AbstractsMedical & Health Science

Is Rowan University's Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy effective at deterring students from possessing or using drugs and drug paraphernalia?

by Amy LoSacco




Institution: Rowan University
Department:
Year: 2015
Keywords: College students – Substance use; Drug abuse – Prevention
Record ID: 2057985
Full text PDF: http://hdl.handle.net/10927/1066


Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to evaluate Rowan University’s current Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy. Two surveys were distributed; one via email to all current Rowan University students and the other via email to all students found in violation of the drug policy between 2005 and 2011. Three hypotheses were examined. The first was that students generally do not know about the policy and its possible sanctions. The second hypothesis was that the potential sanctions of the drug policy do not deter the general student population. The third hypothesis was that the imposed sanctions help to prevent recidivism among offenders. Results showed that the first hypothesis was false; the general student body is aware of Rowan’s drug policy and its possible sanctions. The second hypothesis was not necessarily true or false; it was undetermined if the potential sanctions of the drug policy deterred the general student population. After surveying drug policy violators, the third hypothesis was also found to be false; the imposed sanctions of Rowan’s drug policy did not help to prevent recidivism among offenders. Recommendations for policy change and future research were given.