Pubdate: Wed, 24 Sep 2014
Source: Argus, The (CN ON Edu)
Copyright: 2014 The Argus
Contact:  http://www.theargus.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4361
Author: Shannon Anderson

BEFORE GETTING HIGH:

*disclaimer: The Argus does not advocate for the use of substances of any kind.

College and university is where most people have their first (and 
sometimes only) experiences with drug use. The most commonly used and 
abused drug of choice for student is, of course, alcohol (yes, it's a 
drug). Another drug up on the list for Canadian students is marijuana.

Stimulants such as cocaine and 'party' drugs such as MDMA (ecstasy) 
or mushrooms often make their first appearance in college and 
university as well. Whatever your opinion on the physiological 
impacts or legal status of these substances, their presence is a 
reality in student culture.

Here are some suggestions if you do decide to embark into the land of drugs:

Know your source

Many substances are all too easy to adulterate with other chemicals 
and fillers that at best have no effect and at worst can actively 
harm. In Canada, MDMA (ecstasy) is likely to have very little MDMA 
and more of a cocktail of other amphetamines which can be destructive 
when mixed with other drugs or alcohol. Even drugs that were once 
legal, or drugs which still are with the diagnoses of a medical 
physician or psychiatrist, run the risk of not being a pure or safe 
dose by the time it gets to you. Do your research.

Control your environment

If you've never been high or stoned before, the time to try might not 
be in a roomful of people or in an unfamiliar basement. Bad trips do 
happen, and even comparatively innocuous substances like marijuana 
can have highly unpleasant side effects if you aren't comfortable. 
Paranoia and panic attacks aren't fun, and a negative experience from 
anything psychoactive such as mushrooms or LSD can be even worse. If 
you are getting high, be somewhere where you feel safe, with people 
you feel safe with.

Take a small amount at a time, because many 'bad trips' are due to 
too high a dosage of the drug being taken. It might not be a bad idea 
to have a "baby-sitter;" a sober friend present who can respond to 
any emergencies and keep you all hydrated while everyone else is 
trippin'. They can also make sure the house doesn't burn down when 
you decide to make brownies at 2 a.m.

Be hygienic

Taking illegal drugs in an uncontrolled way has enough risks without 
adding hygiene. Clean your pipes. Use sterilized needles. If you 
simply must do a line of coke, is the bathroom counter at Crocks 
really the best surface you can find?

The Argus certainly doesn't advocate illegal substance use, but we 
acknowledge that it exists, and that it's likely that many Lakehead 
students do use drugs. If you are using drugs, or if you ever 
experiment with drugs, do what you can to be safe, comfortable, and 
aware of what you are putting in your body and allowing to interact 
with your central nervous system.

What do most students actually get high on?

E or 'shrooms while dancing? A joint while listening to music? All 
these things sound pretty archetypal of a university experience, but 
research says otherwise. As it appears, most commonly: Adderall, 
Ritalin, and other stimulants, are taken by students while studying 
or taking exams.

The trend, called 'academic doping,' gained initial awareness from a 
survey done at McGill University, which found that a high percentage 
of students had used ADHD/ADD medications illegally in order to focus 
on studying and to have more energy to complete tasks. These 
amphetamine based drugs provide a boost of energy and focus similar 
to a cocaine rush, preventing the re-uptake of dopamine and 
norepinephrine in the brain. In individuals with ADD/ADHD, these 
stimulants can calm and focus the user. With normal cognitive 
function, they provide one hell of a buzz.

Not only are tuition and fees rising across the country, but the job 
market has become a fast-changing, rapidly-shrinking field where our 
generation is already estimated to be changing careers up to five 
times over the course of our professional lives. Many students also 
work part or even full-time to be able to pay for education, taking a 
toll on both professional and academic commitments. There is a higher 
dependence on and therefore demand for scholarships, bursaries, and 
student loans. Is the altering sphere of university and college 
culture contributing to the crush?

Any continual substance abuse usually has deep roots in depression, 
anxiety, and stress.

If your drug use has gone from social or occasional to daily or more, 
and you are growing concerned, the University offers counselling and 
medical services, and there are many groups in the city for help and 
support in reducing drug use.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom