News Old Gold & Black
Thursday, February 2, 2012 A3
What’s
Trending? @nytimes: Campaign moves West in wake of Big Romney Victory @NBCNews: McDonald’s drops use of ammonia-based ‘pink slime’ in hamburger meat @washingtonpost: Panetta: U.S., NATO will seek to end #Afghanistan combat mission next year @nprnews: Clinton Calls On Security Council To ‘Stand With The People Of Syria’ @ABC: Money Wars: Obama Dominates Fundraising Battle, Romney Bests GOP Rivals
Drugs: Rise in abuse noted Provost: No changes outlined yet
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age of instances is frightening, given the potential for fatal harm. The American College Health Association survey states that about 15% of students report using non-prescribed stimulants within the last twelve months. James Raper, an employee at the University Counseling Center, has also taken note of the presence of stimulant abuse. “Use of stimulant medications for recreational purposes has been increasingly reported,” Raper said. The problem with stimulant medications may have to do with the rigorous nature of the university’s coursework combined with the pressure students feel to participate in a great number of extracurricular activities. With little time left for studying, some turn to Adderall for focus as a desperate measure. Aside from prescription drugs, marijuana and cocaine are cited as troublesome, too. “What seems to have changed in my observation is that marijuana and cocaine use has become much more frequently reported,” Raper said.
One male student revealed a curious secret. “One of my friends grows marijuana in his room,” he said. “It is too bad that he got caught.” Instances of the abuse of harder drugs — while not as frequently reported — do occur. “Over the past few years I’m also hearing more stories about the abuse of prescription drugs like Oxycontin, psychedelics and even heroin,” Raper said. “The latter examples aren’t necessarily commonly used, but their use at all…is certainly alarming and very dangerous.” But where does all this danger come from? How do students get their hands on drugs in the first place? One upperclassman specified that connections through student organizations — Greek or otherwise — are helpful in obtaining marijuana. Another student had a different understanding. “If you want to get your hands on the good stuff, then it would be best to make a trip to App State.” Whatever the source may be, drug use will be met by a handful
of university initiatives that aim to increase awareness about the negative effects of abusing prescription drugs. Additionally, Raper pointed to some indirect programs, such as the freshman program Awakenings, that give students the chance to find outlets for drug-free fun. Training on the role of bystanders in drug-related incidences has found a place on campus, as well. “There is an ongoing movement towards bystander education and intervention,” said Raper. “This means educating peers about the dangers of drug and alcohol misuse, but moreover helping friends and peers feel comfortable getting someone who is in a dangerous situation connected to a safe place.” In order to more directly respond to the surge of drug incidents, the university hired an expert on the topic. “Last year’s creation of a substance abuse prevention coordinator was a significant step towards effectively treating a problem that exists on virtually all college campuses,” Raper said.
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would be a really valuable thing to at least think through,” Kersh said. However, Kersh cautioned that he had no plans to make any immediate changes to university policy. “I think my first goal is to understand, as well as I can, the Wake of 2012. I’ve known Wake in its various generations but I really know it most deeply as the Wake Forest of the 1980’s,” Kersh said. “I think to come in Kersh and say, well, I have these eight changes and this nine-part plan would not be seemly given the Wake tradition.” Kersh also acknowledged that the university is a much different institution than it was 26 years ago when he graduated. “I think my first goal is to understand, as well as I can, the Wake of 2012.”
Rogan Kersh Newly appointed Provost
1. Manny Pacquiao 2. Soul Train 3. Mitt Romney 4. Prostate cancer 5. Vladimir Putin 6. Credit Suisse 7. Sarah Palin 8. Stephen Colbert 9. Cystic fibrosis
“Over the ensuing years it has become a highly ranked, national, research university,” Kersh said. “A lot of changes come along with that shift in focus and presence. 122281 CLINTS 2 17:45 2/28/01 DOLE “At the sameKW time, I really65 think the university has done an amazing job at holding to things that make graduates from earlier eras, and indeed, folks from Graphic by Renee Slawsky/Old Gold & Black the last century recognize and hold dear This graph, based on data from the Harvard School of Public Health, shows an increase the central aspects of Wake Forest.” in drug use on college campuses over the past 14 years. 4.25"
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