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News

Alcohol, drug use shifts, stumps

UHPD: There doesn't appear to be a drug problem on campus

UH on DRUGS: This is the first in a series of articles addressing drug and alcohol use on campus. Check back Thursday for information about how campus counseling services deals with students with drug-related problems.

by ZACH HAVERKAMP
The Daily Cougar

Crime statistics gathered by the UH Police Department show alcohol-related arrests have significantly decreased since their record high in 2003. 

Statistics for 2005 have not yet been released, but the 2004 Clery Crime Report also shows that marijuana is the most common drug found among the UH student body.

While drug-related arrests fell to 66 in 2003 from 73 in 2002, alcohol-related violations increased by 241 percent in 2003, from 56 to 135 in 2002. 

In 2004, alcohol and narcotics arrests dropped 78 and 45 percent, respectively.

From 2002 to 2004, there were 174 drug-related arrests made by the UHPD for possession of illegal substances.

"I would say a high 90 percent of our (drug-related) cases are possession," UHPD Capt. Brad Wigtil said. "Typically, what we deal with are very minor amounts of marijuana or other drugs, and (the charge) is possession, usually marijuana."

Wigtil said there is no clear reason for the increase in alcohol arrests in 2003, or the decrease in 2004.

"There could be a lot of reasons that those statistics took a big jump," Wigtil said. "Maybe our enforcement efforts in 2003 led to more responsible alcohol use. If you have a sense that you are going to be cited or referred for an alcohol violation, it's less likely that you would partake in that activity. It is difficult to say."

The opening of Bayou Oaks student apartments in 2003 may also be a reason for the large number of alcohol violations that year, Wigtil said.

"From 2003 to 2004 our housing on campus increased, as Bayou Oaks was opened at around that time," Wigtil said. "If you think of numbers and per capita offenses, you would expect a few more incidents of alcohol and maybe drug-related offenses. The University over this time period has dramatically increased the capacity of student housing on campus." 

Wigtil said the number of alcohol arrests in 2003 is not related to any initiative by UHPD.

"There is nothing program-wise that we did during 2003 and 2004, no interventions or initiatives that we undertook that would explain the differences between 2003 and 2004," Wigtil said.

Wigtil also said that drug use is not a common problem among the University's student body.

"We are unaware of any huge drug problem on campus, but then again, we respond to the community," Wigtil said. "I think our student body is very mature and responsible, and in general, have different life goals than someone who constantly abuses narcotics."
 

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