Pubdate: Thu, 06 Nov 2003 Source: Setonian, The (Edu NJ) Copyright: 2003 The Setonian Contact: http://www.setonian.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2846 Author: Michelle Hoppen Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hallucinogens.htm (Hallucinogens) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/oxycontin.htm (Oxycontin/Oxycodone) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) PARTY DRUG RESOURCE CENTER FORMS ON CAMPUS The Party Drug Prevention Resource Center, a new program focused on education about party drugs, is now open on campus. This information is available now in the form of pamphlets and will soon be available online. The center also plans to offer training sessions to students, both in person and through the Internet, panel presentations, discussions and the opportunity to bring information to others through outreach programs in high schools and community boards. The center's goal is the primary prevention of party drug use. According to Ronda Wolfe, the new coordinator of Substance Abuse Services, party drugs include ecstasy, GHB, ketamine, rohypnol, LSD, mushrooms and oxycontin. Primary prevention means stopping the problem before it starts, she said. She explained it is accomplished by promoting awareness education to adults and children. "Accurate information is the key," Wolfe said. "My personal philosophy is about allowing students to have access to the information that will allow them to make positive choices and decisions. Scare tactics do not work." The center is being funded by a grant from the New Jersey Higher Education Consortium of Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention and Education and the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Division of Addiction Studies. The center will not only provide information to Seton Hall, but also to surrounding areas. Last year's Health and Counseling Services CORE Alcohol and Drug Survey revealed 8 percent of undergraduates had used party drugs, and 15 percent had used illegal drugs aside from marijuana. The same CORE survey also revealed 75 percent of students believe the majority of the student body uses drugs. This is an example of what Wolfe calls normative beliefs, which lead students to believe that many more people take these drugs than really do. When a student has normative beliefs, the student overestimates the number of people using drugs and underestimates the number of people who do not. That belief can lead to more students trying drugs, she said. The center will try to prevent these misconceptions by providing accurate information. Students are aware of the existence of party drugs, but most do not see them as something to worry about. "They're not much of a problem here," freshman Jeremy Weber said. "I don't think the center will help much." Several students wishing to remain anonymous said they had done party drugs, but still do not see them as a campus problem. One student said, "Life is like whipped cream. You have to shake it up once in awhile." Other students feel party drugs are, in the words of freshman Chase Pepper, silly. "The idea of the party drug is idiotic," he said. "Not only is it physically and emotionally unhealthy, but also, what kind of person needs a party drug to be amusing? An insanely boring person, that's who." Students have had varied experiences with party drugs. Kelly Juleson related: "My cousin left her drink alone at a party while she went to the bathroom. Someone put Rufies (GHB) in it." Chris Coughlan recalled the time a friend took too much LSD. "He called me and told me he was in Super Mario World, and that he had fallen down the stairs for two hours. I had to wrap him up in a blanket and put him to bed." For more information, visit the Party Drug Prevention Resource Center in Room 117 of the University Center, also home to Peer Health Education.