Drug busts on New Jersey college campuses are rising, new statistics show.
There were 1,746 drug arrests and referrals for campus discipline on New Jersey's four-year college campuses in 2017, according to an NJ Advance Media review of the latest crime reports from 27 schools. That is a 6.5 percent increase over the previous year and a nearly 13 percent increase over two years.
The 2017 incidents included 792 drug-related arrests on or near the college campuses and an additional 954 students referred to campus discipline committees for breaking school rules related to drugs, according to the reports.
Alcohol-related incidents also rose on New Jersey campuses during the same time period.
The increase in drug busts comes at a complex time for college campuses. Marijuana use is on the rise among college students nationwide as some states have legalized recreational use of weed and others, including New Jersey, are debating legalization. But marijuana use remains illegal in New Jersey.
Meanwhile, the opioid crisis continues to impact the state. A record-setting 3,163 people died of drug overdoses in New Jersey in 2018.
The campus crime reports do not specify what type of drugs were involved in each incident.
But the statistics show the number of drug busts varies greatly on New Jersey campuses with some schools reporting hundreds a year, while other large schools reported 10 or less. The numbers include all areas on campus and adjacent bordering streets, which may include areas with fraternity houses and off-campus bars.
Here are the number of drug-related incidents reported in 2017 at each New Jersey residential college, ranked from most to least:
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