Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program

Substance abuse and alcoholic beverages

Center for Allied Health Education (the Center) is committed to creating and maintaining an environment that is free of alcohol and substance abuse and that complies with New York State and local laws. The Center views the abuse of alcohol and legal drugs and the use of illicit drugs as antithetical to the pursuit of educational excellence and the realization of one's full potential as a student.

The Center expects that students will conduct themselves in accordance with the basic principles of personal responsibility, respect for order, and consideration of the rights of others. In order to make informed choices about alcohol and other drug use, students should educate themselves about the social, physiological, and psychological consequences of drug use or excessive drinking.

The U.S. Department of Education has issued regulations implementing the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989, which require the Center to distribute this information annually. These policies apply to all students and to all events or activities sponsored by the Center, whether they occur at the Center or not. Students who need additional information or substance-abuse counseling should make an appointment with Student Services, which will provide additional material and refer them for outside counseling.

Standard of conduct

The Center believes the best way to maintain an appropriate campus environment with respect to drugs and alcohol is through preventive education about the dangers of drug abuse and attention to the needs of those who may require help with alcohol or other drug-related problems. To that end, the Center provides information about related services available in the local community.

Statement of policy on substance abuse

The unlawful possession, use, or distribution of drugs will not be tolerated on the Center's premises. Upon finding evidence of the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of drugs on its premises by any student, the Center will take appropriate disciplinary action, including but not limited to probation, suspension, or termination. The Center will take disciplinary action, up to and including discharge, against any student found to be unlawfully using, possessing, or distributing drugs on program premises.

Students should also be aware that, in addition to program sanctions, they may be subject to criminal prosecution under federal and state laws that specify fines or imprisonment for conviction of drug-related offenses. Where appropriate or necessary, the Center will cooperate fully with law enforcement agencies.

Statement of policy on alcoholic beverages

The sale, service, possession, and consumption of alcoholic beverages at the Center are governed by the New York State Alcoholic Beverage Control Law and other laws of the State of New York. Based on such laws, it is the policy of CAHE that:

• Persons under the age of 21 are prohibited from possessing any alcoholic beverage at the Center or at any Center-sponsored event, whether on premises or not.
• No person shall be sold or served any alcoholic beverage if that person is, or appears to be, under the legal drinking age of 21; or is, or appears to be, intoxicated, or is known to be a problem drinker.
• No person under 21 shall present false or fraudulent evidence of age to purchase or be served alcohol, or to gain access to an event where alcohol is served.
• No person shall misrepresent the age of any other person to help them purchase or be served alcohol.
• No alcoholic beverage shall be sold unless a license or permit has been obtained and is prominently displayed at the site of sale, along with required posters and notices.

The individual or group sponsoring an event at which alcohol is sold or served is responsible for ensuring that all New York State laws and Center rules regarding the sale, use, service, possession, and consumption of alcoholic beverages are observed — including examining attendees' evidence of age, notifying the Program Director prior to each on-campus event, and instructing servers not to serve anyone who is or appears to be intoxicated, a known problem drinker, or under the legal drinking age.

Violation of the Center's Policy on Alcoholic Beverages will be addressed pursuant to applicable disciplinary codes; sanctions may include discharge. Students may also be subject to criminal penalties, particularly for serving or selling an alcoholic beverage to a person under 21.

Institutional sanctions

Any member of the faculty, administration, or staff may file a complaint against an employee or student under the Center's Disciplinary Procedures if they know or believe that a student has violated the Center's Policy on Substance Abuse or its Policy on Alcoholic Beverages.

If you are alleged to have violated either or both of these policies, you may be suspended pending an investigation. If it is determined that you have violated either policy, the consequences may be severe, up to and including termination from the program. Students may also be required to undergo evaluation and/or participate in and successfully complete an appropriate counseling or rehabilitation program.

Criminal sanctions

The unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol is punishable by criminal sanctions authorized by the Federal government and by the State of New York. These sanctions can include imprisonment, fines, and/or assigned community service. The seriousness of the offense and the penalty usually depend upon the individual drug and the amount held or sold.

