Prince George’s Community College 

Drug Free Policy and Prevention Statement 

It is the policy of the PGCC Board of Trustees to comply with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 and to provide for its employees and students a workplace which is drug-free. The president is authorized to make, promulgate, issue, rescind and amend reasonable rules, regulations and procedures to carry out this policy and to assure compliance with the Drug-Free Act of 1988.In addition, the college expects all members of the college community to comply with all federal, state, and local laws pertaining to the possession, use, manufacture, distribution, or dispensing of alcohol and drugs. A more detailed overview of the college’s Drug-Free Policy and Prevention Statement can be found on the college’s website at www.pgcc.edu, Higher Education Act (HEA) Disclosures.   

Drug-Free Workplace Program Rule 

The purpose of this Rule is to implement the Drug-Free Workplace Policy and to comply with the requirements of the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988. The following definitions shall apply: "Controlled substance" means a controlled substance in schedules I through V of Section 202 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 812), and as further defined by regulation at 21 CFR 1300.11 through 1300.15. "Conviction" means a finding of guilt (including a plea of nolo contendere) or imposition of sentence, or both, by any judicial body charged with the responsibility to determine violations of the Federal or State criminal drug statutes. 

"Criminal drug statute" means a Federal or non-Federal criminal statute involving the manufacture, distribution, dispensing, use or possession of any controlled substance. "Drug-Free workplace" means a site for the performance of work at which College employees are prohibited from engaging in the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession or use of a controlled substance.  All Board-owned or controlled premises, and any premises not owned or controlled by the Board which are used by members of the College community in the functions of the College, are declared Drug-Free Workplace. 

Standard of conduct 

In addition, the college expects all members of the college community to comply with all federal, state, and local laws pertaining to the possession, use, manufacture, distribution, or dispensing of alcohol and drugs. For more information, contact the college’s Health Education Center located in Bladen Hall, Room 132, or call 301-322-0845. 

Sanctions 

Violations of the Drug-Free Policy and the Workplace Program Rule will result in discharge, expulsion, or other appropriate action pursuant to the College's personnel action policy; and that As a condition of employment, each employee of the College agrees that he or she will abide by the terms of the above statement and, will notify the Dean of Human Resources of any criminal drug statute conviction for a violation occurring in the workplace no later than five days after such conviction. The College will take one of the following actions within 30 days of receiving notice of a criminal drug statute conviction for a violation in the workplace with respect to any employee so convicted: Take appropriate personnel action against such an employee, up to and including discharge; or require such employee to participate satisfactorily in a drug abuse assistance or rehabilitation program approved for such purposes by a Federal, State, or local health, law enforcement, or other appropriate agency. Students who violate college policy will be subject to guidelines outlined in the Student Code of Conduct as outlined in Section B, Standard of Student Conduct, and Section D, Student Discipline.  

Drug and Alcohol Prevention Program 

The college’s Drug and Alcohol Abuse Program is part of a nationwide effort to prevent the illegal use of drugs and alcohol and to keep drugs off campuses and out of schools, neighborhoods, and the workplace. The college prohibits the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession, or use of illicit drugs and alcohol by students, employees, and visitors in functions of the college, or as part of any college activity.For more information, contact the college’s Health Education Center located in Bladen Hall, Room 132, or call 301-322-0845. 

  

Drug and Alcohol Counseling Information 

  

Attached is an extensive list of treatment centers from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).  The list has been sorted by location. 

  

Seafarers 

Addiction Rehabilitation Center 

45705 Locust Grove Drive 

Valley Lee, MD  20692 

301-994-0010x5330 

  

Open Arms, Inc 

2590 Business Park Court 

Waldolf, MD  20601 

301-645-5538 

  

Alcohol and Drug Recovery (ADR) 

3475 Leonardtown Road 

Suite 102 

Waldolf, MD 20601 

(410) 268-6800 

  

Counseling Professionals Inc.   

