Alcohol and other drug use across the nation is a big issue for college students, and it hasn’t stopped at Guilford.
One may have forgotten during Serendipity, but students are concerned about the drug use on campus. Serendipity, Guilford’s annual spring festival, began Thursday, March 25 and lasted until clean-up Sunday afternoon. Serendipity is known for its bands and parties as well as a campus increase in drinking and the use of drugs.
Many people in the Guilford community agree that alcohol is the drug most abused on campus.
Statistics back up the overwhelming response. A survey of incoming first-years found that 55% of Guilford students drank beer, compared to the 35% of students from other four-year private religiously affiliated colleges. The survey also found that 64% of Guilford students consume hard liquor and wine, where only 42% of the peer group of did.
“It leads me to think that the percentage of students who choose Guilford may be more likely to use alcohol and drugs than the peer groups,” said Anne Lundquist, Dean of Campus Life
Lundquist works in part in educating student’s on alcohol and other drug use, along with others in the department of Campus Life, faculty, and staff members.
Campus Life gives students’ avenues for a substance-free life style such as substance-free housing, host-responsibility training, Student Union-sponsored substance-free activities, and last week’s drunk-driving simulation. In addition, Campus Life works to educate and give awareness to drug abuse.
Recent issues with off-campus drinking and driving have caused concern among students and staff alike.
“I hear people talk about driving home from bars or off-campus parties,” said senior Residential Advisor Rushdee Omar. “Maybe a forum is needed with Campus Life so people can be aware and be educated more about what they are doing, so they know the consequences.”
“I think that we should do some more actual education … [like a] designated driver program,” said Lundquist. “Part of the goal is to have continued conversation about things from students’ perspectives so that we can be thinking of things that will be useful [in prevention].”
Campus Life intervention has been successful for some, as junior Margaret Osborne feels that that there has been a decrease in drug use at Guilford.
“I find the puking has gotten better this year – you don’t walk through piles of puke in the hallways anymore,” Osborne said. “I think the fact that [Campus Life has] made the dorms ‘no smoking’ has helped. If nothing else it has helped people not be so obvious [with marijuana].”Marijuana
Campus Life is currently working to increase alcohol awareness and combat drug use on campus.
“Our student self-reported marijuana use [is] at a higher rate than the national,” said Lundquist.
Lundquist also related a story of when former Campus Life administrator James Minton visited the University of Tennessee. When a stranger speaking with Minton found out his connection with Guilford, the stranger responded, “Oh, that drug school in N.C.?”
“The reputation for the college is there and it negatively affects us,” Lundquist said.

Prescription Drugs
According to the a 2002 study done by the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, illicit drug use is highest among college-aged students 18 to 25 years old. In addition, non-medical use of prescription medicines has steadily increased since the early ’90s. This mirrors the rising trend in prescribed psychotherapeutics drugs – such as prescription Ritalin and Ambien – from 7% in 1992 to 18% in 2001.
Psychotherapeutic drugs are those which can affect brain function and can include opioids, depressants, and stimulants.
Currently there are no statistics to prove that the increase in abuse of prescription drugs by students nationally is similar to a trend at Guilford. However, there are students who feel that prescription drug abuse on campus is far more prevalent than other illicit drugs such as marijuana.
“I think that prescription drugs are a big problem,” said sophomore Kara Simpson. “What I do know about prescription drugs is that you can get them everywhere and anywhere. Come finals time everyone starts snorting the Adderall.”
“It’s a problem that needs to be addressed. It’s not a [Guilford] college problem, it’s a national problem. Doctors are prescribing to everyone – everyone is sedated, on uppers, or downers. I see more people depending on legal substances than I do see people on illegal substances,” Simpson continued.
“I think that part of the problem with these drugs is they aren’t illegal – they are controlled and they’re also not often done by themselves,” Osborne said. “A lot of people do Ambien and then get drunk so they get in trouble with drinking – not Ambien.”
Omar agrees. “I feel like the college doesn’t take any preventative measures to educate students on prescription medicine. It’s creating a dependency on pills, which to me is drug abuse.”
“Alcohol is a drug,” said Ernest McCoy, director of counseling services. “The same educational process that one may use to educate people with about alcohol could be used to educate people about other drugs. But the overall process of addiction to these drugs is somewhat similar [to alcoho].”
For more information on alcohol and other drugs, contact Sandy Bowles, the Gender Issues Coordinator & Health Educator.
“I think she will be pivotal if students have ideas or concerns,” Lundquist said. “I would just encourage people to use her as a contact person on all wellness issues.