Pubdate: Wed, 22 Oct 2003
Source: Gamecock, The (SC Edu)
Copyright: 2003, The Board of Trustees of the University of South Carolina
Contact:  http://www.dailygamecock.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2319
Author: Ashlee Rickard

SURVEY SHOWS USC STUDENT DRUG USE DOWN

Students from all over Columbia took part in Red Ribbon Week festivities on 
the State House steps at noon Monday. The kickoff celebration was meant to 
show South Carolina's commitment to drug-abuse prevention, and it ended 
with students signing pledges to be drug-free.

Illegal drugs have been a nationwide problem for decades, and the National 
Red Ribbon Campaign, founded to honor the memory of a DEA special agent 
tortured and killed by a Mexican drug cartel, seeks to eradicate, or at 
least lessen, the effects of illegal drug usage. The annual campaign is 
only one example of the campaign's efforts.

It is understood that no place is completely devoid of drug problems, but 
how prevalent are drugs at USC?

According to the Core Alcohol and Drug Survey, administered to a random 
sample of USC students each semester by a national company in Illinois, use 
appears to be declining.

The survey indicates that in fall 2002, 12.6 percent of the students were 
current marijuana users and 5.4 percent used drugs other than marijuana on 
a regular basis. However, in spring 2003, the percentage of marijuana users 
dropped to 6.3 percent, while 4.9 percent used other drugs.

Whereas marijuana and cocaine use dropped among students, the usage of 
amphetamines during the spring increased, going from 2.7 percent of 
students to 4.4 percent.

Despite less usage of illegal drugs on campus, 50 percent of students 
surveyed in spring 2003 thought that the average student on campus uses 
illegal drugs at least once a week, compared to only 45 percent in fall 2002.

Ninety percent reported in the spring survey that they would prefer not to 
use illegal drugs while at parties.

Carmela Carr, director of USC's Drug and Alcohol Programs, says USC is 
below the national average when it comes to illegal drug usage.

Of 93,679 college students surveyed, the study revealed that over a 30-day 
period, 19 percent used marijuana, 1.6 percent used cocaine and 3 percent 
used amphetamines.

USC is only above the national average pertaining to amphetamine usage.

The University's Law Enforcement and Safety Department is also seeking to 
stop illegal drugs on campus.

"We do the best job we can to have a safe community," said Ernest Ellis, 
the department's director. "What I have seen over the years is that USC is 
no different from any other campus of its size and location."

Ellis explained that even though the department doesn't have a separate 
drug unit, the officers are "very committed" to drug enforcement and take a 
"very serious approach to drug use."

Anytime leads are divulged to the department, "the information is followed 
to the end. No information is overlooked," he said.

USC Law Enforcement also receives a grant that allows the department to pay 
overtime to officers who educate students through programs and presentations.

"We will never turn our back on drug enforcement," Ellis said.
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MAP posted-by: Perry Stripling