Georgia State UniversityDrug Safety Summary

Written by Megan Urry

Megan Urry

Hometown

Franklin, New Jersey

Major

English, Journalism

View all previous student authors

Drugs and alcohol definitely have a presence on campus, but it's not overt. Georgia State isn't a dry campus, and with a large portion of our student body being over 21 (in addition to having bars, clubs, and restaurants literally next door to the school), drinking is a regular and accepted activity here. Partying with alcohol is harder to get away with if you're under 21, and being in such a compact space with so many people makes it difficult to conceal substance use, especially if you're in public or outside the dorms where authorities (both Georgia State and Atlanta police) are either constantly patrolling the area or literally sitting outside the buildings watching for suspicious activity.

Drugs, on the other hand, aren't necessarily a part of the school's everyday atmosphere, but they are easily accessible. Marijuana and prescription drugs circulate around the dorms and off campus, and while there are plenty that don't partake, there are a number of students that do. Drug use here isn't rampant or what most would consider a "drug problem," and most students mind their own business, but it is present. The penalties for getting caught with illegal substances are usually handled by the Georgia State Police, which can mean anything from expulsion to a slap on the wrist, depending on what you're doing with it and how much you have.