Daily Egyptian

At the beginning of the school year, more than 300 incoming freshmen were surveyed on a variety of issues, including grades in high school, political and religious affiliation and drug use.

Their responses were compared to those of hundreds of thousands of students at universities across the nation to determine trends in attitudes and values of freshmen students.

Administrators say the information is important to better serve the needs and expectations of students and to help them succeed academically.

Officials said some of the responses were encouraging, such as the high-level of community involvement many freshmen claim. Other responses, however, were troubling, such as frequent alcohol and drug use.

Over the following weeks, the DAILY EGYPTIAN will take a closer look at these survey findings, learn what the University is doing with the information and examine the changing demographics of the freshmen class.

According to a recent survey of incoming freshmen, SIUC students not only drink alcohol more frequently than other students across the country, they also suffer from more negative consequences because of it.

More than 67 percent of incoming freshmen reported drinking beer in the last year, compared to 40 percent at other institutions across the nation. More than 74 percent of SIUC freshmen reported drinking wine or liquor in that same time, compared to almost 47 percent at other public four-year schools.

On top of alcohol consumption, more SIUC freshmen smoke cigarettes than the majority of college students and 28 percent are current marijuana users. One out of 10 SIUC freshmen reported using an illegal drug other than marijuana in the month before the survey, officials say students are increasingly using ecstasy, methamphetamines and heroin.

Cheryl Presley, director of the Student Health Center, said officials do not know why drug and alcohol use is higher at SIUC than other universities, but want to reduce the harm associated with the habits.

Presley is leading a new drug and alcohol task force that was formed to assess such use on campus and find ways to address it. Presley said the group is expected to submit its report on the issue by the end of the semester, and is focusing on how to keep students safe rather than taking an abolitionist stance.

"It's upsetting that kids are really hurting themselves a lot," Presley said. "But at certain times, students are more vulnerable, and that is often when they first come to the University. But, instead of telling students well, 'I don't think you should drink that much,' we should say, 'You know, you are really putting yourself at risk by doing that,' and address that."

Presley said the University is seeing an increasing number of freshmen enrolled who have already started rehabilitation programs, and is training faculty and staff to recognize students who may have problems.

Students should realize that excessive drug and alcohol use not only hurts them academically, Presley said, but it also affects their friends, family and at times, future.

Problems associated with drugs and alcohol can also strain the University.

The top insurance claims the University deals with are those for injury and accidental poisoning, Presley said. Claims for that category total nearly $1 million, and while Presley said there is no way to know how many accidents are caused because of drinking and drugs, she suspects it is quite a few. Drug overdoses also fall under the accidental poisoning category, Presley said.

As a result, student health fees must be raised to cover insurance claims. Larry Dietz, vice chancellor for student affairs and academic management said the University is considering a $60 hike to cover the rising cost of insurance.

While information about drug and alcohol use may seem bleak, Dietz said these results, along with other facts gathered by the survey, serve a purpose.

The survey is distributed among faculty and staff so they have a better understanding of the student body they serve, he said. And if administrators are aware about trends and problems, they can better address them, Dietz said.

"This really isn't about accomplishments or failures as much as it is just for educational use," Dietz said.

Presley agrees, noting that students who drink and do drugs are a small percentage on campus, but said that does not mean the information should be discounted.

"I just think about how many dreams are shattered by students who permanently flunk out, or injure their minds and bodies with this stuff and it's depressing," Presley said. "Students should know that they can turn this stuff down and be in the norm, it is not the norm to abuse. There are other options."

For more information about alcohol and drug use, or for assistance quitting, call the Wellness Center at 536-4441.