CSU BECOMES FIRST CAMPUS WITH DRUG COURT

New Assault On Substance Abuse May Rescue Students, Save Money

Colorado State University has become the first campus in the nation to
offer students the option of drug court if they face being kicked out of
school for multiple drug and alcohol offenses. Campus officials announced
the creation of the court this week, saying it is modeled after those in
Denver and Larimer counties.

The U.S. Department of Education awarded the program a $350,000, two-year
grant in October 2001 through the Safe and Drug Free Schools program. A
successful pilot program was launched last spring.

"This is a crucial time in a student's life and we're able to catch them at
that time," project director Cheryl Asmus said. "We can say, 'You're going
to get kicked out of school.' We've got a huge ax hanging over their head."

The drug court's philosophy is to view repeat drug and alcohol offenders as
people with substance-abuse problems rather than as criminals.

There are some 700 drug court jurisdictions nationwide, officials say, but
CSU's is the first to be university-based. In a drug court scenario, the
offender meets weekly for 14 months or more with a judge, treatment
specialists, a district attorney, a public defender, a case manager and a
probation officer.

Family members, employers and schools also play a role.

In a typical alcohol or drug treatment program, only 11 percent to 14
percent of patients stay clean, Asmus said. But after attending drug court
for more than a year, 67 percent stay sober.

Of the eight student participants last spring at CSU, only one failed to
finish the program. One has completed the program and has maintained a
clean record, while six others are still enrolled.

"A lot of the reason it works is judge recognition," said Asmus, also
coordinator of CSU's Family and Youth Institute. "If someone takes this
personal interest and knows this face and name, it's not just another case
in court. They strive to not let that judge down."

At CSU, a campus judicial officer will replace the district attorney, and
on-campus treatment will replace private programs. The program is called
Drugs, Alcohol and You, or Day IV, and it's voluntary. Like any campus, CSU
has problems with alcohol abuse, officials say.

One 18-year-old student was hospitalized twice with a blood alcohol level
of .4 percent, near the lethal dose. She denied she had a drinking problem,
despite drinking a bottle of vodka per day. According to 2000 data, 48.2
percent of CSU students binge drink, compared with 42 percent of students
nationally. Binge drinking is defined as four drinks at one sitting for
women and five drinks for men.

At CSU, as many as 200 students are dismissed each year for repeat alcohol
or drug offenses. The students are usually freshmen, and half are from
out-of-state.

The drug court this year will be capped at 50 participants. Currently,
there are just more than 20 students in the program.

If students relapse, they won't be kicked out of drug court, but they will
face a sanction.

Aside from helping students, the program should save the university money,
Asmus said. Losing 100 out-of-state students translates into $1.2 million.

CSU plans to pilot the program for other universities, and the U.S.
Department of Justice is interested in turning CSU into a campus drug court
training site.