The variation of a Midwest Catholic University's drug use pattern from other Catholic University findings: why?

For over a decade, survey studies concerning drug use and college students have portrayed a significantly lower pattern of drug use by students attending Catholic controlled universities than other university types. In the spring of 1972 the author conducted a study of the undergraduates of a large Midwest Catholic University to assess various aspects of its drug scene. The involvement with drugs, especially marijuana, on this campus departed substantially from the usual Catholic control-low drug use nexus. The discussion presents a description of this departure and suggest that certain demographic and social characteristics of this Midwest Catholic University, when interacting, suffice to offset the religious control and religiosity influences that usually effect the low drug use--religious control nexus.