Associated Student Organization member Edgar Moreno witnessed alcoholism from his dad when he was young.

Moreno recalls being 6 years old and fetching his dad beers during functions, drinking half on his way from the fridge so his dad wouldn’t over drink.

Moreno grew up in the Harbor City projects. His older siblings were never home. His mom worked three jobs and his dad later died from alcoholism. Moreno, looking for a community, got involved with gangs when he was 7 years old.

Moreno said there isn’t a substance abuse issue at El Camino College, however various liquor and drug violation arrests on campus have been reported numerous times since 2022, according to ECC’s Annual Security Report.

Illicit drugs and alcoholic beverages are not allowed on campus, according to federal law and campus policies.

However, on-campus drug, liquor and weapon violations happen a couple times a year at ECC.

Even though drug violations were reported as being at its highest in 2019, with seven incidents reported, arrests have decreased by 42.85% since then with only 4 incidents in the last report.

It is not uncommon for a cloud of marijuana smoke to pass students while walking outdoors, in walkways and in secluded areas of campus such as stairwells and bathrooms.

While recreational marijuana was legalized by California voters in 2016 for people aged 21 and up, it is not legal to use on campus.

The 2025 Annual Security Report shows four incidents of drug use, with two incidents being reported the year prior.

Other public colleges such as Pierce College, Cerritos College and Santa Monica College have managed to keep their drug, liquor and weapons violation arrests at nearly zero since 2021, although SMC has seen a spike in liquor violations in its latest safety report with three violations recorded.

SMC’s campus layout is open. According to the Santa Monica Daily Press, homelessness has risen by 5%, with 812 homeless accounted for in Santa Monica.

“[Students] come here with a purpose, and then they leave,” SMC Police Chief Johnnie Adams said.

It’s usually homeless who come onto campus and make the violation, he said.

Reports at ECC would show that most drug, liquor and weapon offenses are not committed by students.

On Monday, Oct. 6, an ECC student was battered in front of the Math Business and Allied Health Building.

The perpetrator was not a student and was described to have had a white substance under his nose, according to the crime report.

Campus police arrested him two weeks later for misdemeanor cocaine possession, and was since released.

Cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, Phencyclidine (PCP) offenses were reduced from felonies into misdemeanors in 2014 by Proposition 47, downgrading “non-serious” and “non violent crimes,” according to the bill.

Instances where students break campus drug laws and are caught for it are rare, with the exception of one liquor violation reported by Student Development Office Director Ricardo Gonzales during June’s Commencement ceremony, ECC Police Chief Matthew Vander Hock said.

More recently, in November, Schauerman Library staff closed its basement bathrooms due to smoking.

Student library staff members refused to comment, however Director of Tutoring and Academic Support Sheryl Kunisaki said the closure was due to repeated smoking incidents reported by staff.

“We can’t monitor [basement bathrooms] very well,” Kunisaki said. “[Closing the bathrooms] minimizes the secluded locations.” Library and Learning Resources Tech II Steve Dao, who manages the E-Sports computers and the Makerspace program in the Schauerman Library’s East Basement, said.

Dao said students reported that individuals were smoking in the bathroom and some claimed it could be marijuana.

He said library staff smelled fruity scents in the basement bathrooms, possibly from a vape pen or an attempt to mask smoke with fragrances.

In instances of student misconduct, offenses and academic dishonesty, staff can make reports using Maxient software.

These reports are later referred to the authorities, either campus police or the Student Development Office to which students may be penalized under, according to the severity of their actions.

Dao said Maxient reports were sent out, yet students were not identified.

Dao has worked at ECC for a total of 16 years, and he said he’s noticed patterns of drug use among students coming into college from high school.

Moreno, a psychology major, thinks that students shouldn’t be smoking indoors.

“[Students] got to respect [campus spaces] if it’s not [their] property,” he said.

Moreno has been sober from weed for 12 years and alcohol for 10. He said he wouldn’t have been able to pursue his degree if he didn’t stop his substance use.

It is hard to say what exactly influences individuals and their choices in taking substances, said Steven Sussman, a professor at the University of Southern California and researcher of substance abuse in adolescents.

“Adverse childhood experiences influence [substance abuse behavior vulnerability],” Sussman said.

Vander Horck said there are no predictive policing patterns to prevent drug and liquor offenses. “At the end of the day, it is a person’s choice,” he said.

Clery Coordinator Nina Wong said if she had to guess, knives are the most common weapon violation that happens on campus.

Students bring all sorts of self-defense items to campus. Some bring pepper spray while others carry knives on their keychains unaware that it is prohibited to bring them onto campus.

Clery Crime deems firearms, knives, explosives or other dangerous objects as prohibited on all District grounds.

Companies like Defense Divas, Karate Mart and some Amazon vendors market knives disguised as “cute” cat key chains.

“We haven’t had anyone [arrested] for use of firearms on campus this year, but we have made arrests for possession of the firearm,” Chief Vander Horck said.

Often times, other students and the community will report weapon violations they see on campus, he adds.

There is predictive policing for weapons on campus according to Chief Vander Horck.

ECC Police is looking to begin implementing an AI gun protection software system into security cameras. It is a software called Omnialert that detects firearms from footage.

The Police Department is still in the process of implementing the system.

Editor’s note: 

• This story was updated to add reference to a first name and fix spacing Wednesday, Dec. 10, at 12:50 p.m.