HOW HIGH?

Any drug from marijuana, to cocaine, to methamphetamines may be located on
campus and in the surrounding neighborhoods.

"Drugs are everywhere, especially in Fort Collins," said freshman
psychology major Brett Carlson. "There were three or four (drug) dealers in
my dorm hall alone last year...you name it, and somebody's got it."

The relatively easy access for a potential customer has given rise to the
notion that the use of illegal narcotics is just a part of the college
experience.

"How can you expect to go to a place like college, which supports expanding
the mind, without trying new things," said senior engineering major Wylie
Nelson. "I think it's not all just the college, but the whole culture that
comes with being so close to the mountains."

Whether or not the mountains play a crucial role in Colorado drug culture,
it is apparent that use and abuse have been prevalent in the past and most
likely the future.

"Colorado is second in the nation in drug abuse (behind New Mexico), and
according to the National Household Survey, Colorado is number one in
marijuana use," said the Director for the Center of Drug and Alcohol
Education Pam McCracken. "Meth is definitely on the rise, and along with
alcohol and marijuana it is the college drug of choice...though we have
seen a slight decline in marijuana use."

Designer club drugs such as MDMA (ecstasy), GHB and Ketamine (special k)
have also found their niche.

"Ecstasy was everywhere you turned last year, and from what I've heard, it
was even worse the year before...those (designer) drugs are stereotyped as
just a part of the rave scene, but they're not," Carlson said.

Students who feel their extracurricular activities in the world of drugs
are getting the best of them can venture to the basement of the Hartshorne
Health Center to receive help.

"We will provide counseling to students who are having issues...we'll
determine if a student is dependent, and if so, we'll refer them to
outpatient help elsewhere in Fort Collins," McCracken said.