Background
The
Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 and the Drug-Free Schools and Communities
Act Amendments of 1989 (Public Law 101-226) require the College to implement
a comprehensive substance and alcohol abuse policy.
North Central State College shall comply with all provisions of these
acts. This policy shall apply
to the entire college community, including students, faculty, and staff.
NORTH
CENTRAL STATE COLLEGE
POLICY
SUBJECT: MAINTENANCE OF A
DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE
The Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988
requires that all employers who apply for federal grants certify that they
will maintain a drug-free workplace. The policy set forth below complies
with the requirements of the Act.
1. The unlawful manufacture, distribution,
dispensation, possession or use of a controlled substance in the workplace,
i.e., anywhere on campus or at any other site where and at times when official
College activities or programs are scheduled, is strictly prohibited.
2. The term "controlled substance" refers to
all illegal drugs and to legal drugs used without a physician's order. It
does not prohibit taking prescribed medication under the direction of a
physician.
3. The dangers of illegal drug use or
drug abuse in the workplace are significant and infringe on the health and
safety of not only the user, but also those with whom he or she comes in
contact. Therefore, the College does not accept nor condone the use of a
controlled substance without a physician's order by any individual employed
by the College.
As a condition of employment, these
policies must be adhered to and violations may be cause for one or more of
the following actions:
4. Referral to appropriate agency or
agencies for evaluation and assessment to determine the appropriate
treatment for rehabilitation;
5. Participation in a drug rehabilitation
program;
6. Separation from College duty, and/or;
7. Termination of employment.
Participation in a treatment program will
not affect future employment or career advancement, nor will participation
protect the employee from disciplinary action for substandard job
performance.
Drug-free awareness programs to educate
and inform employees and supervisors about the dangers of drug abuse in the
workplace, the College's policies pertaining to a drug-free workplace, and
the availability of a referral agency will be communicated to the College
community and the confidentiality of an employee's needs will not be
breached.
All individuals employed by the College
must abide by the terms of this policy and if convicted of any criminal drug
statute violation occurring in the workplace, must notify his or her
department head no later than five (5) days after such conviction.
A copy of this policy shall be given to
every employee. Requests for assistance required to comply with this policy
should be directed to the Human Resource Office.
The cost of any rehabilitation related to
overcoming drug abuse or dependency will be borne by the employee affected.
DRUG FREE WORKPLACE Effective Date: May 1989
Health
Risks
Physical
and/or psychological damage may occur when these substances are abused.
Some of the health risks related to use are documented here.
Alcohol
Alcohol consumption causes a number of marked changes in behavior.
Even low doses impair judgement and coordination, and increase the
incidence of aggressive behavior. Very
high doses impair the judgement and cause death.
Alcohol intoxication can be equivalent to a drug overdose.
If combined with other depressants of the central nervous system, the
effects of alcohol are multiplied. Repeated
use of alcohol can lead to changes in tolerance and dependence.
Cessation of alcohol intake can produce withdrawal symptoms including
tremors, hallucinations, convulsions, and death.
Long-term
consumption of large quantities of alcohol can lead to permanent damage of
vital organs such as the brain and the liver.
Other medical problems and long-term effects of excessive
alcohol consumption can include elevated blood pressure, increased risk of
heart attack, pancreatitis, cancer of the mouth and throat, cancer of the
digestive system, and cirrhosis of the liver. In males, chronic heavy usage
is associated with testicular atrophy and breast enlargement. Moderate
alcohol intake may increase the risk of breast cancer.
Women who drink
even small amounts of alcohol during pregnancy can give birth to infants
with fetal alcohol syndrome or other health problems.
Children of alcoholic parents have a 40 percent greater risk of
developing alcoholism than those whose parents are not alcoholic.
Cannabis
The different forms of cannabis are marijuana, hashish, and hashish
oil. The active psychoactive ingredient in marijuana is
delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. Users of marijuana experience an
increase in heart and pulse rate, reddening of the eyes and dryness in the
mouth, lowered body temperature, increased appetite, loss of coordination,
brief sense of well-being, intoxication, possible confusion, distortion of
reality, impaired short-term memory, restlessness, and hallucinations. Other
hazards of abuse are depression, panic, varying degrees of tolerance and
psychological and physical dependence. Use may cause paranoia, a
psychosis-like state. The effects of long-term use are still being studied.
Long-term heavy use is associated with chronic lung disease and possibly
lung cancer.
Depressants
The use of depressants can result in a change in tolerance and
physical, as well as psychological dependency.
