With a myriad of drugs and alcohol widely available to students, parents often worry about their children getting caught up in a circle of abuse.

In a study done by Campus Health Service last February, 63 percent of the 322 students surveyed had four or fewer drinks the last time they drank. One drink is equal to a 12 ounce beer, one shot of liquor or 6-8 ounces of wine.

Daniel Reilly, a health educator in the Campus Health Service, said that if students choose to use alcohol, most drink in healthy levels.

"The idea that everyone is getting hammered all of the time is just a myth," Reilly said.

The survey also reported that 95 percent of students have not used illicit drugs within the past 30 days of the sampling.

The CORE Institute, which does national surveys on drugs and alcohol, reports that alcohol, marijuana and tobacco are the most prevalent drugs on college campuses.

"I drank for the first time last month," Casey Tifft, a 22 year-old watershed management sophomore said. "I tried it and I didn't like it."

Tifft, who was wearing a D.A.R.E. T-shirt, said some people do drugs because they need a crutch.

"People would smoke banana peels if they thought they could get high," he said.

Reilly said alcohol has the most negative consequences compared to other drugs used on campus.

He said negative consequences consist of: Minors in Possession and DUI charges, poor academic performance, fights with friends, injuries to oneself and acquaintance rape.

"I think drinking is a problem on college campuses," Lee Ving, undelcared sophomore, said. "There is no culture on earth that doesn't have alcohol."

Ving said he does not drink. "I've been tipsy once, but it's just not worth it."

With all drugs, Reilly said people can become dependent.

"You don't feel normal unless you're high," he said.

In 1995, the University of Arizona Police Department reported 149 drug related violations. In 1990, there were 61.

Lt. Brian Seastone, UAPD, said the increase is not because there is more drug use, but because there is more reporting by personnel.

"There is more targeted enforcement, and we're using canines to help us out," Seastone said. He said the vast majority of drug incidents on campus involve marijuana; only a small amount involve "hard" drugs like cocaine, heroine, LSD and peyote.

When a student, or anyone on campus, is found in possession of an illegal substance, Seastone said he or she is arrested. Also, if any of the individual's physical assets are related to the illegal substance, such as a car used for drug running, they can be taken, under the forfeiture statutes.

The Tucson Police Department reported 418 total arrests involving drugs last year. The numbers did not include the 149 violations on the UA campus.

Reilly suggests that parents talk with their students about drug use.

"Look into how your son or daughter uses drugs or alcohol and how it's affecting them," he said. "Most students are healthy and use (drugs or alcohol) in levels that present low risks and most suffer no negative consequences."

When caught drinking underage or with an illegal drug, Reilly said students are not "bad."

"There are always consequences for what you do, and you have to accept those consequences," he said.

Reilly added that drug use is not good or bad, but a personal decision.

"Different people have different values. You have to be able to make your own decisions," he said. "One symptom of drug abuse is losing insight on how the drug is negatively effecting you."

There are a number of places students can go to get help with a drug or alcohol addiction.

Campus Health Promotion offers a Student Health Alcohol and Drug Education program. Students can learn more about the program by calling 621-6483 for education sessions. Support groups are also offered for alcohol, cocaine and narcotics anonymous sessions . For information about meeting times and locations, call 621-4519.

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