Pubdate: Mon, 12 Dec 2005
Source: Daily Free Press (Boston U, MA Edu)
Copyright: 2005 Back Bay Publishing, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.dailyfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/796
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1935/a08.html

THE IGNORED PROBLEM

Too often, underage drinking is passed off as a major problem among
Boston University students, while another problem - and potentially a
much larger one - is left almost completely ignored.

This problem is BU's drug trade, and the Boston University Police
Department is doing about as much to solve this problem as President
Bush is doing for global warming. The BUPD's captain, Robert Molloy,
will not even acknowledge that the problem with drugs at this school
is worthy of his attention, saying recently that he "[doesn't] believe
there is a large drug problem here at all."

The truth is, according to some dealers, that business is actually
pretty good. In an interview with The Daily Free Press, one dealer
admitted he regularly made up to 20 deals a day - in Warren Towers
alone.

By not acknowledging that a drug problem at BU exists, the BUPD may be
trying to avoid receiving a bad mark for not dealing with it
effectively. It makes little sense to focus so much of the BUPD's
attention on underage drinking, when in fact it may not even be the
worst issue affecting students' well being.

The first step to dealing with the drug problem, though, is to
recognize that it exists. The next step is to find the most accurate
measure for the amount of drugs making its way into the hands of
students, and then take the appropriate action.

Certain drugs deserve more attention than others - such as ecstasy and
cocaine - because these drugs are more likely to put a student's
health at risk than drugs like marijuana and mushrooms. Other
prescription drugs, like Adderall and Ritalin, are also commonly used
illegally. By making drug dealing a more risky endeavor, and by
increasing the chances of dealers getting caught, many might be
discouraged from the illegal practice.

Of the four to six BUPD officers who are trained to patrol for
suspicious behavior, none of them are required to actively search for
drugs. Though police officers should not dig into any student's
private belongings without a justifiable reason, they should not
refrain form doing so if evidence suggests that a student may be an
active member of the drug trade.

Resident Assistants are also trained to smell for drugs like
marijuana, and they could be a resourceful tool for the police if they
suspect a student may be dealing illegal substances.

The BUPD should realize that it is ignoring a problem that is anything
but nonexistent. It should start by reevaluating the level of the BU
drug trade, and not focus all its attention on underage drinking.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake