De Minimis
  • Home
  • Podcast
  • Art
  • Get published!
  • ABOUT US
  • Comment Policy
  • Archive
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2017 >
      • Semester 2 (Volume 12) >
        • Issue 1
        • Issue 2
        • Issue 3
        • Issue 4
        • Issue 5
        • Issue 6
        • Issue 7
        • Issue 8 (election issue)
        • Issue 9
        • Issue 10
        • Issue 11
        • Issue 12
    • 2016 >
      • Semester 1 (Volume 9) >
        • Issue 1
        • Issue 2
        • Issue 3
        • Issue 4
        • Issue 5
        • Issue 6
        • Issue 7
        • Issue 8
        • Issue 9
        • Issue 10
        • Issue 11
        • Issue 12
      • Semester 2 (Volume 10) >
        • Issue 1
        • Issue 2
        • Issue 3
        • Issue 4
        • Issue 5
        • Issue 6
        • Issue 7
        • Issue 8 (Election Issue)
        • Issue 9
        • Issue 10
        • Issue 11
        • Issue 12
        • Issue 13 (test)
    • 2015 >
      • Semester 1 (Volume 7) >
        • Issue 1
        • Issue 2
        • Issue 3
        • Issue 4
        • Issue 5
        • Issue 6
        • Issue 7
        • Issue 8
        • Issue 9
        • Issue 10
        • Issue 11
      • Semester 2 (Volume 8) >
        • Issue 1
        • Issue 2
        • Issue 3
        • Issue 4
        • Issue 5
        • Issue 6
        • Issue 7
        • Issue 8
        • Issue 9
        • Issue 10
    • 2014 >
      • Semester 1 (Volume 5) >
        • Issue 1
        • Issue 2
        • Issue 3
        • Issue 4
        • Issue 5
        • Issue 6
        • Issue 7
      • Semester 2 (Volume 6) >
        • Issue 1
        • Issue 2
        • Issue 3
        • Issue 4
        • Issue 6
        • Issue 7
        • Issue 10
        • Issue 12
    • 2013 >
      • Issue 1
      • Issue 2
      • Issue 3
      • Issue 4
      • Issue 5
      • Issue 6
    • 2012 >
      • Semester 1 (Volume 1) >
        • Issue 1
        • Issue 2
        • Issue 3
        • Issue 4
        • Issue 5
        • Issue 6
        • Issue 7
        • Issue 8
        • Issue 9
        • Issue 10
        • Issue 11
        • Issue 12
      • Semester 2 (Volume 2) >
        • Issue 1
        • Issue 2
        • Issue 3
        • Issue 4
        • Issue 5
        • Issue 6
        • Issue 7
        • Issue 8
        • Issue 9
        • Issue 10
        • Issue 11
        • Issue 12
  • Blog

Does MLS Have a Drug Problem?

26/4/2017

 
ANONYMOUS

Vol 11, Issue 8

It was in my 2nd week of law school that I was offered drugs. An enterprising student had ferreted away a pharmaceutical drug, a methylphenidate variant, and was charging about 40 bucks for... well I can't remember to be quite honest, but it was a decent amount. A large part of this was probably him figuring that hell, in law school you can get it on every corner. In large part, he was right.

​
I have a strained relationship with drugs. In my undergrad, I made a tidy profit peddling marijuana, a fact I keep mum on for fear of it affecting my admission to practice. At the parties (oh, remember the parties) of my first four years at university, there was a lot of green that went around. While it kept my pockets plump, I can't say I enjoy the high marijuana brings. It makes me paranoid. Occasionally, I was able to get my hands on the higher end stuff, usually through my supplier, the highs on that I could stand.

MLS is an entirely different game it seems. While pot is undoubtedly the most common drug, typical given that Australia has the highest rate of cannabis use in the world, there seems to be a lot more cocaine use. This isn't that different from other places, those friends of mine that went straight into law from high school seem to see as much white as I do. At my first law ball my date brought coke, we were offered coke by a fellow first year and on my trips to the toilet, I assumed I'd stumbled onto the set of the Scarface remake. Cocaine is seemingly fitting for law school, it is alarmingly expensive, and carries with it an air of professionalism. Most importantly, it allows you to stay up late and retain focus on subjects with iron clad discipline.

More than just the recreational party drugs, that student who solicited me for Ritalin only 3 paragraphs ago, is himself making a decent living, not to say he has no career prospects, If memory serves he did a clerkship this summer. One friend of mine, a stellar student, compared days with me. I had written 2000 words of notes, he said he was pushing 10,000 off a sesh on moda. This isn't a drug I remember from undergrad, but it seems to have taken the academic world by storm. I can understand what the appeal is, we need to take every edge we can get, after all, we're graded on a curve.

Assuming that drug use exists, the question must be asked: does this pose a problem? There are studies that show problems with the aforementioned drugs, but I don't really want to grandstand here. Alternatively, we should consider what culture we have cultivated that drives people to feel they have to use drugs to perform. More troubling is the idea that these drugs may work and that there are students showing up to jobs with averages higher than mine (72), while tweaking out of their fucking eyeballs. This is in no way meant to imply that any high performing students are drug assisted. In actuality, drug users probably perform below average (a number which seems to be pegged to my GPA).

Ultimately, I think what's needed is to push the spotlight onto the subject of drug use in universities, especially elite ones. I hope this article can be a part of that.


This is the work of a JD student

The rest of this issue​
  • Party Politics Hindering Marriage Progress
  • I Want my Underpants on the Outside
  • The Loss of Lost Property and the Return of the Bermuda Triangle
  • Trophy Hunting and Colonial Game

Picture
Cartoon by Jenny Au, a third-year JD student
Anon
26/4/2017 05:37:01 pm

I would be keen to hear from students who use study drugs - what do they do for you? what are the drawbacks? do you think you have become dependent on them to study?

I have never used them but cant help but think my productivity would be a hell of a lot better if I did.

Anon 2
26/4/2017 05:59:26 pm

Interesting article, although I feel you might be eliding recreational with 'performance-enhancing' drug use. My first year of law school was certainly the first time that I've encountered widespread cocaine use (I was somewhat surprised by this, as I'd only encountered the usual cannabis, ecstasy and occasional psychedelics up to this point, and I consider cocaine to be appalling value for money).

Unless one confuses law for morality, I don't see anything particularly disturbing about law students using recreational drugs. They're the ones assuming the risk, after all. Moreover, I sincerely doubt that anyone is using cocaine (successfully) to assist their study - anyone familiar with the late career of Fleetwood Mac knows that the substance isn't conducive to productive output.

With respect to 'study' drugs, however - I simply haven't heard of many students using modafinil, ritalin or similar substances as study aids. Your experience may vary, but to my knowledge, even the most ardent 'chemical enthusiasts' among my friends rely on caffeine and endogenous adrenaline.

Evian
26/4/2017 07:22:58 pm

I'm actually quite surprised that there would be law students at MLS using illegal substances like cocaine. I immediately realize that I shouldn't be surprised, although I am still very disappointed. The sheer arrogance of those studying law assuming that they are above the law or somehow fall outside of it is very grating. If you are one of these people, then stop it. Right now.

Yes we all break the law from time to time when we J walk across the street. Something like using illicit drugs however is not a trivial matter.

haha
26/4/2017 07:26:54 pm

so what if something's illegal... many laws are shit. my moral take on illicit drug use is that there is nothing wrong with a controlled risk. responsible drug taking is possible. as long as it is not negatively impacting on the people around you then do as you please, within your own limits.

Evian
26/4/2017 08:16:28 pm

Protip; Your use of ellicit drugs does negatively impact the people around you, and those further afield

As one who does not partake I can't say where illegal drugs used by Australians are sourced from. What I can say is that the drug use of people in the United States for example, is a direct cause of the horror that has been inflicted upon Mexico and its people from where those drugs are sourced.

Every time you snort a line of coke, there's a good chance someone somewhere actually paid for it with their life.

What?
26/4/2017 07:51:54 pm

That understanding of law is frighteningly superficial - come on, it's like level two on the Kholberg scale.

haha
26/4/2017 07:57:39 pm

who the hell is kholberg

Evian
26/4/2017 08:11:35 pm

Is it? Law is a profession like medicine. Law students should take something similar to the Hippocratic Oath.

Or are you one of those 'I study the law so I can destroy it and overthrow the patriachy/kyriachy/capitalism' type person?

@ Haha
26/4/2017 08:45:56 pm

Lawrence Kolhberg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Kohlberg%27s_stages_of_moral_development

Another anon
26/4/2017 08:12:19 pm

If you weren't exposed to excessive cocaine use at law school, it wouldn't be long til seeing it in firms. Friends of mine working as paralegals and grad lawyers get offered bumps by solicitors all the time. Any field involving good income, and requiring long hours / high cognitive function will be associated with coke use.

For anyone who's worried that they're missing out by not taking modafinil... there's no drug out there that can make you more intelligent. Being able to write 10,000 words instead of 2000 does not reflect on your ability to apply the law, and anyone churning out that many words clearly hasn't learned that the most effective notes are succinct and easy to put to use in an exam. Otherwise you might as well be copying out of a textbook.

Christine
26/4/2017 08:38:07 pm

Who needs drugs when you have bitterness, fear, insurmountable debt and coffee to give you that extra push in the morning.

It'd be great to get awesome grades, but law school is really not worth the drug problem.

Tilly
27/4/2017 01:35:34 pm

Truer words, friend.

Anon
26/4/2017 09:24:21 pm

I have a friend (who will also remain anonymous) who tried using modafinil to study once -- he spent the day reading through the DR textbook and remembered nothing from it.

Wubalubadubdub
26/4/2017 10:02:41 pm

So basically the same as reading the DR textbook normally then?

I am in great pain. Please help me
27/4/2017 07:10:26 am

ZING

Ella
27/4/2017 10:49:37 am

Are study drugs really that common? I mean I know it's a competitive course and people want to get ahead but I can't tell how widespread this actually is

Remaining Deluded
28/4/2017 02:31:42 am

Don't worry mate. Those cohort averages don't include the people who fail subjects. I'm sure plenty of people fail subjects! That would pull the average mark down significantly.

