University of Virginia Library

Council 'Seeks Facts'
In Drug Use Survey

By SAM BARNES

Student Council last night
voted to sponsor a survey on
"drug use and attitudes" at the
University and to sponsor a
drug abuse pamphlet to be
distributed in Charlottesville
city schools.

The survey on drug use,
proposed by fourth-year man
Ed Wilson, will attempt to
determine student usage levels
for various drugs and student
attitudes toward the usage,
effect and purchase of drugs on
the Grounds.

The survey will deal with
seven classes of drugs including
marijuana, amphetamines,
barbiturates, heroin, cocaine,
alcohol and hallucinogens.

Rinaca Supports Survey

Council president Jim
Rinaca supported the survey in
order to provide Council with
facts that might help to dispel
criticism of the University's
drug policy.

"We can't substantiate what
we are saying or repudiate
what they are saying because
we don't have the facts," Mr.
Rinaca said.

Questions to appear on the
survey cover such topics as
whether drug use begins in
college or in high school and
whether drug use declines after
the first year

Council referred the
proposal to the Human
Relations Committee for
further study.

The pamphlet to be
distributed in the city schools
will be published under the
auspices of the Charlottesville
Mental Health Association. It is
a revised edition of the
Student Council's booklet on
drug abuse. The Mental Health
Association has pledged 100
toward the pamphlet's
printing.

Mannix Presents Proposal

Second-year Law student
Kevin Mannix, who presented
the proposal to Council, said
the publication was to provide
junior-high and high school
students with a thorough
reference on drug abuse and
drug laws without the scare
tactics present in many
publications of its kind.

Mr. Mannix told Council
that he had received approval
of the project from the
Charlottesville School Board
but had been unable to win
monetary support from civic
organizations in the city.

Pamphlet Edited

The pamphlet, which has
been written by Law and
Medical students at the
University, has been edited to
remove some segments
considered objectionable by
the School Board, according to
Mr Mannix. The booklet
includes recent changes in drug
laws.

Council's proposal provides
for the printing of 3,000 copies
of the pamphlet for
distribution among the 6,000
students in the city's schools.
Distribution would be through
home rooms or at an assembly.