Rep. Cheeseman Advocates for Substance-Free Housing

HARTFORD- State Rep. Holly Cheeseman (R-37) today testified in support of a proposed bill in the Higher Education Committee that would require institutions of higher education to provide options for substance-free housing on campus.

The legislation, HB 5129 An Act Concerning Substance-Free Housing On College Campuses, would require each institution of higher education in the state that provides on-campus student housing provide students with an option for substance-free housing. “Substance-free housing” would mean an area of a residential facility where each student agrees to keep such student’s room free from alcohol and drugs.

“Alcohol abuse is troubling, with its links to physical harm, injury, criminal behavior, becoming the victim of assault, and generally participating in unsafe and life-threatening behavior. Research has shown that the first six weeks of college are when many decisions are made regarding drinking and its overuse,” said Rep. Cheeseman. “Living in substance free dorms reduces overall drinking and drug use, where students are “less likely to experience alcohol-related problems, like getting behind in schoolwork, damaging property, getting into trouble with the police or riding with a drunken driver…” Such living arrangements are also beneficial to the institution, with dramatic reductions in instances of violence and destructive student behaviors.”

According to CCAR, the Connecticut Community for Addiction on Recovery, which works with students who themselves are in recovery and college students, one of the biggest issues they face on campus while trying to maintain recovery is living in a safe sober supportive environment. Passing this bill and supporting them would make that environment a lot more conducive to the recovery process and help us grow and sustain the pockets of young people in recovery seeking an education.

Rep. Cheeseman added, “Requiring substance free dorms will reinforce a student’s decision to abstain and aid in future personal and academic success. By providing a substance free environment, students will be more likely to resist the peer pressure that can present drug and alcohol use as “normal” college behavior.”

In her testimony before the Higher Education Committee, Rep. Cheeseman cited recent studies on drug use on campus.

• “In spring 2022, the American College Health Association (ACHA) surveyed more than 54,000 undergraduates about drug use. Cannabis (41.9%), tobacco and nicotine delivery products (33.1%), hallucinogens (8.9%), and prescription stimulants (6.9%) were the most used drugs by college students other than alcohol — which was the most used substance. Note Reference [1.(https://www.bestcolleges.com/research/student-drug-use-and-misuse-in-college/)

• Living in substance free dorms reduces overall drinking and drug use, where students are “less likely to experience alcohol-related problems, like getting behind in schoolwork, damaging property, getting into trouble with the police or riding with a drunken driver…” Such living arrangements are also beneficial to the institution, with dramatic reductions in instances of violence and destructive student behaviors. (https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/06/us/education/does-it-work-substancefree-dorms-clean-living-on-campus.html.
• A Columbia University study has found that teens who use cannabis recreationally are two to four times as likely to develop psychiatric disorders, such as depression and suicidality, than teens who don’t use cannabis at all.