3555 Leonardtown Road 

Waldolf, MD 20602 

(301) 374-2013 

 

PGCC Employee Assistance Program 

Magellan Health.Com 

1-800-523-5668 

 

Description of Health Risk of Drug and Alcohol Abuse 

The Effects of Drugs and Alcohol on Academic Life  

Sources: http://www.fit.edu/caps/documents/effects%20of%20drugs.pdf

Drug and alcohol use on college campuses is universal. Students articulate many reasons why they do it, but most neglect to consider both the long-term and [short-term] consequences of their actions. How wide-spread is drug and alcohol abuse? Teenagers today admit to extensive experimentation. According to one study, 90 percent of teens said that they have used alcohol, over 50 percent have used marijuana, 17 percent have used cocaine and 13 percent have used some form of hallucinogenic drug. Drug use has been classified as a major problem of students as early as in the fourth grade. Consequently, it is no surprise that substance use is prolific on college campuses, where many young adults are free from adult supervision for the first time in their lives.  

  

Alcohol use accounts for over 100,000 deaths per year in [the United States]. It contributes to over 50 percent of all suicides, violent crimes, emergency room admissions, traffic accidents, substandard job performances and industrial accidents, and 80 percent of all domestic violence incidents. You may falsely believe that you are “safe” because you live in the small community of [Largo, MD] and that these issues don’t really affect you. To be more specific, how can drug and alcohol abuse affect a healthy young college student like you? The statistics are staggering:  

• Drug and alcohol abuse is the leading cause of death for people between the ages of 15 and 24  

• 95% of all college campus violence is related to alcohol  

• 28% of all college dropouts are alcoholics and 40% of all college students having academic problems abuse alcohol  

• Over 60% of all college women who have contracted [sexually transmitted diseases] were intoxicated at the time that they were infected  

  

So why do college students continue to drink and use drugs?  

  

Some feel pressured to use drugs or alcohol at social gatherings either because everyone else seems to be doing it, or because they believe it’s the cool thing to do. Others believe that drug or alcohol abuse offers a way to escape from school or work-related stress, financial worries or relationship problems. Some feel that alcohol or drugs provide a way to compensate for feelings of shyness or low self-esteem. Sometimes, these drugs act as a substitute for satisfying relationships, educational accomplishments or self-fulfillment.  

  

College students often forget why they are supposed to be in school. Is the purpose of university life to party all the time or to get the most out of the learning environment? Substance abuse can seriously affect academic performance. Aside from long-term addiction (or possible emptying your bank account) it can cause grades to plummet. How? Substance use affects your entire body, including your brain, in a variety of ways. Judgment is often the first attribute to be affected. You may find it difficult to make good decisions, to make them quickly or to be realistic when you make them. Suddenly, it becomes much easier to wait until the last minute to cram for that exam or to crankout that paper. You may also find yourself having difficulty concentrating and paying attention, especially when you are in class or trying to study. Nutritional deficits can result from extended or heavy substance use, and these deficiencies can affect your attention, concentration and ability to get along with others, as well as lead to memory loss and difficulty coping with everyday stressors.  

  

Even if you think that these long-term effects of substance abuse don’t apply to you, think about how much study time you have lost because you were out partying all night and were too hung-over the next day to go to class or to work on your lab report. Are you worried that substance abuse may be affecting you, your grades or your relationship? Have you noticed that your grades are dropping? Are classes that used to be enjoyable now very difficult or tedious? Does it seem that you never have enough time to study or get your assignments done, yet you are always at every party? You may want to consider how substance abuse could be affecting your academic performance. While substance abuse is a serious problem that can affect your academic, personal and professional life very seriously, it is also a treatable problem. Many sources are available to provide you with the help you or a friend may need. Counseling and Psychological Services, Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, your local spiritual leader or your family doctor can all provide you with the information needed to obtain the services that are best suited to your needs. 

 

Definition of Drug Abuse, Drugs types, and Health Risks 

Source:  http://www.medicinenet.com/drug_abuse/article.htm 

What is drug abuse? 

Drug abuse, also called substance abuse or chemical abuse, is a disorder that is characterized by a destructive pattern of using a substance that leads to significant problems or distress. It affects more than 7% of people at some point in their lives. Teens are increasingly engaging in prescription drug abuse, particularly narcotics (which are prescribed to relieve severe pain), and stimulant medications, which treat conditions like attention deficit disorder.  

What is drug addiction? 

Drug addiction, also called substance dependence or chemical dependency, is a disease that is characterized by a destructive pattern of drug abuse that leads to significant problems involving tolerance to or withdrawal from the substance, as well as other problems that use of the substance can cause for the sufferer, either socially or in terms of their work or school performance. More than 2.6% of people suffer from drug addiction at some time in their life.  

What types of drugs are commonly abused? 

