Pubdate: Thu, 10 Apr 2003
Source: Lumberjack, The (AZ Edu)
Copyright: 2003 Lumberjack Online
Contact:  http://www.lumberjackonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2737
Author: Tristan Meyer

DRUG USE IN UNIVERSITIES HINDERS HARD EARNED REPUTATION AND GOALS 

We, the students, have to recognize drug use for the problem that it is. Any
drug use is a problem and we have a responsibility to address it.

"There are so many neutral people that authorities could use to smoke out
the abusers, and it would be so easy," said Jeremy Green, a freshman
undecided major.

It is the responsibility of those who see drugs being used to report the
users. In doing this one may undergo ridicule for telling, but the fact is
using any kind of illegal drug is just that, illegal.

Law breakers deserve to be punished.

I have, in talking to people on campus about illegal drugs, come to two
conclusions.

One is most people have seen drugs being used in the halls or know somebody
who uses drugs, and the other is many people do not see drug use on campus
as a big problem.

I was left to ponder which of these conclusions was more disturbing; that
drug use is so common, or that people are so oblivious to the problems drugs
cause.

Drugs can wreak havoc on communities and can destroy an individual's life.

The effects of hard drugs like crack and heroin are well known. They can
turn a good person into a drug-craving monster, making a person so enslaved
to their addiction that other priorities take a back seat.

Most people also know crack and heroin are not common on campus, but
marijuana is.

Since most people know marijuana is the most prolific drug on campus, and
most people feel drug use is not a big problem on campus, one can draw the
conclusion that many people believe that marijuana use is not a big deal.

Last year, the NAU Police Department reported 81 incidents of drug law
violations, many of which involved marijuana.

Using marijuana is like playing with fire. One may be able to avoid getting
burned for a while, but not forever.

You cannot use marijuana occasionally without experiencing ill effects. The
National Institute on Drug Abuse has released a list of effects of marijuana
use, which include a reduced ability to perform tasks requiring
concentration and coordination (driving a car), difficulty in acquiring new
information and impairments in learning ability and memory retention.

In short, a marijuana user may find it difficult to perform well in school
and social situations, leading to a lower GPA and loss of academic
opportunity.

This reflects poorly on the school and creates an environment where it is
more difficult for others to perform successfully.

The use of pot can also lead the user to more potent drugs, drugs that can
ruin that person's life as well as the lives of people who are close to
them.

The bottom line is marijuana is illegal for a reason: It is a problem and it
can destroy lives.

The person you reported probably will not appreciate the action right now,
but maybe getting in trouble will be just the way to set a person straight,
leading to a better life in the future.

By taking a stand, we can make a statement.

We will not allow drug abusers to reflect poorly on us and our achievements.
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