<p>How hard is it to stay away from alcohol n other substances in a non-substance free housing environment?</p>
<p>I currently live in a substance free hall. It’s quieter and cleaner than non sub-free halls (in my opinion), although some may consider the quieter part a disadvantage.</p>
<p>It’s fairly easy to stay away from alcohol and other substances, although you should also be aware that even though people may live in sub-free, that doesn’t make them sub-free when they go out. I’d say that 1/2 of my sub-free sponsor group drinks, some more regularly than others.</p>
<p>From another thread: “Personally I would never live in sub-free freshman year. It definitely attracts a “different” group of people, and there is a good deal of hallway cohesiveness (to some degree).” </p>
<p>Can current students comment on the accuracy of this statement?</p>
<p>I’m a current senior, and I would say that there is a significant social divide between most sub-free residents and most non-sub-free residents. I personally think that it’s pretty socially detrimental to live in sub-free, especially during freshman year when you want to meet a lot of people, but I understand why some may find sub-free to be right for them.</p>
<p>The Sub free divide thing is true… It is rare for someone who is not sub free to hang out in a sub free hall/dorm… most of the kids in sub free tend to keep to their sub free selves. However this is not true for everyone, I have many friends who live in sub free (some of them who drink/smoke and others who actually do not). If you really want to “get out there” you definitely can even if you live in sub free… but living in sub free will not help your cause. Also even if you are sub free, it doesn’t mean that you should live in a sub free dorm. You can still choose not to drink/smoke and hang out with other kids who chose the same (such as in such clubs as “that saturday group” and whatnot).</p>
<p>I think the main thing is that there is generally a social divide between people who live sub-free and those who don’t, as opposed to those who use substances and those who don’t. I don’t think it is difficult to live non sub-free and avoid substances. My experience is that there is a divide because non sub-free people tend to view sub-free housing as a judgment against them, and that view isn’t entirely without truth. Many people in sub-free housing are pretty intolerant of substance use, and tend to hang out only with like-minded individuals. </p>
<p>That isn’t true for all people who live sub-free, but it is something that should be considered when deciding whether to live sub-free or not. I decided that the benefits of living in a cleaner, quieter space outweighed any social disadvantage, since you can always easily make friends outside of your hall, and went with sub-free. I have zero regrets. Although I should note that my sub-free sponsor group is rather odd in that most of us are not actually sub-free as individuals.</p>