Rosenthal estimates that UHS deals withdrug-related incidents only once or twice a year.

While he calls that "one or two too many," hesays the administration has appropriate structuresin place to help students with drug problems.

Rosenthal points to resources for drugeducation and counseling at the University andbeyond, but The Crimson survey suggests thatstudents at the College learn about drugs fromother, less official channels.

First-years reported that slightly less than 5percent of the members of their social circlesused drugs, but seniors estimated that more than40 percent of their friends did.

Drug Free School Zone

Epps expressed particular concern at the ideathat students have easy to illegal drugs.

"Frankly, I'm not comfortable knowing thatthere are drug dealers around," Epps says.

But while two Currier House seniors werecharged with six counts of drug possession andintent to distribute drugs within a school zone inthe spring of 1996, Wechsler speculates that theCollege's location is more significant that thepresence of student dealers.

"Look at Harvard square--that's a place where Iam sure all sorts of things are available," hesays.

Police statistics for the first nine months of1998 find 121 arrests or complaints for the saleor possession of narcotics throughout the city ofCambridge.

Lewis says the College has been forced toaccept that an urban location means students haveaccess to drugs.

"We are well aware that marijuana is easilyavailable in the Harvard Square area and wesupport police efforts to control its sale anddistribution," he says.

Lewis says he is particularly concerned thatstudents don't know what they're getting for theirmoney.

"We have evidence that students who smoke oringest substances bought on the street locallycannot have any confidence about what thosesubstances actually are," Lewis says. "People aretaking a very dangerous gamble with their lives byusing these drugs."

Nia C. Stephens '00-'01, incoming co-directorof Project ADD, says Lewis' concern about studentsreceiving a mixture of drugs in founded.