Policy & Programs to Prevent Drug & Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol and Drugs on Campus Policy

In accordance with Georgia laws governing the manufacture, sale, use, distribution, and possession of alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, marijuana, controlled substances, or dangerous drugs on college campuses and elsewhere, including the Drug-Free Postsecondary Education Act of 1990, the Board of Regents encourages its institutions to adopt programs designed to increase awareness of the dangers involved in the use of alcoholic beverages, marijuana, or other illegal or dangerous drugs by University System of Georgia (USG) students and employees. Such programs shall stress individual responsibility related to the use of alcohol and drugs on and off the campus.

To assist in the implementation of such awareness programs and to enhance the enforcement of state laws at USG institutions, each institution shall adopt and disseminate comprehensive rules and regulations consistent with local, state, and federal laws concerning the manufacture, distribution, sale, possession, or use of alcoholic beverages, marijuana, controlled substances, or dangerous drugs on campus and at institutionally-approved events off campus.

Disciplinary sanctions for the violation of such rules and regulations shall be included as a part of each institution’s disciplinary code of student conduct. Disciplinary sanctions for students convicted of a felony offense involving the manufacture, distribution, sale, possession, or use of marijuana, controlled substances, or other illegal or dangerous drugs shall include the forfeiture of academic credit and the temporary or permanent suspension or expulsion from the institution. All sanctions imposed by the institution shall be subject to review procedures authorized by Board of Regents’ Policy on Application for Discretionary Review.

The rules and regulations adopted by each institution shall also provide for relief from disciplinary sanctions previously imposed against one whose convictions are subsequently overturned on appeal or otherwise.

To prevent the use of illicit drugs and the abuse of alcohol, the ABAC Student Code of Conduct prohibits the unlawful manufacture, distribution, sale, possession, or use of illicit drugs and alcohol by students on College property or as part of any College-related activities.

Health Risks

Abuse and dependence upon alcohol and other psychoactive drugs are classified as organic mental disorders by the American Psychiatric Association and the World Health Organization, and as such they are associated with distressing psychological, behavioral, and biological symptoms; impairment in one or more important areas of functioning; or significantly increased risk of suffering, death, pain, or important loss of freedom.

Counseling Services

The ABAC Counseling Center provides individual counseling to ABAC students for substance abuse and other personal concerns. There is no charge for this service. Clients are informed of the nature and purpose of any assessment, treatment, educational or training procedure and are given freedom of choice with regard to participation. When the Counseling Center is not able to provide the necessary services, clients are informed of alternative resources and appropriate referrals are made.

To the extent permitted by law and ethical standards, all information received in counseling is considered confidential and is not disclosed to any other person or campus unit without the written permission of the clients.

In matters of student discipline, the Counseling Center staff may provide assessment and consultative services to clients, colleagues, or units of the College in ways which improve the campus environment, maintain the anonymity of clients, and preserve the confidential nature of all counseling relationships.

Education

The College provides alcohol and sexual assault education through EVERFI, an online course. This training is designed to assist students in making appropriate choices with respect to alcohol use.

Sanctions

In addition to possible fines and imprisonment for violation of local, state, and federal drug and alcohol laws, students are subject to sanctions under the ABAC Student Code of Conduct for violation of policies governing alcohol and other drugs. These sanctions may include but are not limited to fines, community service, mandatory courses on drug and alcohol abuse, parental notification, probation, and suspension or expulsion from the College. The following policies of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia also apply to ABAC students who violate drug and alcohol policy: Section

4.6.3 of the Board of Regents Policy Manual states the following:

The Board of Regents has determined that the use of marijuana, controlled substances or other illegal or dangerous drugs constitutes a serious threat to the public health, welfare, and academic achievement of students enrolled in the University System of Georgia. Therefore, all student organizations, including but not limited to societies, fraternities, sororities, clubs, and similar groups of students which are affiliated with, recognized by, or which use the facilities under the jurisdiction of institutions of the University System, are hereby charged with the responsibility of enforcing compliance with local, state and federal laws by all persons attending or participating in their respective functions and affairs, social or otherwise.

As provided by the Student Organization Responsibility for Drug Abuse Act, any such student organization which, through its officers, agents or responsible  members,  knowingly  permits, authorizes or condones the manufacture, sale, distribution, possession, serving, consumption or use of marijuana, controlled substances, or other illegal or dangerous drugs at any affair, function, or activity of such student organization, social or otherwise, is hereby declared to be in violation of the laws of this state and shall have its recognition as a student organization withdrawn and, after complying with the constitutional requirements of due process, shall be expelled from the campus for a minimum of one calendar year from the date of determination of guilt.

Such organization shall also be prohibited from using any property or facilities of the institution for a period of at least one (1) year. Any lease, rental agreement or other document between the Board of Regents or the institution and the student organization which relates to the use of the property leased, rented or occupied shall be terminated for knowingly having permitted or authorized the unlawful actions described above.

All sanctions imposed by this policy shall be subject to review procedures authorized by the Board of Regents Policy 8.6 Application for Discretionary Review (BOR Minutes, Feb. 2015)

An appeal to the Board of Regents shall not defer the effective date of the adverse action against the student organization pending the Board’s review unless the Board so directs. Any such stay or suspension by the Board shall expire as of the date of the Board’s final decision on the matter (BOR Minutes, 1989-90, p. 384).

This Policy amendment is intended to implement The Student Organization Responsibility for Drug Abuse Act of 1990.

Disciplinary sanctions for students convicted of a felony offense involving the manufacture, distribution, sale, possession or use of marijuana, controlled substances or other illegal or dangerous drugs, shall include the forfeiture of academic credit and the temporary or permanent suspension or expulsion from the institution. All sanctions imposed by the institution shall be subject to review procedures authorized by BOR Policy 6.26 Application for Discretionary Review (BOR Policy Manual 4.6.4, BOR Minutes, Feb. 2015) Source:https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2714/