How many times have you been told, “Drugs are bad; don’t do drugs,” over the years? Well, according to university officials, drugs are still bad, even now that you’re grown up. And the consequences are more severe than a slap on the wrist.

“We just recently had our third drug situation on campus [this semester],” said Jim Stepp, director of residence life. Last year had the highest rate of drug incidents, with six students and three non-students caught violating the conduct code.

 Stepp explained that UMPI has had incidents involving marijuana and the misuse of prescription drugs, for example, students not diagnosed with ADHD using others’ ADHD medication. The use of other drugs, such as crystal meth, has been rumored, but no one has been caught in possession. Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug here at UMPI.

“A lot of people… believe in the idea of recreational drugs,” said Stepp. But don’t try that here, he said, because you risk getting caught. UMPI officials say drugs are a problem, but we deal with it well.

Don Gibson, area coordinator of residence life, feels that, “part of the reason that drugs are not a large problem here at UMPI is due… to our response to drugs.”

If anyone catches a student with any drugs on university property, not only are the police called in, but this violation of the student conduct code terminates any housing contract the student has with UMPI and bans them from visiting residence halls. If a student distributes illegal or prescription drugs or if they possess a saleable amount, they are suspended from the entire University of Maine system. This means you can’t just skip down to Orono after an offense, officials said.

“What students may not know is that the resident assistants are trained in recognition of drugs and drug paraphernalia. They are trained by professional law enforcement officers, and they have the backing of the Maine State Police, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Aroostook County Sheriffs Department, and the Presque Isle Police Department patrol division and criminal investigation division,” Gibson wrote.

Eric Russell is one of the RA’s with first-hand experience in a crack-down operation. He related the experience of detecting the smell of marijuana in one of UMPI’s residence halls last spring, “which prompted me to call my supervisor, who proceeded to call the police.”

The police do not conduct searches on the UMPI campus, however. That job is left to residence life staff. The police wait outside while RA’s search; then they turn the situation over to the police.

In the past, some people have given Residence Life a bad rap for not doing more, but, “every student here has rights and privileges,” said Russell. He attributes the rise in the discovery of drug-related incidents on campus to more extensive training on the part of residence life.

“[Drug use] can affect the community we strive for and the university as a whole,” said Russell.