E-346.1 Drug-Free Environment and Drug Prevention

As an academic community, the College is committed to providing an environment where learning can flourish. The possession or use of illegal drugs or the abuse of drugs that may otherwise be legally possessed seriously affects the College environment and the individual potential of our Students.

The College enforces state laws and related college policies, including those prohibiting the following activities on campus:

• Providing alcoholic beverages to individuals under 21 or possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages by individuals under 21.

• Distribution, possession, or use of illegal drugs or controlled substances.

STUDENT SANCTIONS

The Student Conduct Code prohibits the abuse of alcohol and other drugs by Students, regardless of age and location (on campus or off campus). The College can and will impose disciplinary sanctions for violations. Students are also subject to city, state, and federal ordinances.

The College strongly encourages Students to voluntarily obtain assistance for dependency or abuse problems before such behavior results in an arrest and disciplinary referral, which may result in separation from the College. The use of, or addiction to, alcohol, marijuana, or controlled substances is not considered an excuse for violations of the Student Conduct Code. It will not be a mitigating factor in applying appropriate disciplinary sanctions for such violations.

Students confronted by the College for the consumption of alcohol will face disciplinary sanctions ranging from Student Code of Conduct sanctions to local, state, and federal legal actions.

Students whose use of alcohol or drugs results in harm or the threat of harm to themselves, others, or property, regardless of the location of the incident, may face disciplinary action by the College up to and including expulsion.

Commonly Imposed Disciplinary Sanctions For On-Campus Policy Violations

The following sanctions may be imposed upon any Student found to have violated the Student Code of Conduct:

• Warning: A written notice that the Student is violating or has violated the Student Code of Conduct.

• Probation: A written reprimand for violation of specified regulations. Probation is for a designated period and includes the probability of more severe disciplinary sanctions if the Student violates any institutional regulation(s) during the probationary period.

• Loss of Privileges: Denial of specified privileges for a designated period.

• Restitution: Compensation for loss, damage, or injury. This may be an appropriate service or monetary or material replacement.

• Discretionary Sanctions: Work assignments, essays, service to the College, or other related discretionary assignments.

• College Suspension: Separation of the Student from the College for a defined period, after which the Student is eligible to return. Conditions for readmission may be specified.

• College Expulsion: Permanent separation of the Student from the College with no opportunity to return.

As members of the College Community, Students are also subject to city ordinances and state and federal law. Arrest and prosecution for alleged violations of criminal law or city ordinances may result from the same incident for which the College imposes disciplinary sanctions.

EMPLOYEE SANCTIONS

Employees under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs while at work will be subject to corrective action. The College may conduct drug or alcohol testing for Employees where required or warranted unless otherwise prohibited by federal or state law.

• Whenever Employees are working, operating a College vehicle, present on College Premises, or conducting college-related work offsite, they are prohibited from:

  • Using, possessing, buying, selling, manufacturing, or dispensing an illegal drug, including possession of drug paraphernalia.

  • Being under the influence of alcohol or an illegal drug as defined in this procedure.

  • Possessing alcohol. 

• The presence of any detectable amount of any illegal drug or illegal controlled substance in an Employee’s system while performing college business or while on a College Premises is prohibited.

• The College will also not allow Employees to perform their duties while taking prescribed drugs that adversely affect their ability to perform their duties safely and effectively. Employees taking prescribed medication must carry it in a container labeled by a licensed pharmacist or be prepared to produce it if asked.

• Any illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia will be turned over to an appropriate law enforcement agency and may result in criminal prosecution.

Candidates who refuse to cooperate in a drug test or test positive will not be hired or allowed to reapply or retest.

Employees who refuse to cooperate in required tests or who use, possess, buy, sell, manufacture, or dispense an illegal drug in violation of this procedure will be terminated.

As a condition of employment, Employees must notify the College within five (5) days of any conviction for violating a criminal drug statute while in the workplace. The College must inform any agencies that require this drug-free procedure within ten (10) days after receiving notice of a workplace drug conviction.

The first time an Employee tests positive for alcohol or illegal drug use under this procedure, the result will be discipline up to and including discharge.

Employees will be paid for time spent in alcohol or drug testing and then suspended without pay, pending the results of the drug or alcohol test. After the results are received, a date and time will be scheduled to discuss them; this meeting will include a member of management/supervision and Human Resources. Should the results prove negative, the Employee will receive back pay for the days of suspension.

PREVENTION, EDUCATION, AND COUNSELING

Help is available both on campus and within the community for Students who are dependent on or who abuse the use of alcohol or other drugs. The Student Counseling and Case Manager at the College and other professional agencies will maintain the confidentiality of persons seeking help for personal dependency. They will not report them to institutional or state authorities. Student Services provides educational and awareness programming, information, and assistance. This includes interventions and opportunities for individual, group, and community referrals designed to prevent and reduce alcohol and other drug use/abuse.

Human Resources, Student Services, and the Office of the Student Counseling and Case Manager offer a variety of psychoeducational programming, support groups, online resources, written materials, and simulations that occur throughout the year.

Brief counseling is available on campus to Students through the Student Counseling and Case Manager, who will refer Students to other programs for additional education, counseling, and more intensive treatment. Employees can access counseling and referrals through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

A list of substance abuse counseling agencies in Rock and Green Counties is published in the College’s Drug-Free Schools and Colleges Annual Notification, available on the College’s website under Consumer Information.

These agencies provide a variety of services, which may include inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, homeopathic and alternative options, individualized psychotherapy, alcohol and drug detox, Naltrexone, Christian drug and alcohol rehab, and life coaching. Interested individuals are encouraged to contact the agency for additional information regarding specific services and costs.

HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF ILLICIT DRUGS AND ALCOHOL ABUSE

Alcohol

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drinking too much can harm your health. Excessive alcohol use led to approximately 88,000 deaths and 2.5 million years of potential life lost each year in the United States from 2006 – 2010, shortening the lives of those who died by an average of 30 years. Further, excessive drinking was responsible for 1 in 10 deaths among working-age adults aged 20-64 years.

Short-Term Health Risks

Excessive alcohol use has immediate effects that increase the risk of many harmful health conditions, including:

• Injuries, such as motor vehicle crashes, falls, drownings, and burns.

• Violence, including homicide, suicide, sexual assault, and intimate partner violence, is linked with excessive alcohol consumption.

• Alcohol poisoning is a medical emergency that results from high blood alcohol levels.

• Risky sexual behaviors can result in unintended pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV.

• Miscarriage and stillbirth or fetal alcohol spectrum disorders among pregnant women.

Long-Term Health Risks

Over time, excessive alcohol use can lead to the development of chronic diseases and other serious problems, including:

• High blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and digestive problems.

• Cancer of the breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, and colon.

• Learning and memory problems, including dementia and poor school performance.

• Mental health problems, including depression and anxiety.

• Social problems include lost productivity, family problems, and unemployment.

• Alcohol dependence or alcoholism.

ILLICIT DRUGS

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, general health risks of drug use include:

• Increased spread of infectious diseases. Injection of drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine currently account for about 12% of new AIDS cases. Injection drug use is also a major factor in the spread of hepatitis C, a serious, potentially fatal liver disease. Injection drug use is not the only way that drug abuse contributes to the spread of infectious diseases. All drugs of abuse cause some form of intoxication, which interferes with judgment and increases the likelihood of risky sexual behaviors. This, in turn, contributes to the spread of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, and other sexually transmitted diseases.

• Negative effects of prenatal drug exposure on infants and children. A mother’s abuse of heroin or prescription opioids during pregnancy can cause a withdrawal syndrome (called neonatal abstinence syndrome, or NAS) in her infant. It is also likely that some drug-exposed children will need educational support in the classroom to help them overcome what may be subtle deficits in developmental areas such as behavior, attention, and thinking. Ongoing research is investigating whether the effects of prenatal drug exposure to the brain and behavior extends into adolescence to cause developmental problems during that time.

The Risk from Specific Drugs

Marijuana is the most abused illegal substance. This drug impairs short-term memory and learning, the ability to focus attention, and coordination. It also increases heart rate, can harm the lungs, and can increase the risk of psychosis in those with an underlying vulnerability.

• Prescription medications, including opioid pain relievers (such as OxyContin® and Vicodin®), anti-anxiety sedatives (such as Valium® and Xanax®), and ADHD stimulants (such as Adderall® and Ritalin®) are commonly misused for self-treat for medical problems or abused for purposes of getting high or (especially with stimulants) improving performance. However, misuse or abuse of these drugs (that is, taking them other than exactly as instructed by a doctor and for the purposes prescribed) can lead to addiction and even, in some cases, death. Opioid pain relievers, for instance, are frequently abused by being crushed and injected or snorted, greatly raising the risk of addiction and overdose. Unfortunately, there is a common misperception that because physicians prescribe medications, they are safe even when used illegally or by someone other than the person for whom they were prescribed.

• Inhalants are volatile substances found in many household products, such as oven cleaners, gasoline, spray paints, and other aerosols, that induce mind-altering effects; they are frequently the first drugs tried by children or young teens. Inhalants are extremely toxic and can damage the heart, kidneys, lungs, and brain. Even a healthy person can suffer heart failure and death within minutes of a single session of prolonged sniffing of an inhalant.

• Cocaine is a short-acting stimulant, which can lead users to take the drug many times in a single session (known as a “binge”). Cocaine use can lead to severe medical consequences related to the heart and the respiratory, nervous, and digestive systems.

• Amphetamines, including methamphetamine, are powerful stimulants that can produce feelings of euphoria and alertness. Methamphetamine’s effects are particularly long-lasting and harmful to the brain. Amphetamines can cause high body temperature and can lead to serious heart problems and seizures.

• MDMA (Ecstasy or “Molly”) produces both stimulant and mind-altering effects. It can increase body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, and heart-wall stress. MDMA may also be toxic to nerve cells.

• LSD is one of the most potent hallucinogenic or perception-altering drugs. Its effects are unpredictable, and abusers may see vivid colors and images, hear sounds, and feel sensations that seem real but do not exist. Users also may have traumatic experiences and emotions that can last for many hours.

• Heroin is a powerful opioid drug that produces euphoria and feelings of relaxation. It slows respiration, and its use is linked to an increased risk of serious infectious diseases, especially when taken intravenously. People who become addicted to opioid pain relievers sometimes switch to heroin instead because it produces similar effects and may be cheaper or easier to obtain.

• Steroids, which can also be prescribed for certain medical conditions, are abused to increase muscle mass and improve athletic performance or physical appearance. Serious consequences of abuse can include severe acne, heart disease, liver problems, stroke, infectious diseases, depression, and suicide.

• Drug combinations. A particularly dangerous and common practice is the combining of two or more drugs. The practice ranges from the co-administration of legal drugs, like alcohol and nicotine, to the dangerous mixing of prescription drugs to the deadly combination of heroin or cocaine with fentanyl (an opioid pain medication). Whatever the context, it is critical to realize that because of drug-to-drug interactions, such practices often pose significantly higher risks than the already harmful individual drugs.