Written by Vanessa Willoughby
Emerson is not a haven for drug dealers or addicts. This is not to say that there aren’t the occasional pot smokers and alcoholics, but what school isn’t that way? Alcohol is readily available at Emerson parties—which, it should be noted, are parties that occur off campus at Emerson students’ houses; there aren’t really any on-campus parties to speak of. Living in the dorms, it is very easy to avoid drugs. On the other hand, if you’re looking for weed, you’ll most likely be able to find it. As the students tell it, there are a few students who use cocaine and other serious drugs, but this is not prevalent, nor thrown in anyone’s face.
There aren’t many drug busts on campus. Usually, students who get caught are in the Common while burning one down. Other than marijuana, there are also prescription drugs, like Ritalin or Adderall, that are used by students to stay up late. Caffeine and other mild stimulants are also used by some. It’s low-key, and there is little to no pressure for students to use drugs. There are also groups of students on campus who are proud of being substance-free. Emerson also offers a Wellness Floor in the residence halls, where residents living on these floors pledge to live a healthy lifestyle, free of illegal and damaging substances. However, these floors don’t always remain this way through the entire school year.