Drug Use

<p>I'm pretty interested in Reed, but I'm a little worried about the drug use. Will I be left out socially if I don't smoke? Are there any people who don't smoke or drink? Is the sub-free dorm the "weird" dorm? I want Reed to be the place for me, but I'm worried it's not because of the drugs...</p>

<p>What do you know about “the drug use?” Is there more compared to similar schools?</p>

<p>It sure seems like it. When I visited last summer the tour guide basically said everyone smokes pot. Also there seems to be a bit of a reputation at Reed for more drug use than at other colleges, and more lenient rules, or at least enforcement of said rules.</p>

<p>I don’t mind if other people do it, I’m just worried that if I apply and get in and attend, that I’ll feel like an outcast because I don’t want to use drugs.</p>

<p>There is no pressure from other people to do drugs if you don’t want to. Yeah, a LOT of people smoke pot at Reed, but if someone offers you a hit (which somebody will at some point because it’s considered polite to do so) all you have to do is say ‘no thanks’ and the matter won’t be pushed. Telling people you don’t smoke will not ostracize you at all. People at Reed are there at least partly because they’re open to different types of thinking and so even students who do smoke won’t care if you do or don’t. The sub-free dorm is just another dorm. If you tell somebody you live there, they will most likely respond with “cool!”</p>

<p>On this same note though, if you make the fact that you don’t smoke the defining character trait that you have (and by this I mean, acting like you’re better than people who do smoke) that’ll get you nowhere fast. People at Reed aren’t into that kind of thing. Kids who smoke won’t do it to you, so don’t do it in return. (Not saying you specifically would do that, just a general note that that kind of thing isn’t cool either.) It’s basically just live and let live. Kids at Reed will be down with however you choose to live your life.</p>