Preventing Drug and Alcohol Abuse

Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College recognizes the importance of a safe, efficient and healthy work and educational environment. Being under the influence of any illegal drug or alcohol on campus or at college-sponsored functions poses serious risks to a person’s health and safety, and jeopardizes public trust that has been placed in the institution. In recognition of the serious effects of alcohol and drug abuse on the safety and performance of students and employees, the college provides standards of conduct and clearly prohibits the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by students and employees on its property or as part of any of its activities.

Standards of Conduct

Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College will maintain a workplace free of the illegal use of drugs. The unlawful manufacture, distribution, sale, dispensing, possession, or use of illegal drugs, the abuse or improper use of prescribed drugs, and the use of alcohol on Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College property or as a part of any college-sponsored function is prohibited.

Sanctions

The College will impose disciplinary sanctions on students and employees consistent with institutional policies, and local, state, or federal laws for violation of the standards of conduct outlined above. All persons should be aware that violations could result in expulsion from school, termination of employment, or referral for prosecution.
Sanctions may include, but are not limited to a requirement that the person participate in a drug abuse assistance or rehabilitation program. College sanctions will be imposed consistent with procedures used in disciplinary actions for students and employees.

Federal Trafficking Penalties include substantial fines and imprisonment up to life. For the most recent and complete Federal Trafficking Penalties information, visit the Web site of the U. S. Drug Enforcement Administration at: https://www.dea.gov/druginfo/ftp3.shtml.

West Virginia Law provides penalties dependent upon the classification of the controlled substance, the particular activity involved, and whether multiple convictions are involved. West Virginia Code§60A-4-401 contains penalties for prohibited acts involving scheduled substances. For the most recent and complete West Virginia penalties for prohibited acts involving controlled substances, visit the web site of the West Virginia Legislature at: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/WVCODE/Code.cfm.

Counseling and Treatment Programs

Students may obtain assistance and information concerning substance abuse and its treatment from the Student Services Specialist’s office at each of the College’s campuses.
Employees may obtain assistance and information from the Human Resources Office.
Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College, in providing any list of counseling, treatment, and rehabilitation programs, is in no way affiliated with these agencies. Southern cannot accept liability for any services, treatment, or counseling provided by these agencies or their employees or any acts of misfeasance, nonfeasance, or malfeasance by same. The individual and his/her parents or guardian should conduct checks or reviews of these agencies to determine if they will meet the needs of the individual.

Health Risks

Persons who suffer from chemical dependency are victims of a progressive, fatal disease. Alcoholism/addiction affects people of all ages, economic levels, and races. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that 97 percent of chemically-dependent people have responsible jobs, a home, and a family.

Alcoholism is a disorder that has profound psychological and biological patterns:

Regular daily intoxication
Drinking large amounts of alcohol at specific times, and
periods of sobriety interspersed with periods of heavy daily drinking
The course of the disorder is usually progressive and physical dependence can develop. If this happens, serious symptoms, sometimes life threatening, can develop when alcohol is withdrawn
Short term effects of alcohol use can include depression, gastritis, liver disease, automobile accidents, and domestic violence
Chronic alcohol abuse can produce irreversible changes, including dementia, sexual impotence, cirrhosis of the liver, and heart disease
Death can occur either as a complication of one of these chronic problems, or acutely, secondary to alcohol intoxication by poisoning or aspiration of vomits, or as the result of an automobile accident while driving intoxicated.