Barbiturates, tranquilizers, and methaqualone are examples of
depressant drugs. The health risks associated with their uses are:
Barbiturates
(blues/blue heaven, amytal: yellow jackets, Nembutal: rainbows/reds &
blues, Tuinal: redbuds/red devils, seconal) - slowed heart rate and
breathing, lowered blood pressure, slowed reaction, confusion, weakened
emotional control, distortion of reality, reduced awareness, intoxication.
Tranquilizers
(Valium: Librium: ativan: tranzene) - slowed heart rate and breathing,
lowered blood pressure, relaxation, drowsiness, confusion, loss of
coordination, intoxication, changes in personality.
Methaqualone
(Quaaludes) - slowed heart rate and breathing, lowered blood pressure,
sleepiness, feeling of well being, loss of coordination, dizziness, impaired
perception, confusion, and hangover.
In
addition, the abuse of depressants can lead to physical dependence with long
term use. Driving under the influence of depressants can cause accidents due
to slowed reactions, confusion, etc. Other serious accidents can happen
because the user is not in full control.
Overdoses
can cause coma, respiratory arrest, convulsions, and even death. Depressants
taken in combination (such as alcohol plus barbiturates) are very dangerous.
They can cause coma and death. Withdrawal can be dangerous and may require
medical attention.
Hallucinogens
Hallucinogens (or psychedelics) are substances capable of distorting
perceptions, sensation, self-awareness, and emotions. LSD and PCP are
examples of these hallucinogenic drugs.
The
effects of using LSD - also known as acid or lysergic acid diethylamide -
include increased heartbeat, blood pressure, blood sugar, irregular
breathing, euphoria, loss of ability to separate fact and fantasy,
distortion of senses, hallucination, paranoia, panic, and violence.
Some
hazards of abuse include: 1. the quick development of tolerance: 2.
increased risk of birth defects in user's children: 3. the recurrence of
effects ("flashbacks") days or weeks later, even without further
use of LSD: 4. death due to accident or suicide.
The
effects of PCP - also known as angel dust or phencyclidine - are
unpredictable but may include brief euphoria, distorted perceptions,
depressions, hallucinations, confusion, drowsiness, depersonalization, loss
of coordination, and irrational behavior. Some hazards of abuse include: 1.
tolerance develops quickly: 2. overdose can cause psychosis, convulsions,
coma, death: 3. use can result in violent behavior including murder,
suicide, or accidents.
Other
hallucinogens include DMT, MDA, STP, MMDA, Magic Mushrooms, and the so
called "Designer" drugs like Ecstasy. Their effects are similar to
those of LSD.
Narcotics
Narcotics (opiates) are drugs which relieve pain and induce sleep. Some
examples of narcotics are heroin, morphine, opium, codeine, meperidine, and
methadone. The effects of narcotics use include shallow breathing, a reduction
of appetite, thirst and sex drive, and drowsiness, brief euphoria, lethargy,
heaviness of limbs, apathy, loss of ability to concentrate, and loss of
judgment and self-control. Some hazards of abuse include tolerance and
physical and psychological dependence. Withdrawal is very painful. Overdose
can cause coma, convulsions, respiratory arrest, and death. Risks from
long-term use include malnutrition, infection, and hepatitis. Sharing of
needles increases the risk of contracting HIV infection and hepatitis B.
Stimulants
Stimulants speed up the central nervous system. Amphetamines, such as
speed (Benzedrine and Dexedrine), are stimulant drugs that will cause:
increased heart rate and blood pressure, loss of appetite, and increased
activity levels: a feeling of alertness, self-confidence followed by
depression: hallucinations, paranoia, and temporary mental derangement as a
result of heavy dose.
Some
hazards of abuse are: 1. the user can go beyond physical limits and suffer
harmful exhaustion: 2. tolerance and psychological dependence can develop:
withdrawal from the drug can result in suicidal depression: 3. continued high
doses can cause physical dependence, heart problems, infections, malnutrition,
and death.
Cocaine,
another stimulant drug, may cause a number of effects including: quickened
pulse and circulation, sharpened reactions, restlessness, feelings of
well-being, alertness, overconfidence, confusion, anxiety, depression,
paranoia, nervous exhaustion, and hallucination as a result of heavy doses.
Some
hazards of abuse are: 1. physical and psychological dependence: 2. the
destruction of nasal tissues from snorting the drug: 3. lesions in lungs
caused by smoking the drug: 4. convulsions, respiratory paralysis, cardiac
arrest, and death can result from overdose: 5. impulsive behavior which can
lead to high risk actions such as unprotected sex.
Other
commonly abused stimulants include dextroamphetamine and methamphetamine,
often prescribed to treat attention deficit disorder. The effects and hazards
to health are similar to amphetamines. Other legal and widely used stimulants
are nicotine in tobacco and caffeine which is found in coffee, tea, cola, and
other beverages.
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