Issue 19 • Volume 124 Thursday, March 29, 2018 www.thesandspur.org
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Dealing (with) Xanax on campus Rollins students increasingly turn to illegally-procured prescription drugs for self-medication and recreational use.
By Emily Anness
eanness@rollins.edu
Editor’s note: Names and identities have been changed.
I
t started at Thanksgiving dinner: screaming, crying, punching. At least that is what they think happened; their evidence was the bruises left behind. What they knew for certain was that Selena and her mom engaged in one of their worst fights ever—and all because they drank alcohol after taking their prescribed medication, Xanax. Xanax, an anti-anxiety drug of the benzodiazepine family, is a controlled narcotic that helps people cope in stressful situations. When used as prescribed and with the consent of professionals, it can be beneficial to people with mental and physical health issues. However, on college campuses, it is also widely distributed and misused. According to American Addiction Centers, the abuse of Xanax on college campuses increased by 450 percent from 1993 to 2005 and it continues to increase. For many students, college is a time of exploration, which often includes experimenting with drugs, and where there is drug use, there are drug dealers. On college campuses, these dealers are often students. Selena is one of these students; she illegally distributes Xanax at Rollins. Selena’s mom started giving her Xanax when she was a teenager to help her cope with anxiety. As Selena recalled, the world became “clearer” and she became more “herself.” While she openly admitted to abusing Xanax in high school, she is now legally prescribed the drug. Selena is fully aware of all of the consequences of misusing and selling it to other people; although she likes to refer to it as “giving,” not selling. Carrying a controlled narcotic that is not prescribed to you is a felony offense and can also land you a DWI charge and
a night in jail. From 2014 to 2016, Rollins had 25 arrests and 95 disciplinary actions for drug abuse. The safety report does not specify which drugs were involved. Ken Miller, vice president of campus safety, said, “Last year, we were given permission to search a student’s dorm after an incident. After checking one
ly, though, and it runs out too quickly. “When I run out and I have to feed my own mental illness, I can’t, so I find it from the plenty of other kids on campus who are also selling it.” “The damned drug is everywhere,” she said. “I get asked about my Xanax almost every
things, so you never really know what you’re getting, and that scares me for my friends.” On top of this fear, Selena claimed that it is “unavoidable” to not give her prescription to her friends at this point. “So many people here are straight-up addicted to Xanax at Rollins, whether you know it
two together will maximize the effects, creating a blackout state along with extremely impaired judgement. Xanax can be very addictive, especially when used without the advice of a professional, and has potentially life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. According to American Addiction Centers, as a central nervous system depressant, Xanax slows down a person’s heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature while minimizing anxiety, stress, and panic. It may also be used to help reduce epileptic seizures. When the brain gets used to the drug and then is suddenly removed, these functions and conditions may rebound. Withdrawal symptoms include a person’s blood pressure, body temperature, respiration, and heart rate going up rapidly, often followed by seizures that can lead to coma and even death. Because Rollins encounters issues like these on a daily basis, there are many services offered on campus designed to help students overcome and cope with abuse and addiction. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, Rollins has many resources to help guide people through the recovPhoto by Emily Anness The label of prescription Xanax bottles clearly states not to mix alchohol, however, a dealer of the ery process. Counseling and Psychodrug explains that students often do not follow those instructions. logical Services at the Wellness of his drawers, we found a single day. People take them before or not. I’d say a majority of peoCenter (407-628-6340) has many Xanax bar lying in the back. The class, when they’re doing noth- ple who go here take it or have qualified counselors that can police department came short- ing, when they’re going out, or taken it. [Some of the] kids who help students battle abuse issues. ly after and arrested him after for whatever reason it is. They are prescribed, and those who The Office of Student and learning he was not prescribed walk around like zombies or id- aren’t, abuse it all around us all Family Care (407-646-2345) is [the drug]. We know people ex- iots, making a fool out of them- of the time. The people I give a service designed to help stuplore these things in college, but selves. It’s frustrating, it’s a Xanax to tell their friends, and dents and families through the our campus does not tolerate burden, and it’s something that then I get attacked if I even construggles of college life, using drug use, and there will always everyone just looks at as ‘no big template not giving it to them. characteristics of wellness to be consequences.” deal’ or ‘fun.’” They’re all addicted. It’s in popuhelp them achieve their goals. Selena knows the legal reShe said she gives in to her lar demand, and where there is a Using these resources can percussions. She fights a mental friends’ requests because she is demand, you’ll find the supply.” help students battle abuse probwar every day on how to handle worried about what they would Selena says that the holes in lems before they take a turn for herself and others in the “best buy if they were to turn to oth- the walls you see around camthe worse. Students who have way possible” when it comes to er dealers, not knowing if the pus residential halls are the reany abuse-related issues are thus using the drug. While she takes Xanax others sell is real. sults of nights out drinking, usuencouraged to, and SHOULD, it to help her cope with anxiety, “I’d rather people I know ally with Xanax involved. reach out to make an appointshe also gives a large proportion take my Xanax, knowing it’s not The label on the bottle clearment with one or both of these of it to her friends. Sometimes off the streets. Sometimes, deal- ly indicates that Xanax is not safe offices. she gives it out too generous- ers lace or press them with other to mix with alcohol because the