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Eight popular drugs on San Diego campuses

By Marilyn Swank

March 20, 2006

San Diego--Some things just go hand in hand. Salt and pepper, beer and nachos, Sonny and Cher, drugs and college students…

While many people dismiss binge drinking and excessive weed smoking as rites of passage for college undergrads, there’s a whole other side of the college social experience that is rarely talked about.

You know what I’m talking about — those “other” drugs — the ones that mess people up weekly on documentary series, such as A&E’s Intervention and MTV’s True Life. I’m talking about the drugs that are fairly common in college circles, but are kept under wraps because they are too taboo.

It really shouldn’t come as that big of a surprise that in a fast-paced and competitive city such as San Diego, college kids all across the board — from the slackers to the scholastic — seek alternative means to help them study, sleep, wake up and get the party started.

Here’s a list of eight popular drugs — taboo and legal alike — used by college students in San Diego:

Caffeine

Also known as: Cup of Joe

Popular with: Everyone

Forget meth, caffeine is the real drug plaguing America’s college students. Just look at the out of control lines at Starbucks — hell San Diego State even has two on its campus. Caffeine helps stimulate the mind, wake you up and get you going. And the scary thing is, it doesn’t discriminate. It’s cheap, accessible and widely used in all walks of life.

Adderall

Also known as: Addie

Popular with: Overachievers, sorority girls.

When coffee stops doing the trick, many students turn to Adderall for a little pick-me-up. The prescription drug, normally used for people with attention deficit disorder, helps the brain concentrate on tasks that seem daunting. After popping a pill, many people get a sudden wave of brilliance and can turn out a term paper in no time at all. The little blue pill is also popular with sorority girls because it not only makes them feel smart, but suppresses appetite and is cheaper than coke.

Vicodin

Also known as: Vicodin

Popular with: Stoners, insomniacs

The first question some college kids ask when they find out their friend just got their wisdom teeth pulled is, “Dude, did they give you Vicodin?” The drug is a total relaxer and helps calm many a student down after a stressful day of term papers and lectures.

Marijuana

Also known as: Mary Jane, weed, pot

Popular with: Slackers, party-goers

Does this weed even need an introduction? It’s easy to find, buy and smoke. Go to any college party and there’s destined to be a group of stoners toking it up in the back room. Pot is almost as common as cigarettes and smoked almost as much. Although statistics are hard to find, it’s likely that any college student you talk with has either smoked herb or been in the presence of it.

Cocaine

Also know as: California cornflakes, blow, yayoo

Popular with: Greeks, dieters, hipsters

Once thought of as a yuppie drug, cocaine is still alive and kicking. With new batches being snuck over the border every day, it’s not difficult to score some serious blow. Although still taboo, coke is prevalent in college social circles and, if pushed, most students will come clean about their history with it. Coke is popular because it makes you instantly alert, talkative and, like Adderall, suppresses appetites. It’s a close friend to guys and gals looking to stay skinny and keep the party going all night long.

Mushrooms

Also known as: Shrooms, magic mushrooms

Popular with: Stoners

Shrooms are definitely a hit and miss with college kids — you either love ‘em or hate them. People tend to stay away from them in party situations, opting to experiment with them in small groups because the effects vary. You either have a great trip or a paranoid, lonely experience.

Ecstasy

Also known as: X, hug drug

Popular with: Party animals

Although “E” has gone down in popularity, it still makes appearances at select college gatherings. The drug, which makes people extra horny, is still considered taboo and only reserved for the hardest of partiers.

Acid

Also known as: LSD, Sid

Popular with: Rock star wannabes

Acid, a throwback drug of the 1960s, is not as easily available as the other drugs on the list. It’s not common to find a person who does acid regularly, but there is a subculture of acid-dropping, hippie rockers who also make time to go to school.

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Marilyn Swank is a freelance writer in San Diego.