U OF M STUDENTS REPORT HIGH DRUG AVAILABILITY ON CAMPUS

When Eric gets ready to write a term paper, he tunes the radio to his
favorite station, unfolds his notebook, lays out the assignment, pulls the
chair close and draws a deep breath.

He then removes a small, blue pill from a vile in his pocket and sits it on
the desk. He begins crushing the tablet of morphine beneath his driver's
license, leans over his desk, and inhales the line of white powder.

"I have to do drugs to wake up. I have to do drugs to go to sleep," said
Eric, who wished to remain anonymous. "I have to do drugs to do anything. I
have to do drugs to survive.

"I've been addicted to opiates for nine or ten years. With each day, it
gets harder and harder."

Eric came to The University of Memphis to get an education and get away
from a drug addiction that is costing him his money, health and many
friends. When he arrived in August 2002, he quickly realized the same drugs
he was trying to escape were readily available on campus.

"Anybody can get them if they really want them. If I got money, the drugs
are available," Eric said.

Ben Woodford, freshman anthropology and philosophy major, agreed. "Students
can go five minutes in any given direction on campus and find a sack (of
marijuana)," he said.

Nikki Acerra, Police Service's crime prevention coordinator, said members
of her department use a hands-on approach to combat the use and
availability of drugs on The U of M campus. She also stressed the
importance of cooperation between the campus community and Police Services.

"Police work is about information," Acerra said. "We'd like to be able to
make some more drug arrests."

Acerra said besides alcohol, marijuana is the most prevalent drug found on
The U of M campus.

"I think on most any college campus you're going to have your share of drug
violations, but our numbers have been in the past substantially lower than
other universities," she said.

Despite the joint effort of Police Services and the Memphis Police
Department, many students say they do not believe enough is being done to
combat drug use on campus.

"If you walk up and down the halls of my dorm, you can smell marijuana,"
said Joe Roberts, sophomore math major.

Roberts said he does not believe any action is being taken in the dorms to
prevent drug use.

"The cops don't enforce busting marijuana users because typical smokers are
discrete about it," Eric said. "I can get marijuana in six different places
in this dorm alone."

Acerra said the best way to prevent the availability of drugs is for
students to get to know one or two campus police officers.

"We want everyone to be safe, get a good education, and enjoy the time
while they're here," Acerra said.