The Seahawk

Issue date: 3/5/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Autumn Beam | THE SEAHAWK UNCW students were arrested on two different incidents of drug use, sparking discussion by staff and faculty members.

UNCW students were arrested on heroin trafficking charges Wednesday, Feb. 18.

Police raided a Seabrook Court condominium and found 170 bags of heroin valued at $6,800, along with some cocaine and marijuana. UNCW students Christopher Misenheimer and Jonathan Parker, along with community members Nina Esquire and Michael Gerrod Jones were arrested.

The same day, two other UNCW students, Chase Bryan and Damien Staples, along with brothers Ronnie and Chrishawn Moore, were arrested on cocaine trafficking charges. They were found in the Reserve Apartments on Darlington Ave. with over two ounces of cocaine worth almost $6,000.

"I was personally upset to see that UNCW students were involved," Lt. James Watkins of the UNCW police said. "I always shake my head when I see any of our students arrested for any offense. I try to explain to them during orientations that there is so much competition out there for jobs and personal advancement."

He added, "Not only are the students competing with their own UNCW class for jobs when they graduate, they also need to realize that they are competing with all of the other universities who are producing graduates who want and need jobs. The smallest blemish on someone's record could easily keep them from being the best candidate for a job and/or promotion. So I ask, is it worth it?"

"Every time I hear about students getting arrested for something involving drugs I think they are usually significantly involved with the drugs," said Rebecca Caldwell, Director of Substance Abuse & Violence Prevention. "We try to figure out what is going on around campus with drugs through surveys, campus police, local police and treatment centers. We have to piece together everything to get accurate information."

Watkins said, "We work very closely with several entities on campus to prevent alcohol and drug use. We have excellent working relations with the Dean of Students Office, Crossroads and Residence Life. Through these relationships we conduct and assist others with residence hall programming geared towards drug and alcohol abuse, speak to in-coming freshman in UNI classes, provide literature and answer questions during orientations and fairs, and we enforce the existing laws through various law enforcement actions."

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, marijuana is used by 76 percent of current illicit drug users with 59 percent of current illicit drug users consuming marijuana alone.

"Every campus is plagued with illicit drugs," Caldwell said. "UNCW tends to have a similar amount of drug use compared to other campuses, with marijuana the most common drug."

She added, "We are concerned about the emergence of prescription drugs. It is safe to say that prescription drug use on campus has doubled in the last 10 years. Eighteen percent of students have taken prescription drugs in the last year. Students often don't realize how dangerous and addictive they are. These drugs are chemically similar to street drugs like heroin."

Caldwell's advice to students is to "talk to friends when you are worried about them. We see a lot of people who are concerned about people they care about. Plant the seed."

"We need to ask who is doing it and why they are doing it so we can become more sophisticated on how to deal with it," Caldwell said.

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