Written by Louie Tamayo
Marijuana and alcohol are the most commonly used drugs at UCSB; however, not all students drink or smoke. Due to the school's party reputation, it’s not hard to encounter a party on the weekends, when alcohol is freely being served, but many manage to go through their four years without feeling pressured to partake in these activities. Aside from alcohol and marijuana, drugs such as cocaine, ecstasy, and mushrooms can be easily found, although they are not as widely used. Students seem to agree that while the access to alcohol is somewhat abundant, the access to drugs is only noticeable if you are searching for them.
The use of prescription study drugs like Adderall, Ritalin, and Vyvanse has increased in the past few years, with many students taking them to cram for finals. Although no students seem to be overdosing from these drugs, they can widely be found around campus. Like most decisions, the decision to do drugs and drink is entirely optional. Most of the student body drinks; however, there is no apparent backlash for choosing not to do so. Drugs are obviously available, but depend entirely on whom you surround yourself with. If you are looking for drugs, then it’s likely you’ll be able to score some, but if you’re not looking, then it’s highly likely you won’t see much drug use.