The abuse and use of drugs and alcohol are subjects of immediate concern in our society. These problems are extremely complex and ones for which there are no easy solutions. Illicit drug use and the abuse of alcohol are dangerous to one’s health and may result in serious illness or death. From a safety perspective, the users of drugs or alcohol may impair the well-being of all employees, students, and the public at large; drug and alcohol use may also lead to damage of College property.

Each MCC employee shall, as a condition of employment, do the following:

• Abide by the terms of this Drug and Alcohol Policy, and
• Notify the College of any criminal drug statute conviction for a violation occurring within the College workplace, on College premises, or as part of any College sponsored activity no later than five (5) days after such conviction.

Each MCC student shall abide by the terms of this Drug and Alcohol Policy as a condition of enrollment.

Lawful Conduct

It is the policy of Martin Community College that the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession, or use of a controlled substance or alcoholic beverage is prohibited in the College workplace, on College premises, or while participating in or attending any College sponsored activities. MCC does not differentiate between those who manufacture, distribute, dispense, sell, possess, or use controlled substances or alcohol. Furthermore, it is the policy of MCC that any MCC current employee or currently enrolled student who is convicted of violating any criminal drug statute or alcoholic beverage control statute be subject to the MCC disciplinary action policy, up to and including termination/expulsion.

Drug-Free Awareness Program

Dangers of Drug Abuse

Drug abuse occurs when a person begins a consistent pattern of use of a substance beyond what is recommended if the substance is prescribed. If the substance is not prescribed, abuse occurs when the quantity of the substance used is increased to achieve a high that was once achieved at a lower quantity. There are many dangers to abuse of drugs including physical and psychological addiction, change in brain chemistry and functioning, and death.

Danger of Addiction

When a drug is abused, the potential for addiction is increased due to physical need that the body develops once the drug’s effects are achieved. Abuse turns into addiction through chemical changes that the drug supplies to the body when used regularly. Additionally, an emotional and mental attachment develops, causing preoccupation with gaining the pleasurable effects that the drug brings. The body misses the drug when it is not present, causing the person to seek that feeling through ongoing drug abuse. Addiction has the unfortunate side effects of mental and physical withdrawal, depending on the drug abused. This can lead to need for medical and psychological intervention in order to break free from the addiction that develops.

Danger of Brain Change

The brain is a natural messenger system with chemicals being created to provide the rest of the body with the tools needed to feel, think, function and thrive. Drugs provide additional or an overload of chemicals to the brain causing interference with the natural process. This occurs due to the drug imitating an already-occurring chemical provided by the brain and through over-stimulation of the pleasure circuits of the brain. Ultimately a process called flooding the circuits happens during drug abuse, which creates an imbalance in the normal body process. Initially the over-stimulation feels good, causing euphoria during early drug abuse. With time the body and the brain come to rely on the drug for feeling pleasure and stop creating the natural flow of chemicals that were once present. The danger of brain changes leads to depression, anxiety, disrupted communication patterns, memory impairment, poor appetite, reduced or increased sleeping, and isolation from once pleasurable people and activities.

Danger of Death

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, over 19,000 people died of accidental poisoning or drug overdose in the United States in 2004 and by 2005, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported over 22,000 people losing their lives to death by overdose. It is unknown how many of those deaths were suicide and how many were accidental, but this is an attestation to the severe danger of abusing drugs no matter if prescribed or illegal.

Government Policy

The Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 (“Act”) is a U.S. federal legislation that tries to reduce drug use within organizations that have contracts with the federal government. The Workplace Act directly affects federal contractors as well as organizations that receive grants from the federal government. The Act requires organizations and companies to agree to run a drug-free workplace before entering into a contract or grant program with the U.S. government.

The Act established formal guidelines for federal contractors and those who receive federal grants. The Act requires organizations to post antidrug-use policies within the workplace and provide employee awareness training on drug use policies.

All covered contractors and grantees must maintain a drug-free workplace. However, the specific components necessary to meet the requirements of the Act vary based on the type of organization.

(Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988, n.d.)

Drug or Alcohol Abuse Counseling, Rehab, Assistance

• Port Human Services: 252-752-0483 (Greenville, NC)
• Alcoholics Anonymous: 252-975-6113 (Washington, NC)
• Walter B. Jones Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Center: 252-830-3426 (Greenville, NC)

Legal Compliance and Notifications

Timely Notice of Convictions

Each employee or student is required to notify the College within five (5) calendar days after being convicted of any federal, state, or local criminal drug statute or alcoholic beverage control statute, if the violation occurred while in the workplace, on College premises, or as part of any College-sponsored activity.

The College shall take appropriate disciplinary action within thirty (30) calendar days of receiving such notice. Students may visit the Office of Admissions, Counseling, and Student Support Services for information about community resources that may provide assistance with overcoming obstacles related to drug and alcohol use.

Federal Grant and Workplace Requirements

Employees working under federal grants must comply with additional requirements under the Drug-Free Workplace Act. Convictions for violating any drug or alcohol statute under such grants must be reported to the appropriate federal agency.

The President of the College shall ensure that the federal agency is notified within ten (10) days of receiving notice of such a conviction. The College shall take appropriate disciplinary action within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt.

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As a condition of further employment on any federal government grant, the law requires all employees to abide by this policy.

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Violations and Disciplinary Consequences

Any College employee or student who violates the Drug and Alcohol Policy will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment or expulsion from the College, as well as referral for prosecution under applicable local, state, or federal laws.

Alternatively, the College may require the employee or student to satisfactorily participate in a drug abuse assistance or rehabilitation program, or an alcohol rehabilitation program, approved for such purposes by a federal, state, or local health, law enforcement, or other appropriate agency.