Flying high

Friday, January 15, 1999

Flying high

Some students find themselves

turning to illicit drugs to

overcome bouts of boredom and deal with the pressures

of school

By Mara Schiavo-Campo

Daily Bruin Contributor

Emily has a fondness for mind- altering substances. She has done
acid, crystal meth, cocaine, ecstasy and nitrous oxide, and she
also admits to dabbling with heroin, crack and special K (a
hallucinogen).

But Emily is not a vagrant or a delinquent. Rather, she is a
student.

"It’s the ultimate self-destructive act," the third-year art
history student said, with heavy eyelids and bloodshot eyes,
acknowledging a lack of rest.

"It’s so bad for you, you’re just like ‘man, I’ve gotta try
it,’" she said, explaining the contradictory logic behind her
habit.

Emily began experimenting with various drugs in the seventh
grade. Eight years later, she said she still uses drugs "because
they’re there, and a lot of times I’m just bored."

Boredom may stem from an excess of time, a circumstance that
many college students encounter.

Hal Pruett, director of Student Psychological Services, conceded
that student life is often loosely structured with ample free
time.

Pruett, however, does not feel that an empty schedule is the
main motivating factor in collegiate drug abuse. He cited peer
pressure and anxiety about academic performance as additional
reasons. Certain mental issues may also play a role.

"Many students use drugs to self-medicate for problems such as
depression and anxiety. That makes up the large percentage," Pruett
said.

While it is commonly known that many college students partake in
alcohol and marijuana abuse, the use of more dangerous drugs is
often underestimated.

Nearly 9 percent of 18- to 25-year-olds have done cocaine, the
highest percentage for any age group.

Pruett cited cocaine, methamphetamines and heroin as three
commonly used drugs.

Leanna Jadbois-Sills, public relations coordinator for the
Matrix drug treatment center, noted a significant rise in the use
of heroin.

"In the college-age group we’ve seen a rise in heroin use, which
really concerns us. Methamphetamines and heroin are becoming the
drugs to use," Jadbois-Sills said.

Other commonly used substances include mescaline, ecstasy,
nitrous oxide and acid.

Alexis, a second-year film student, said that at her worst
point, she was doing hits of acid every other day. Now, however,
she limits her use of the hallucinogen.

"You cannot do acid your whole life. It has a tendency to give
people a false sense of superiority," Alexis said.

A fast and energetic speaker with an extensive vocabulary,
Alexis hardly fits the stereotype of a mentally burned out
"druggie." She maintained that she does not let her drug use
interfere with her school work.

"If you know how to use drugs as a recreation, then that’s the
best thing you can do (if you’re going to do drugs). I can make an
educated decision about whether it’s the right time or not," Alexis
said.

Emily also said that she is in control of her drug use and has
her priorities firmly in place.

"I get my work done first. It’s all about mind control," she
said.

Both women agreed that they do not intend to continue their drug
use indefinitely and that eventually they will stop.

Yet, Pruett contended that drug abuse in college has the
potential to manifest itself into a life-long problem.

"That way of coping is a hard thing to break. It doesn’t just
end at graduation," Pruett said.

Prolonged drug abuse also has several long-term effects. Heavy
drug use can lead to hallucinations, paranoia, aggression and
concentration problems.

"I’ll think of something, I’ll go to do it and I’ll forget what
I’m doing," said Alexis, casually laughing about the everyday
annoyances that accompany her habit. "Side effects to drugs catch
up to you."

There is also the issue of addiction which becomes highly
probable with the use of "harder" drugs such as crack and
heroin.

UCLA provides students covered by its Medical Insurance Plan
with a program to help them overcome drug addiction.

Students are given an evaluation at Student Psychological
Services and the Neuropsychiatric Institute. If their drug problem
is deemed serious they are then referred to the Matrix Center for
treatment.

The Matrix Center conducts an intensive outpatient program
consisting of three weekly meetings. The meetings focus on behavior
adjustment and relapse prevention. The program also entails weekly
urine tests.

Emily, however, does not feel that she has any addiction
problems. In a patient, sedate tone, she defended her habit.

"It’s not even really fun anymore. It’s just extremely intense,"
she said, with a brief pause.

"But at least it’s better than reality."

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