Monroe Community
College believes that the illegal use of drugs and alcohol presents a serious
health and safety hazard to the college community and interferes with educational
and occupational success. The college fully complies with the Drug Free
School and Communities Act of 1989 to prohibit the illegal possession,
consumption and distribution of drugs and alcohol on college property,
during classes and at activities officially sponsored by the college. Students,
faculty and staff may not consume alcoholic beverages on College property,
during classes, or in connection with activities officially sponsored by
the college except by permission of the college President.
Monroe
Community College supports all federal, state and local ordinances pertaining
to alcohol and drugs and will fully cooperate with law enforcement authorities
to protect the students, staff and faculty of the college from the illegal
possession, purchase, sale, and manufacture of controlled substances and
alcohol. The college will refer offenders to the proper civil authorities.
Regardless of whether the legal action is pursued by the college or outside
agencies, disciplinary action will be taken by the college for violations
of the law, college policy or college Conduct Regulations. All students,
faculty and staff should be familiar with the Drug Free Campus Policy and
abide by it. In addition, all college faculty, staff and student employees
must be in compliance with the Monroe Community
College Drug Free Workplace Policy.
Legal Sanctions
Laws
Governing Alcohol
The State
of New York sets 21 as the minimum age to purchase or possess any alcoholic
beverage. Specific ordinances regarding violations of alcohol laws including
driving while intoxicated are available from the Public Safety Department
or the Office of the Vice President, Human Resources. Effective January
1, 1990, the package of new state laws was passed regarding alcohol. The
new law included the following:
Persons under
21 found possessing alcohol may be given a maximum fine of $50.
Anyone convicted
of fraudulently using a drivers license to buy or to attempt to buy alcohol
may have his drivers license suspended for up to 90 days.
Persons convicted
of buying alcohol through fraudulent means face a possible $100 fine and/or
being required to do up to 30 hours of community service work.
A violation
of any law regarding alcohol is also a violation of the Monroe Community
College Conduct Regulations and will be treated as a separate disciplinary
matter by the college.
Behavior
that disrupts the educational environment, causes public inconvenience,
annoyance or alarm, or recklessly creates a risk to people and/or property
even though motivated by alcohol is a violation of law and college Conduct
Regulations.
Criminal possession,
sale or use of drugs is covered in articles 220 and 221 of the New York
State Penal Law. The seriousness of the offense and penalty imposed upon
conviction depend upon the individual drug and amount held or sold ranging
from a maximum of 15 days and $250 fine for a violation to a maximum of
$100,000 fine and life imprisonment for a class A felony. It is important
to be aware that under the Penal Law, a gift of drugs is treated as a sale.
A violation
of any law regarding drugs is also a violation of the Monroe Community
College Conduct Regulations and will be treated as a separate disciplinary
matter by the college.
Detailed
information regarding the penalties for illegal possession and distribution
of drugs is available from the Public Safety Department.
Health
Risks
As part of
the effort to create a drug-free campus, Monroe Community College believes
that the college community should be educated about the physical and emotional
health hazards the misuse of drugs and alcohol presents. MCC provides information
and educational programs on substance abuse throughout the year to students,
faculty and staff. Listed below are some of the health risks associated
with using/abusing alcohol and various drugs. (Please note that the dangers
associated with substance abuse are not limited to only the conditions
listed below.)
Substance
Known Health Risks
Alcohol
Heart
and liver damage; brain damage; death from overdose and accidents.
Marihuana/Hashish
Impaired
memory perception, interference with psychological maturation, possible
damage to lungs and heart, psychological dependence.
Cocaine
Intense
psychological dependence, sleeplessness and anxiety, nasal passage damage,
lung damage, and death from overdose.
Stimulants
Loss of
appetite, hallucinations, paranoia, convulsions, brain damage, cancers
of the lung, throat, mouth, death from overdose.
Depressants
Infection,
addiction, loss of appetite, death from overdose, nausea, and has severe
interaction with alcohol.
Narcotics
Addiction
with severe withdrawal symptoms, loss of appetite, death from overdose.
Hallucinogens
Anxiety,
depression, impaired memory, emotional breakdown, death from overdose.
Inhalants
Drastic
weight loss, brain damage, liver and bone marrow damage, high risk of sudden
death.
Please
contact the Health Services Department for additional information on the
risks involved with the misuse of drugs and alcohol.
Counseling,
Treatment and Rehabilitation
Monroe Community
College has an experienced and highly-qualified staff in the Counseling
Center and Health Services who can provide information, confidential referrals
and assistance to those persons with problems stemming from use or abuse
of drugs or alcohol. Employees are encouraged to utilize the Employees'
Assistance Program (EAP) when necessary. Information pertaining to the
EAP is available in the Personnel Office.
The New
York State Division of Substance Abuse Services supports and monitors a
state-wide network of prevention and treatment programs. Persons concerned
about substance abuse problems are invited to call toll-free, 1-800-522-5353
for information and assistance.
College Sanctions
In addition to legal sanctions the college will take
disciplinary action for violations of law, college Policy or Conduct Regulations,
up to and including expulsion or termination of employment.