Virtually any substance whose ingestion can result in a euphoric ("high") feeling can be abused. While many are aware of the abuse of legal substances like alcohol or illegal drugs like marijuana (in most states) and cocaine, less well known is the fact that inhalants like household cleaners are some of the most commonly abused substances. The following are many of the drugs and types of drugs that are commonly abused and/or result in dependence:  

• Alcohol: Although legal, alcohol is a toxic substance, particularly to a developing fetus when a mother consumes this drug during pregnancy. 
• Amphetamines: This group of drugs comes in many forms, from prescription medications like methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta) and dextroamphetamine and amphetamine (Adderall) to illegally manufactured drugs like methamphetamine ("meth"). Overdose of any of these substances can result in seizure and death. 
• Anabolic steroids: A group of substances abused by bodybuilders and other athletes, this group of drugs can lead to terrible psychological effects like aggression and paranoia, as well as devastating long-term physical effects like infertility and organ failure. 
• Caffeine: While it is consumed by many, coffee, tea and soda drinkers, when consumed in excess this substance can produce palpitations, insomnia, tremors and significant anxiety. 
• Cannabis: More commonly called marijuana, the scientific name for cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). In addition to the negative effects the drug itself can produce (for example, infertility, paranoia, lack of motivation), the fact that it is commonly mixed ("cut") with other substances so drug dealers can make more money selling the diluted substance or expose the user to more addictive drugs exposes the marijuana user to the dangers associated with those added substances. Examples of ingredients that marijuana is commonly cut with include baby powder, oregano, embalming fluid, PCP, opiates, and cocaine. 
• Cocaine: A drug that tends to stimulate the nervous system, cocaine can be snorted in powder form, smoked when in the form of rocks (crack cocaine), or injected when made into a liquid. 
• Ecstasy: Also called MDMA to denote its chemical composition (methylenedioxymethamphetamine), this drug tends to create a sense of euphoria and an expansive love or desire to nurture others. In overdose, it can increase body temperature to the point of being fatal. 
• Hallucinogens: Examples include LSD and mescaline, as well as so-called naturally occurring hallucinogens like certain mushrooms, these drugs can be dangerous in their ability to alter the perceptions of the user. For example, a person who is intoxicated with a hallucinogen may perceive danger where there is none and to think that situations that are truly dangerous are not. Those misperceptions can result in dangerous behaviors (like jumping out of a window because the individual thinks they are riding on an elephant that can fly). 
• Inhalants: One of the most commonly abused group of substances due to its accessibility, inhalants are usually contained in household cleaners, like ammonia, bleach, and other substances that emit fumes. Brain damage, even to the point of death, can result from using an inhalant just once or over the course of time, depending on the individual. 
• Nicotine: The addictive substance found in cigarettes, nicotine is actually one of the most habit-forming substances that exist. In fact, nicotine addiction is often compared to the intense addictiveness associated with opiates like heroin. 
• Opiates: This group is also called narcotics and includes drugs like heroine, codeine, Vicodin, Percocet, and Percodan. This group of substances sharply decreases the functioning of the nervous system. The lethality of opiates is often the result of the abuser having to use increasingly higher amounts to achieve the same level of intoxication, ultimately to the point that the dose needed to get high is the same as the dose that is lethal for that individual by halting the person's breathing (respiratory arrest). 
• Phencyclidine: Commonly referred to as PCP, this drug can cause the user to feel extremely paranoid, become quite aggressive and to have an unusual amount of physical strength. This can make the individual quite dangerous to others. 
• Sedative, hypnotic, or anti-anxiety drugs: As these substances quell or depress the nervous system, they can cause death by respiratory arrest of the person who either uses these drugs in overdose or who mixes one or more of these drugs with another nervous system depressant drug (like alcohol or an opiate). 

Drug and Alcohol Policy: Administrative Responsibility  

The Dean for Human Resources and the Dean of Enrollment Services will collaboratively work to inform college employees and students of the college’s policy on drug and alcohol abuse and the effects of abuse by providing:  

Annually notifying each employee and student, in writing, of standards of conduct; a description of appropriate sanctions for violation of federal, state, and local law and campus policy; and a description of available treatment programs.  

Developing a sound method for distributing annual notification information to every student and staff member each year. 

Conducting a biennial review on the effectiveness of its alcohol and other drugs programs and the consistency of sanction enforcement. 

Maintaining its biennial review material on file so that if requested to do so by the U.S. Department of Education, the college can demonstrate compliance disclosure information.