Drug Culture and Horror

Drug culture at Temple U

Transitioning from high school to college may be shocking to some individuals, but as they begin to get more comfortable with their environment, classes, and fellow students, one may realize that there are many similarities that carry over from their previous academic environment. One social structure that carries over from high school to college are the formation of social groups and cliques. The groups are usually formed because the individuals have common interests -- curricular or extracurricular -- or they are in the same academic program or share classes. Some social groups are also formed based on a shared interest in drugs. While drug use is not something that is openly discussed on campus, nor are drugs consumed openly, there is still evidence that supports the argument that students sometimes engage in recreational drug use.

One of the more widely accepted illegal drugs is marijuana. While the drug is not consumed publically, there are signs that allow individuals to pick out who smokes and who does not. While it is difficult to pinpoint drug use on campus during school hours, there is evidence that suggests individuals support the drug's use and the culture that surrounds it. For instance, if one looks close enough, one might be able to notice a pot leaf emblazoned on a person's clothing, frantically scrawled on one of their notebooks, or a gold leaf hanging from a necklace. It is much easier to notice the influence of drugs and drug culture outside of school at parties where drinking and drug use are more wildly accepted, and in some cases, even expected. The social atmosphere of parties also provides insight into how students view alcohol. Private parties provide an excellent opportunity for under-age individuals to enjoy alcohol alongside their friends. When college students are actually old enough to drink, they can easily socializing at various bars and clubs around the city, both responsibly and irresponsibly -- because there is always that person that does not know how to handle his or her alcohol.

With legislation being pushed towards decriminalizing marijuana in Philadelphia, it is very likely that marijuana advocates will begin to infiltrate the campus looking for either supporters of the cause, or signatures for petitions. It is also likely that flyers bringing attention to this cause will also begin to be seen more frequently on campus and off.

Part B

Cashing in on the demand for drugs can appear to be a lucrative opportunity, however, people always run the risk of getting caught for selling and distributing drugs. In an article from Philly.com by William Bender from August 23, 2012, one can see how prevalent drug use is at Temple University and at other schools. The article explains how 25 individuals were arrested in a sting that targeted an illegal pill ring. Among the pills that were sold to students at Temple are Oxycontin and Xanax. Furthermore, the sting also demonstrates that there is a demand for cocaine and marijuana at these schools as they were among the drugs that were sold and distributed by these drug dealers. It is also interesting to see that the ages of the individuals arrested in the sting ranged from 20 to 46, which indicates that drugs were not only distributed to students by students, but that outside individuals were also cashing in on the demand for drugs.