ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE POLICY
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is committed to the principle of a drug-free environment and feels an obligation to help eradicate alcohol and other drug abuse on our campus and beyond. The University provides a drug prevention program accessible to students and employees and complies with the standards set forth by the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989.
STANDARDS OF CONDUCT
The University expects students, employees and groups to be free of the influence of controlled substances; to refrain from the use of controlled substances on University premises or related premises or at a University activity; and to not drink, dispense or be under the influence of alcohol or possess alcoholic beverages on University premises or at functions or activities controlled by the University. Persons 21 years and over may possess and consume alcoholic beverages in the privacy of assigned rooms in University apartments, houses or the residence hall. Violation of this standard will result in discipline up to and including suspension or termination.
Any student, employee or group who gives or transfers controlled substances to another person or sells or manufactures a controlled substance while on campus or related premises will be subject to discipline up to and including termination, suspension and/or referral to the authorities for prosecution.
Any student, employee or group found to be in violation of federal, state or local narcotic or controlled substance laws on University premises will be subject to discipline up to and including suspension or termination.
4. Students, employees and groups whose behavior and/or conduct is a result of alcohol or other drug misuse/abuse on campus or as a part of any University activity may be required to undergo, at their own expense, a preassessment (screening) at the University Counseling and Career Planning or Health Services and/or clinical assessment at an appropriate agency identified by the University. The welfare of the student or employee comes first and discipline may be deferred or dismissed depending upon the severity of the violation.
Any containers of beer, wine or distilled spirits which are being transported in a private automobile must be sealed and covered while on University premises.
SStudent organizations are prohibited from spending Student Activity Fee money to purchase alcoholic beverages. Violations of this standard will result in discipline up to probation.
UNIVERSITY SANCTIONS FOR VIOLATING ALCOHOL AND DRUG POLICIES
Sanctions for the violations of University policies, regulations and guidelines and local, state, or federal laws may include, but are not limited to: appropriate rehabilitation programs, expulsion, suspension, termination of employment and/or referral to authorities for prosecution, counseling, job reassignment, University or public service, educational projects, restitution or fines, withdrawal from classes, appropriate probation conditions in order to maintain one’s faculty, staff or student organization status. Disciplinary sanctions for the illegal sale or distribution of controlled substance drugs on University premises will subject the offender to sanctions up to and including suspension, termination and/or referral for prosecution. For specific definitions of sanctions and procedures for handling disciplinary actions for students and employees, refer to faculty, staff and student handbooks.
SOME APPLICABLE ARKANSAS LAWS:
No person under the age of 21 can consume or possess alcohol in Arkansas.
It is illegal to be so intoxicated in a public place that you are likely to endanger yourself or others or be unreasonably annoying to others. This is a class c misdemeanor, (with a class A as the most serious), and may result in fines and incarceration.
Driving a motor vehicle with .08% or more blood alcohol is a class A misdemeanor that, in addition to incarceration and heavy fines, will result in a suspension of driving privileges from 120-180 days for the first offense. Driving with a license suspended for DWI may result in incarceration for ten days and a $1,000 fine. Refusing the chemical test for blood alcohol may result in a 180-day suspension of driving privileges for the first offense. In the event of an accident involving a fatality, a blood alcohol content of .08% or higher may result in a charge of manslaughter, even though the driver did not set out to intentionally harm anyone.
A person under the age of 21 that operates a motor vehicle with .02% but less than .08% blood alcohol commits the offense of Underage Driving Under the Influence. The penalties include suspension of driving privileges for up to 120 days for the first offense, fines up to $500.00, public service work at the discretion of the court, and mandatory attendance at an alcohol and driving education program.
Arkansas statutes 5-27-501 through 503 are aimed at preventing persons under 21 from using altered identification to purchase alcohol. Manufacturing, altering, or distributing altered personal identification for this purpose is a Class C Felony punishable by up to ten years in prison. Possessing altered identification is a class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and revocation of driving privileges for up to 12 months or age 18, whichever is shortest.
Possession of more than one ounce of marijuana or possessing it in a form to facilitate distribution is a felony offense. Possession of any usable amount of any other illegal narcotic is a felony. The penalties range from probation to life in prison. Recently, in an effort to combat the manufacture of methamphetamine, legislation was enacted to control ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and phenolpropanolamine. Possession of more than five grams of ephedrine or more than nine grams of pseudoephedrine or phenolpropanolamine is a felony and prima facie evidence of the intent to manufacture methamphetamine. These substances are found in over the counter sinus medications and diet pills.
HEALTH RISK OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE
Illicit drugs as well as alcohol and other drugs have two types of effects on the body and mind. The initial, short-term effects may be positive feelings like alertness, optimism, self-confidence, energy or stress relief. These positive feelings and reactions are the primary reason drugs have appealed to so many for so long. However, the secondary, long-term, negative effects far exceed the positive effects.
| Effects of use on the body: | |
| Signs that indicate a person is
becoming dependent on a substance:
| |||
UALR does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission, employment or access to its programs and activities in accordance with section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title I and II of the ADA. Under ADA, current illegal drug use is excluded from the definition of disability when a “covered entity” acts on the basis of such use. The definition of “individual with a disability” does include persons who are in or who have completed a supervised drug rehab program or have been otherwise rehabilitated and are no longer using drugs.
COUNSELING AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS
EDUCATION:
The process of providing information concerning drug abuse to students,
faculty, and staff is conducted through the classroom, self-help groups,
literature, and individual counseling and campus-wide activities. Educational
activities in the classroom are provided on undergraduate and graduate levels.
Course listings and a resource list of speakers to provide classroom
presentations or workshops on substance abuse are available at Health Services.
Counseling and Career Planning Services and Health Services provide free
literature, handouts, videos, individual counseling, one-on-one information
sessions, and referrals. The University provides an annual Alcohol/Drug Awareness
Week to enlighten the campus population in the areas of substance abuse.
TREATMENT:
Counseling and Career Planning Services provides support services to
individuals, couples, groups and families. Available techniques include crisis
intervention, problem-solving strategies, and group therapy and intervention
techniques. Free confidential assistance is available to all UALR employees
from the Arkansas Employee Assistance Program. Self-help groups such as Alcoholics
Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and Overeaters Anonymous meet on or near campus.
Counseling and Career Planning facilitates groups that deal with issues such as
co-dependency and addictive personalities.
REFERRAL:
Referrals to private and public facilities, outpatient and inpatient
institutions and individual practitioners are provided by Counseling and Career
Planning Services and Health Services. Resource lists of area treatment centers
are available at these locations.
| HELPFUL NUMBERS | |
| Employee Assistance Program | 686-2588 |
| UALR Counseling & Career Planning | 569-3185 |
| UALR Health Services | 569-3188 |
| Alcoholics Anonymous | 664-7303 |
| Narcotics Anonymous | 373-8683 |
For alternative accessible formats, call 569-3188.