Perhaps as low as 70? Or 68? Or (ahem) a mid 67? I'm above average, I swear.

Boring
28/4/2017 08:30:41 am

My ex's mate sold lsd and heavier stuff to college kids at mel uni. I distinctly remember going with them once five years ago for * to deal it.

And I've heard about the parties.

At the end of the day. Those who take drugs are just the average people looking for a higher experience.

You're not interns at the Alfred who are pushed to the bone deciding life or death cases. You're just law students looking for a piece of the legal pie. Therefore drug use for you shows your weakness and breeds boring boring outcomes.

This actually sparked something. I know a teacher who has huge irises and teaches too much and is aggressive. Perhaps he is on cocaine.

Regular study drug user
28/4/2017 08:08:56 pm

I'm a regular user of study drugs, and have been for the past 18 months. After struggling to handle the load in my second semester of first year along with working 20-30 hours a week, I started looking for answers. Started with ritalin and concerta that I bought from friends who have ADHD, before moving onto modafinil. I now take modafinil 2-3 times per week during the uni semester. I even went to my doctor, and told them I was buying it illegally, and asked for a prescription - which astoundingly worked. So now it's about as "legit" as it's going to get.

Why do I do it? I've always been one of the people who got away with doing no study and still doing reasonably well at school at in my undergrad. Evidently, that just doesn't cut it at MLS. But truthfully, by the time you're in your mid twenties, learning how to sit down and study for a full day, a few times a week, for a semester.... is pretty hard! This stuff helps me a least sit still, and stay focused on the task at hand. Even if it gives me head aches, and makes me super thirsty.

Anon
1/5/2017 05:31:01 pm

and how much do you pay... for a friend

Anon
1/5/2017 10:40:07 am

whose your doctor? asking for a friend

Sir Spicious
1/5/2017 05:52:20 pm

Where can I buy these illegal drugs?

Asking for a friend

Budget
12/5/2017 09:17:12 am

Looks like there's been an error on the part of the federal government. They want to start drug testing welfare recipients. Little did they know the greatest degenerates of all are at MLS


Comments are closed.
    Picture

    Archives

    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014

  • Home
  • Podcast
  • Art
  • Get published!
  • ABOUT US
  • Comment Policy
  • Archive
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2017 >
      • Semester 2 (Volume 12) >
        • Issue 1
        • Issue 2
        • Issue 3
        • Issue 4
        • Issue 5
        • Issue 6
        • Issue 7
        • Issue 8 (election issue)
        • Issue 9
        • Issue 10
        • Issue 11
        • Issue 12
    • 2016 >
      • Semester 1 (Volume 9) >
        • Issue 1
        • Issue 2
        • Issue 3
        • Issue 4
        • Issue 5
        • Issue 6
        • Issue 7
        • Issue 8
        • Issue 9
        • Issue 10
        • Issue 11
        • Issue 12
      • Semester 2 (Volume 10) >
        • Issue 1
        • Issue 2
        • Issue 3
        • Issue 4
        • Issue 5
        • Issue 6
        • Issue 7
        • Issue 8 (Election Issue)
        • Issue 9
        • Issue 10
        • Issue 11
        • Issue 12
        • Issue 13 (test)
    • 2015 >
      • Semester 1 (Volume 7) >
        • Issue 1
        • Issue 2
        • Issue 3
        • Issue 4
        • Issue 5
        • Issue 6
        • Issue 7
        • Issue 8
        • Issue 9
        • Issue 10
        • Issue 11
      • Semester 2 (Volume 8) >
        • Issue 1
        • Issue 2
        • Issue 3
        • Issue 4
        • Issue 5
        • Issue 6
        • Issue 7
        • Issue 8
        • Issue 9
        • Issue 10
    • 2014 >
      • Semester 1 (Volume 5) >
        • Issue 1
        • Issue 2
        • Issue 3
        • Issue 4
        • Issue 5
        • Issue 6
        • Issue 7
      • Semester 2 (Volume 6) >
        • Issue 1
        • Issue 2
        • Issue 3
        • Issue 4
        • Issue 6
        • Issue 7
        • Issue 10
        • Issue 12
    • 2013 >
      • Issue 1
      • Issue 2
      • Issue 3
      • Issue 4
      • Issue 5
      • Issue 6
    • 2012 >
      • Semester 1 (Volume 1) >
        • Issue 1
        • Issue 2
        • Issue 3
        • Issue 4
        • Issue 5
        • Issue 6
        • Issue 7
        • Issue 8
        • Issue 9
        • Issue 10
        • Issue 11
        • Issue 12
      • Semester 2 (Volume 2) >
        • Issue 1
        • Issue 2
        • Issue 3
        • Issue 4
        • Issue 5
        • Issue 6
        • Issue 7
        • Issue 8
        • Issue 9
        • Issue 10
        • Issue 11
        • Issue 12
  • Blog