Drug abuse and UW-Waukesha; students speak out
Ashley Harkey
Issue date: 3/9/09 Section: News
With the uprising concern of individuals using drugs and the effects that come from them, we have to ask, "Does drug use affect everyone everywhere?"
When thinking about this question, we need to realize that drugs can be anywhere; from illegal drugs to alcohol or someone else's prescription drugs.
Nothing brings this closer to home than the recent deaths of 15-year-old Maddie Kiefer from Whitefish Bay or 19-year-old Luke Murphy who attended UW-Milwaukee. Kiefer died shortly after smoking marijuana and taking a Suboxone, which can be used as a treatment for opiate addiction.
Along with Luke Murphy, investigators believe that he also took a Suboxon while he was drinking. His death is the second death of a UW-Milwaukee student in the past few months. Ali Marie Raddatz also a UW-Milwaukee student, died after consuming alcohol with prescription drugs, also believed to be that very same drug. With such tragedies so close to home, students might want to think twice before saying 'yes' and taking drugs they aren't sure about.
When UW-Waukesha students were asked if drug abuse and overdose affected them and other students, the replies were fairly similar. Tonya Stoll was asked if she thought all the students at UW-Waukesha would be affected, she said, "I don't think that much. I mean a lot of people use them but most are smart and do it out of school."
Along with her response, another student at UW-Waukesha, Craig Striteskey said, "It would only affect the close friends unless people are told about it."
With similar responses from UW-Waukesha students, it may seem that drug abuse and overdosing isn't something that students feel threatened by. With that in mind, it is also important to know that their opinions, doesn't lesson the severity of the issue or the fact that drug abuse is a real problem and threat too many.
A tip when partying or just hanging out with friends, if you or another friend hears someone snoring in the other room, don't think twice, pick up the phone and dial 911. This person isn't in a heavy sleep, they are actually gasping for air because they are suffocating due to either alcohol consumption or other drug use.
When thinking about this question, we need to realize that drugs can be anywhere; from illegal drugs to alcohol or someone else's prescription drugs.
Nothing brings this closer to home than the recent deaths of 15-year-old Maddie Kiefer from Whitefish Bay or 19-year-old Luke Murphy who attended UW-Milwaukee. Kiefer died shortly after smoking marijuana and taking a Suboxone, which can be used as a treatment for opiate addiction.
Along with Luke Murphy, investigators believe that he also took a Suboxon while he was drinking. His death is the second death of a UW-Milwaukee student in the past few months. Ali Marie Raddatz also a UW-Milwaukee student, died after consuming alcohol with prescription drugs, also believed to be that very same drug. With such tragedies so close to home, students might want to think twice before saying 'yes' and taking drugs they aren't sure about.
When UW-Waukesha students were asked if drug abuse and overdose affected them and other students, the replies were fairly similar. Tonya Stoll was asked if she thought all the students at UW-Waukesha would be affected, she said, "I don't think that much. I mean a lot of people use them but most are smart and do it out of school."
Along with her response, another student at UW-Waukesha, Craig Striteskey said, "It would only affect the close friends unless people are told about it."
With similar responses from UW-Waukesha students, it may seem that drug abuse and overdosing isn't something that students feel threatened by. With that in mind, it is also important to know that their opinions, doesn't lesson the severity of the issue or the fact that drug abuse is a real problem and threat too many.
A tip when partying or just hanging out with friends, if you or another friend hears someone snoring in the other room, don't think twice, pick up the phone and dial 911. This person isn't in a heavy sleep, they are actually gasping for air because they are suffocating due to either alcohol consumption or other drug use.
Be the first to comment on this story