Drug & Alcohol Abuse Prevention

Queens University of Charlotte is committed to providing a healthy, safe, and productive environment for our faculty, staff, and students. As part of that commitment, the university established a policy and is providing information regarding drug and alcohol abuse prevention. The effectiveness of the institution’s drug and alcohol abuse prevention programs is reviewed every two years to determine if program improvements are needed and to ensure that any disciplinary sanctions are consistently enforced.

Queens Policy

Students

Queens students, faculty, and staff are responsible for being familiar with and complying with institutional policies regarding alcohol, drugs, smoking, etc. These policies are fully documented in the Honor Code booklet and Student Handbook. Both documents are updated annually and shared with students online.

Student Handbook

• Disciplinary Sanctions section
• Policies and Procedures for Residential Students section

Honor Code

• Section II. – Community Violations

Students who are sanctioned or need alcohol/drug assessment or rehabilitation are referred to Anuvia Prevention and Recovery Center. Queens has an ongoing relationship with these centers to provide counseling, treatment or rehabilitation services to students.

Employees

Queens prohibits employees from reporting to work or working under the influence of alcohol, non-prescribed drugs, or prescribed drugs that induce an unsafe mental or physical state. For more information about the policy or the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), please refer to the Employee Handbook.

North Carolina Law

Beyond the health risks, the illegal use of drugs and alcohol has serious punitive ramifications under North Carolina State Law and Queens University of Charlotte policy.

The purchase or possession of beer, wine, liquor, or mixed beverages by a person less than 21 years old is illegal under North Carolina General Statute Section 18B – 101 et. Seq. Similarly, it is illegal to sell beer, wine, liquor, or mixed beverages to those less than 21 years old or to aid and abet a person less than 21 years old in obtaining alcoholic beverages. It is illegal to use a fraudulent ID or to permit the use of one’s ID by a person less than 21 years old to purchase alcoholic beverages. It is illegal to give alcoholic beverages to an intoxicated person. Unless a different punishment is otherwise expressly stated, any person who violates any provision of statute section 18B – 101 et. Seq. shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Penalties range in seriousness from a fine to imprisonment or both. A conviction report is sent to the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles will result in the revocation of the offender’s driver’s license for a period of one year.

A criminal record (misdemeanor or felony) may preclude admission to graduate or professional schools, professional licensure, and certification, or security clearance of certain professions and positions.

The following are relevant excerpts from North Carolina statutes regarding alcoholic beverages:

1. Possession of Beer, Liquor, or Unfortified Wine by Any Person Under the Age of 21:
   Penalty – Offense will be considered a misdemeanor that will become a matter of public record as a criminal conviction and subject the person to court costs and fines. (General Statute 18B-302)
   
2. Purchase or Attempt to Purchase Beer or Unfortified Wine:
   Penalty – Offense will be considered a misdemeanor that will become a matter of public record as a criminal conviction and subject the person to court costs and fines. If using false identification, the DMV will revoke the defendant’s license for one year. (General Statute 18B-302)
   
3. Aid and Abet in the Sale, Purchase, and/or Possession of Alcohol by Anyone Less than 21 Years of Age (This includes giving alcohol to anyone less than 21 years of age):
   Penalty – Any person who aids or abets an underage person in violating this law may be fined up to $1000, serve 150 hours of community service, and upon conviction, the DMV will revoke the defendant’s driver’s license for one year. (General Statute 18B-302)
   
4. The Use or Attempt to use a Fraudulent or Altered Driver’s License in order to obtain Alcoholic Beverages when not of Lawful Age; or a Fraudulent or Altered Identification Document other than a Driver’s License; or a Driver’s License Issued to Another Person; or an Identification Document other than a Driver’s License Issued to Another Person:
   Penalty – The offense will be a misdemeanor resulting in court costs and/or fine and the DMV will revoke the defendant’s driver’s license for one year. (General Statute 18B-302)
   
5. Permit the use of the One’s Driver’s License or any other Identification Document of any Kind by any Person under 21 to Purchase or Attempt to Purchase or Possess Alcohol:
   Penalty – The offense will be a misdemeanor resulting in court costs and/or fine and the DMV will revoke the defendant’s driver’s license for one year. (General Statute 18B-302)
   
6. Impaired Driving. A person commits the offense of driving while impaired (DWI) if he/she drives a vehicle upon any highway, any street, or any public vehicular area within this state; after having consumed sufficient alcohol that he/she has, at any relevant time after the driving, an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more; or while under the influence of an impairing substance:
   Penalty – If an intoxication test yields an alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or greater, an individual’s driving privileges will be revoked immediately for a minimum of 30 days. Any person convicted may be fined a maximum of $2000; and serve 24 months in prison, and the DMV will revoke the defendant’s driver’s license for one year. (General Statute 18B-302)

Health Risks

Abusing drugs and alcohol can have serious negative consequences on life beginning with various associated health risks.

Health Effects of Alcohol

Liver cancer, fatty liver, hepatitis, cirrhosis

Increased cancers of the mouth, tongue, pharynx, esophagus, rectum, breast and skin

Kidney disease

Ulcers

Increased acid in the stomach

Insomnia

Contributes to high blood pressure and strokes

Heart muscle disease or heart failure

Increased blood sugar levels which makes diabetes worse

Increased severity of mental health problems such as bipolar disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety and addiction

Health Effects of Marijuana

Emphysema-like symptoms

Respiratory track and sinus infections

Lowered immune system response

Because users often inhale the unfiltered smoke deeply and then hold it in their lungs as long as possible, marijuana is damaging to the lungs and pulmonary system. Marijuana smoke contains more cancer-causing agents than tobacco smoke.

Health Effects of Hallucinogens

Persistent memory problems

Speech difficulties

Mood disorders, such as depression, anxiety and violent behavior

Paranoid and violent behavior

Hallucinations

Convulsions and coma

Heart and lung failure

Health Effects of Stimulants

Increased heart and respiratory rates

Elevated blood pressure

Sweating

Headaches

Blurred vision

Dizziness

Sleeplessness and anxiety

Rapid or irregular heartbeat

Tremors

Poor coordination

Physical collapse

Physical exertion while using stimulants can be dangerous because of the drugs’ effects on the body’s temperature-regulating and cardiovascular systems and can cause deaths in otherwise healthy young athletes.