The war on drugs has claimed many unnoticed casualties, including thousands of current and potential college students.

Because of a little-known federal law, many college students are stripped of or denied federal aid because of a drug conviction every year.

Added in 1998 to the Higher Education Act by Congressman Mark Souder (R-IN), the drug provision made it impossible for students with prior drug convictions to receive any financial aid. The provision had destroyed or at least delayed the educational goals of more than 150,000 would-be students. Due to much lobbying by students, the law was scaled back earlier this year to include only those convicted while attending college.

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