The Drug Free Schools and Communities Act covers regulations to provide a drug free environment on college campuses. NIU supports an environment where academics and research are forefront, and compliance with this act is central to those efforts.
College Students and Drugs
- 98.8 percent of NIU students reported that they have never used a methamphetamine (NCHA, 2017).
- 94.2 percent of NIU students reported that they have never used cocaine (NCHA, 2017).
- 98.2 percent of NIU students reported that they have never used an opiate (NCHA, 2017).
- 91.8 percent of NIU students reported that they have never used a hallucinogen (NCHA, 2017).
- 11.1 percent of college students have misused Adderall in the past year (NIH, 2018).
Information to Consider for Health and Wellness
- Not taking drugs is the safest option. Most people who are offered drugs don't accept. If you are in a situation you are pressured to take drugs the best thing to do is to remove yourself from the situation and surround yourself with people who don't take drugs.
- Don’t share equipment such as pipes, rolled notes or needles as this can spread hepatitis and HIV.
- Don’t use drugs with prescription medications such as Ritalin, asthma inhalers, tranquillizers or anti-depressant medication.
- If someone is having difficulty breathing, turning blue or difficult to arouse after taking drugs, call 911 immediately and stay with the person until an ambulance arrives.
- Using psychoactive substances such as alcohol, drugs or both together increases the risk of unplanned and unprotected sex. You can reduce the risk of unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections by always using condoms and another type of contraception.
- Some short-term effects of drug use include changes in appetite, wakefulness, heart rate, blood pressure and/or mood.
- Some long-term effects of drug use include addiction, heart or lung disease, cancer, mental illness, HIV/AIDS or hepatitis.
- In 2015, a study showed that out of 43.4 million people diagnosed with a mental illness, 8.1 million of them had a substance abuse disorder too.
- All addictive drugs act in the brain to produce their euphoric effects. However, some can also cause damage due to seizures, stroke and direct toxic effects on brain cells.
- If a woman uses drugs during pregnancy, the baby can also be born dependent on the drug if the mother uses it regularly—a condition called neonatal abstinence syndrome.
Impact
Academic
- Students who use drugs are more likely to spend inordinate amounts of time partying and less time studying.
- Long-term drug use in students leads to depleted motivation and concern about the future and their careers.
Financial
- A person addicted to cocaine or heroin can spend over $10,000 a year to support the habit.
- Substance use treatment is extraordinarily expensive and often takes a couple of tries.
- Rehabilitation facilities can cost $30,000 a month.
Legal and Conduct
- In May 2010, synthetic cannabinoids, BZP and derivatives (party pills) and mephedrone and derivatives (bath salts) were banned under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977.