Unwinding from a long day can include watching TV, grabbing a cold beer
or talking on the phone. But for Billy said he smokes pot three to four times a week and spends less than $100 a month to support his recreational habit. Angie Taylor, director of the Alcohol and Drug Education Center, said a Core Alcohol and Drug Survey is conducted every two years by the Core Institute at Southern Illinois University as a way of monitoring trends on campus. The 1998 results showed 2.8 percent of TCU students used drugs other than alcohol and tobacco one to five times a week, and less than 1 percent used marijuana daily. "I would be lying if I said we do not have some students who use cocaine or ecstasy (also known as X), but the percentage of those students is very, very small," she said.
Drugs undercover Detective Kelly Hamm with the TCU Police said in the past two years six people have been caught on campus with drugs. "I've been here 14 years, and I've been surprised at the small amount (of drugs) used here. Either that or it's well concealed," he said. "If they do it, they keep it off campus."
Weed is easily accessible on campus from student dealers, while other drugs are harder to find and are much more expensive, she said. "I could jump on the phone right now and have some (marijuana) in a few minutes," she said. "It costs too much to do other drugs regularly. I smoke at least four times a week and spend about $20 a week."
Nipping narcotics in the bud Taylor said most of the programs that the Alcohol and Drug Education Center offers focus on prevention. In the fall, we sponsor Red Ribbon Week, which is during Homecoming Week, and Safe Break for Spring Break, she said. "We see an escalated drug use during the break," Taylor said.
"People are more susceptible to falling prey She said her office also sponsors healthy activities, such as HyperFrogs, Up 'Til Dawn, Recreational Sports and fraternity and sorority programs to keep people from putting anything harmful in their bodies. Taylor said she speaks at organizations' meetings and residence halls about drug and alcohol trends at TCU. "I think students who are less involved have more free time and are probably more susceptible (to drugs) because of that," she said. Taylor said by working with Student Development Services, Frog Camp and orientation, she tries to get those students with free time more involved on campus and help them find their niche.
Habit forming Gayle, a student, said she started using drugs when she was 16 because her boyfriend, who was a habitual marijuana user, told her not to and, being curious, she began experimenting. "Also, I was in a lot of things in high school - cheerleading captain,
president of student council - and smoking gave me another identity other
than the 'good girl,'" she said. "I enjoyed myself while I did
it, but I Gayle said now she smokes for the right reasons. "I enjoy who I am now, and who I am when I'm with my friends," she said. "When I smoke pot, I enter my happy place. Anything can happen to me at that moment, and I can find something positive about it." She said she does not experiment with other drugs because addiction runs in her family and her body is highly affected by chemicals. "If I were to try anything like cocaine, I'm scared I would like it too much," she said. "I use marijuana because mentally I know I could stop anytime. I have asthma, and if my health got bad, I would be able to stop."
Taking a trip Jane said other drugs affected her work too much, and she does not like the person she becomes when she drinks. "With X, it impairs my judgment to the point that I do things that I'll regret later," she said. "With drinking, I get more aggressive. I trust myself when I use it (marijuana)." She said she uses marijuana for several reasons but mainly for relaxation and creativity. "I'm more creative when I use it. I'm a theater major, and a lot of my friends and I write screenplays and plays and come up with ideas for films. I come up with more concepts when I'm using," she said. Maria, a student, said she uses marijuana, cocaine, LSD and mushrooms for different occasions. "Marijuana helps me get through my days. It's relaxation," she said. "Every drug has its reasons to use it. LSD is a group, party drug. With cocaine, you have to set aside a large amount of time because you'll feel horrible the next day." She said she smokes daily and spends $150 a month on pot. "It's become so commonplace that I forget it's illegal." Billy said he thinks marijuana is a misunderstood thing, and he would like to see it decriminalized. "There are people that get found with marijuana and get just as much prison time as a murderer," he said. "I don't want it to be legalized because I don't want to pay that much, but definitely decriminalized."
Kathryn Garcia |
Billy, a TCU
student, unwinding occurs when he sits down to roll and smoke his joint.
Jane, a TCU student, said she has used a
variety of drugs, which include shrooms, ecstasy and acid, but mainly she
smokes marijuana.
to
Rohypnol, and people tend to do things out of their norm."
wasn't doing it for the right reasons."| The TCU Daily Skiff © 1998, 1999 Credits |