Drug Free Schools and Communities Act

Chattahoochee Technical College is a drug-free campus. The faculty and staff at Chattahoochee Technical College are concerned about the growing pattern of drug and alcohol misuse in our society today. Chattahoochee Technical College is doing its part to curb this usage and to educate our staff and students about the associated dangers. Chattahoochee Technical College will comply with all pertinent local, state, and federal laws and regulations and is eager to join other educational facilities in this national effort to combat drug and alcohol misuse. National and state certifications of intent to comply with these laws in order to continue to receive funds for financial assistance have been submitted.

The Federal Drug Free Schools and Communities Act of 1990 contains Section 20, Drug Free Schools and Campuses, which was enacted to ensure that any institution of higher education that received funds under any federal program has adopted and implemented a program to prevent the use of illicit drugs and misuse of alcohol by students.

Under the terms of this act, colleges must annually distribute in writing to each student the following:

• Standards of conduct that clearly prohibit the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by students and employees on the school’s property or as part of any of the school’s activities
• Descriptions of applicable legal sanctions under state, local, and federal law
• Description of health risks
• Description of available counseling, treatment, rehabilitation, or re-entry programs
• Clear statement that the school will impose sanctions for violation of standards of conduct and a description of sanctions 

Reasonable Suspicion Protocol

If faculty and staff at Chattahoochee Technical College are concerned about drug and    alcohol misuse by a student and have reasonable suspicion, the following steps should occur:

1. Contact Chattahoochee Technical College’s Campus Police
2. Report the incident to your supervisor
3. Complete a Student Code of Conduct Report on the student in question on the Concerns and Complaints webpage

Proscribed Conduct

Any student found to have committed the following drug and/or alcohol misconduct is subject to disciplinary sanctions by the college’s judicial review committee if the student is found in violation of the following as per the published Student Code of Conduct. In addition, allegations of drug and/or alcohol violations may include investigation and possible prosecution by local, state, or federal laws. The Student Code of Conduct lists the following as violations:

• Use, possession or distribution of narcotic or other controlled substances except as expressly permitted by law.
• Use, possession or distribution of alcoholic beverages or public intoxication on Technical College premises or at off-campus activities sponsored by the Technical College.

In addition, no student may engage in the unlawful manufacture, possession, use or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol on the Technical College's property or as part of any of its sponsored activities.

Such unlawful activity may be considered sufficient grounds for serious punitive action, including immediate suspension and/or expulsion from the College. Disciplinary sanctions for students convicted of a felony offense involving alcohol or the manufacture, distribution, sale, possession or use of marijuana, controlled substances or other illegal or dangerous drugs, shall be considered for immediate suspension and denial of further state and/or federal funds from the date of conviction. Specifically, in the case of a drug related offense, the student shall minimally be suspended for the remainder of the semester and forfeit all academic credit for that period.

The Technical College shall notify the appropriate state/federal funding agency within 10 days after receiving notice of the conviction from the student or otherwise after receiving the actual notice of conviction.

Within 30 days of notification of conviction, the Technical College shall with respect to any student so convicted:

• Take additional appropriate action against such student up to and including expulsion as it deems necessary following investigation and judicial review.
• Provide such student with a descriptions of any local or community drug or alcohol treatment facilities, counseling, rehabilitation, or re-entry programs that are available for such purposes and may be mandated by a federal, state or local health, law enforcement, or other appropriate agency.

The Technical College is responsible for ensuring the development and implementation of a drug free awareness program to inform students of the following:

• The dangers of drug and alcohol misuse on the campus and elsewhere.
• Any available drug and alcohol counseling, rehabilitation, and assistance programs.
• Notification that severe penalties will be imposed upon students for drug and alcohol use and/or misuse violations occurring on campus, off-campus classes or activities sponsored by the college as those violations adversely affect the Technical College community or the pursuit of its objectives.
• Technical College jurisdiction and discipline shall be limited to conduct which occurs on Technical College premises, off-campus classes, activities or functions sponsored by the Technical College, or which adversely affects the Technical College Community and/or the pursuit of its objectives.

Students in a number of classes each term will be required to complete the learning platform, Get Inclusive. Within the course, students are challenged to consider the impact of alcohol and drugs, the way they play out in social settings, and how to set boundaries for themselves around their own substance usage.  In addition, students seeking counseling or treatment for drug or alcohol misuse, which impairs the success of daily living, will be mandated to participate in this learning platform. This learning platform is also available to any interested student as well. The learning objectives of Get Inclusive include:

• Abstainers will continue to choose not to drink
• Drinkers will more often choose not to drink any alcohol or intentionally limit alcohol intake
• When making the decision to consume alcohol, students will take steps to keep their blood alcohol levels in a safe range by actively monitoring intake and extend the time element between drinks
• Students will help protect another person who has had too much to drink from dangerous situations in which his/her judgment has become impaired
• Students will attempt to help a friend who might have a problem with drugs and alcohol to include referral to counseling or treatment program
• Students will make informed decisions to avoid using drugs.

Concerning potential health risks, students should be aware that according to the National Institute of Drug (NIDA), the National Institute of Health (NIH), and other sources, drug and alcohol use could have a wide range of short- and long-term, direct and indirect effects. Even after one use, short-term effects can cause alterations in appetite, sleep disturbances, slower or faster heart rate, dizziness, changes in blood pressure, behavior and mood fluctuations. Extended use over time, or even an isolated incident of overindulgence, can cause greater health risks to include heart attack, stroke, seizures, disorders of internal organs, and short-term psychosis. In other cases, extreme misuse of drugs or alcohol can lead to unintentional overdose and possible death. Long-term use of alcohol and drugs may include heart and/or lung disease, certain cancers, liver disease, mental illness or mental disorders, hepatitis and other health concerns to include an increased chance of dependency or addiction. In addition, use of drugs and alcohol can impair good decision-making skills, which could lead to the contraction of AIDS, HIV or sexually transmitted diseases due to risk-taking behaviors. The risk for impulsivity, trauma, violence, injury, and risky behaviors may be enhanced due to impaired judgment. In addition, the use of drugs and alcohol may contribute to short- and long-term changes in brain activity that affects mood, impulsivity, memory, stress, and the ability to learn new material and acquire new skills. This may adversely affect a student’s educational success and career opportunities. Even when drug and alcohol use is eliminated or reduced, those changes may become permanent. Last, the use of drugs and alcohol may adversely affect babies born to women who use drugs and alcohol while pregnant or while breastfeeding. 

There are several treatment options for persons with a substance use disorder to include assessment and evaluation services, intervention services, in-patient and outpatient treatment centers, counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), 12-step and other recovery programs, partial hospitalization options, group therapy, and community support groups. Free individual and group counseling, as well as crisis intervention and limited assessment services, are offered at Chattahoochee Technical College through Counseling Services. In addition, a variety of referrals to outside agencies is available. Students may call 770-975-4152 or email Counseling@ChattahoocheeTech.edu to make an appointment for counseling or referral services.