draw to win monthly prizes.

"We've got sponsorship from athletics and recreation, and they are
providing a free Pulse membership for the winter term and that will be the
November draw," said Radix. "Also, they're providing--this one isn't final
yet--a trip to the Vanier Cup in Toronto. And Titles Bookstore has donated
gift certificates of $25."

In addition to these donations, Radix hopes more sponsors will come on
board to help support the campaign's efforts.

For more information, visit www.mcmaster.ca/drugs.