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What colleges have the most prevelent drug use? Where can I find statistics about drug use in college?

By Thalia on Sunday, February 16, 2003 - 05:12 pm: Edit

Reputedly, Reed, Oberlin, colleges known to be alternative -

Princeton Review has rankings which I think include this category -

By Wadad (Wadad) on Sunday, February 16, 2003 - 05:15 pm: Edit

Colleges are, understandably, not likely to want to publish statistics on this. Are the guide books that rely on surveys of college students (Princeton Review) or write-ups by students themselves (Yale Insiders) reliable? I don't know. The best bet may be to talk to a number of students at the college.

By Practical Stylist on Sunday, February 16, 2003 - 05:52 pm: Edit

It's not statistical but an unscientific poll which is fine for that purpose. Where there's smoke, there's fire - schools don't get a rep for drug use for no good reason.

By a on Monday, February 17, 2003 - 10:06 am: Edit

Reed and Oberlin are known for pot, but not hard drugs. Just pot.

By Caveat Emptor on Monday, February 17, 2003 - 01:16 pm: Edit

This is the first I've ever heard of a pot/hard drugs distinction in a context like this one. A school is known for it's drug use or it isn't. If not, what school is known for the prevalence of hard drugs?

Spinning for the sake of marketing is reprehensible.

By Justwannahelp (Justwannahelp) on Monday, February 17, 2003 - 01:58 pm: Edit

i disagree with the statement a school is known for drug use or its not. i would be okay with my sister going to reed, pretty much a pot only school, but not columbia, where hard drugs are exponentially more accessible.

By Shillsmeller on Tuesday, February 18, 2003 - 11:02 am: Edit

Is your fear with Columbia based on anything quantifiable or just its location?

By Undercover Agent on Tuesday, February 18, 2003 - 10:34 pm: Edit

Now, now, Justwannahelp. Everyone knows pot leads to bigger things. You're raising an illusory distinction (pot vs. hard drugs) that's highly (pun intended) suspicious.

By Disgusted on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 07:29 am: Edit

Fabricating farfetched theories designed to market a school to unsuspecting readers is shameful. I have never heard anyone distinguish pot from hard drugs in terms of college usage.

By Stressed (Stressed) on Sunday, March 02, 2003 - 12:49 pm: Edit

I don't really want to get this discussion, I was just checking for useful info, but as a mom I think the distinction is a very valid one. Having grown up in the 60's I know a number of people who never moved from pot to anything "hard" and I also knew a number of others who are now dead. This is certainly not an "illusory distinction."

There is a fundamental attitudinal difference between campus tolerance/acceptance of recreational marijuana use, and tolerance/acceptance/ignoring of hard drug or alchohol use. My kid is sensible enough to deal with the former, so it doesn't really bother me, but the latter suggests an environment where the dangerous problems of some students can affect others whether or not they choose to participate.

By Topcat (Topcat) on Sunday, March 02, 2003 - 02:30 pm: Edit

Thanks, Mom. I agree. I've applied to Oberlin and I'm really not all that worried about its reputation for drug use - 1. I perceive that it's mainly pot. 2. I don't get the impression that there's any pressure to partake. 3. Students at Oberlin (and Reed) are very academically focused, with some of the highest rates of PhD production in the country. That sort of tells me that most people are substance-free most of the time.

By Blahdefrickenda (Blahdefrickenda) on Sunday, March 02, 2003 - 08:46 pm: Edit

there's a difference between Undergraduate studies and Doctorate. and you can't say that since a lot of students are getting PhDs that they aren't doing drugs most of the time...it might actually be possible to do both.

By Topcat (Topcat) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 05:40 pm: Edit

Obviously that's true. But it is at least a data point - whereas everything else is just hearsay. The Cleary Act data doesn't really show a whole lot of drug activity at Oberlin.

By Emeraldkity4 (Emeraldkity4) on Friday, March 28, 2003 - 09:42 pm: Edit

Checking the record re drugs on the gov web site doesn't show much activity as their reputation would warrant at Reed either.
Both Oberlin and Reed( especially) are too tough academically to be able to pass your classes if you are into drugs.
Reedies relish their reputation as being a school where anything goes, but not having football or fraternities they really attract geeks not party animals