For example, in New York State, the criminal possession of 500 milligrams of cocaine is a class D felony, punishable by 1 to 2½ years in prison; the sale of less than one-half ounce of cocaine is a class B felony, punishable by 1 to 9 years. Possession of eight to sixteen ounces of marijuana is a class E felony (1 to 1½ years), as is the sale of more than 25 grams. In New York State, a gift of drugs, including marijuana, is treated as a sale.

Under federal law, possession of illicit drugs can be punished by jail terms of up to twenty years and minimum fines ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. Federal possession and trafficking convictions can also lead to forfeiture of property, the denial of federal benefits such as student loans and grants, and a criminal record that may prevent an individual from entering certain career fields.

Criminal penalties also may result from the misuse of alcoholic beverages. In New York, giving or selling an alcoholic beverage to a person under 21 is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine, jail term, or both. A person under 21 who possesses an alcoholic beverage with intent to consume it faces a fine of up to $50 and/or an alcohol-awareness program and/or up to 30 hours of community service; presenting falsified proof of age can result in a fine of up to $100 and additional penalties, and a driver's license may be suspended for three months. Where appropriate, the Center will refer students who violate such laws for prosecution and cooperate fully with the authorities.

Health risks associated with illicit drug use and alcohol abuse

Below are summaries of the health risks and the signs and symptoms associated with illicit drug use and alcohol abuse. This is an overview and not a complete list. Each individual will experience a drug differently depending on factors such as body size, sex, and other physical and psychological characteristics. (Source of drug-related information: National Institute on Drug Abuse.)

Terminology

Alcohol

Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. Used to excess, it can produce anesthesia, coma, respiratory depression, and death. Regular or heavy use carries a high risk of psychological and physical dependence. Short-term risks include impaired judgment, poor motor coordination, emotional instability, and risk of death by overdose. Long-term risks include irreversible damage to the brain, liver, pancreas, and kidneys. Severe withdrawal — delirium tremens ("DTs") — can be fatal; withdrawal following long-term use should only be attempted under medical supervision.

Marijuana

Marijuana can produce stimulant, depressant, and/or hallucinogenic effects. Health risks include lung damage, impaired memory and concentration, impaired immune functioning, and effects on motivation and fertility. Long-term or heavy use can result in a withdrawal syndrome characterized by irritability, depression, sleep disturbances, and decreased appetite.

Cocaine and crack

Cocaine and crack produce elevated blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and body temperature. They may cause insomnia, paranoia, seizure, and death. Cocaine is a powerfully addictive central nervous system stimulant. Cocaine-related deaths are often the result of cardiac arrest or seizures followed by respiratory arrest.

Prescription drugs — opioids

Opioids include morphine, codeine, oxycodone (OxyContin), and others. Chronic use can result in tolerance and physical dependence; withdrawal symptoms include restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, and vomiting. Combining opioids with alcohol or other depressants could cause severe respiratory depression or death.

Central nervous system (CNS) depressants

CNS depressants (barbiturates, benzodiazepines) slow normal brain function. They can be addictive and should never be combined with alcohol — the effects can combine to fatally slow breathing and heart rate.

Stimulants

Stimulants enhance brain activity and can result in an irregular heartbeat, dangerously high body temperatures, and the potential for cardiovascular failure or seizures. When misused, stimulants can be addictive.

Heroin

Heroin is highly addictive and associated with fatal overdose, collapsed veins, and infectious diseases including HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. Withdrawal produces drug craving, restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine is an addictive stimulant that can cause irreversible damage to blood vessels in the brain and cardiovascular collapse and death.

Club drugs

MDMA (Ecstasy), Rohypnol, GHB, and Ketamine can cause malignant hyperthermia leading to muscle breakdown and kidney and cardiovascular failure. Rohypnol, GHB, and Ketamine are known "date rape" drugs.

Inhalants

Inhalants are breathable chemical vapors that can directly induce heart failure, death from suffocation, hearing loss, limb spasms, brain damage, and bone marrow damage.

Cigarettes and other nicotine products

Nicotine is one of the most heavily used addictive drugs in the United States. Cigarette smoke contains tar and carbon monoxide, exposing users to high rates of lung cancer, emphysema, and cardiovascular disease. Secondhand smoke causes lung cancer in adults and greatly increases respiratory illness in children.