Smith CollegeDrug Safety Summary

Written by Dara Kagan

Dara Kagan

Hometown

Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y.

Major

Government, with a minor in the Study of Women and Gender

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Drug use is fairly significant on campus, but it is not highly visible. In general, Smith students who use drugs do them with others who do, so non-users feel very little pressure to use drugs because of how insular the various drug-using groups are. If you want drugs, it’s possible to get them, but it’s not as though dealers are announcing their presence, and no one is running around trying to sell drugs.

Cocaine is a fairly common drug on campus, but it is mostly underground. There is a more significant use of softer drugs—alcohol and marijuana are highly prevalent on campus. It’s also not uncommon to hear of students selling, taking, or snorting Ritalin or Adderall during finals. It would be difficult to estimate the number of students who do this because, like most drug use on campus, it is largely hidden. Overall, drugs are a dominant force on campus for students who choose to be a part of that scene, but those who want to stay away from them don’t have a problem doing so. There is very strict enforcement by Residence Life staff and Public Safety, so students who do choose to use drugs are forced to be discrete.