The Federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989 ("Amendments") and the Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988 require that colleges adopt and implement a program for prevention of the unlawful possession, illicit drug manufacture, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol on campus or as part of college activities that occur off-campus.

The Amendments further require that we distribute information about the program annually to every member of our community. The information must include the College's policy statement about the unlawful use, possession, or distribution of alcohol or illicit drugs, and a description of the College's disciplinary sanctions. We are also required to provide information about applicable local, state, and federal criminal sanctions, the associated health risks of drug and alcohol abuse, and the available support services for help in dealing with problems associated with drug and alcohol abuse.

The program and its underlying policy are to be reviewed regularly and amended or revised in accordance with our experience and with changes in applicable local, state, or federal laws and regulations. Students should note in particular that under Ohio law, possession of alcoholic beverages by persons under 21 with the intent to consume the beverage is unlawful and for those over 21, a college I.D. is not an acceptable proof of age.

Please address inquiries about the program to the Office of the Dean of Students (614) 837-4088. We encourage anyone who believes that he or she has a problem with drug or alcohol abuse to seek help through these offices or through the services listed in the attached statement.

The following is a copy of the College's policy statement pursuant to these requirements, which applies to all of the College's faculty members, students, and staff members:

VALOR CHRISTIAN COLLEGE POLICY STATEMENT

Pursuant to the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989 and the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988

I. POLICY STATEMENT

Valor Christian College is committed to creating for its students, faculty and staff an environment in which the use of alcohol and illicit drugs is eliminated, which encourages safety and individual accountability, and which provides an atmosphere free of coercion and peer pressure to abuse alcohol or to use unlawful drugs. The College prohibits the unlawful possession, use, manufacture, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by students, faculty members, or staff members while on or off College property, in residence halls, or while participating in College-sponsored activities or conducting College business off-premises.

An employee convicted of illicit drug activity in the workplace must report that conviction to the Human Resources department within five (5) days of the conviction.

II. STANDARDS OF CONDUCT

• The College strictly prohibits the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs on or off College premises or at College activities.
• The sale, service, possession, and consumption of alcoholic beverages on or off College premises or at related College activities is prohibited.
• Any person who misrepresents the age of a person under the age of twenty-one years for the purpose of inducing the sale of any alcoholic beverage is guilty of an offense under Ohio Law.
• No person under the age of twenty-one years shall present or offer to any liquor licensee under Ohio law, or to the agent or employee of such license, any written evidence of age which is false, fraudulent or not actually his own, for the purpose of purchasing or attempting to purchase any alcoholic beverage.
• In addition, Ohio State law prohibits any person under the age of twenty-one years from possessing any alcoholic beverage … with the intent to consume such beverage. Also, anyone who furnishes alcohol to anyone under the age of twenty-one has committed an offense under Ohio law.

The Valor Christian College Student Handbook contains additional policies with regard to alcoholic beverages and illicit drugs.

III. COLLEGE SANCTIONS

Members of the College community who violate this policy shall be subject to sanction. Taking into account the circumstances of each case, sanctions for students may range from warnings to expulsion from the College, and sanctions for employees may range from warnings to termination. At the discretion of the College, as an alternative to, or in addition to any disciplinary action taken, students or employees may be required to participate in and to complete satisfactorily an appropriate counseling or rehabilitation program. The College may maintain records of such discipline in a student's record or an employee's personnel file. Enforcement of these sanctions shall be through the College's existing disciplinary procedures for students, faculty, and staff, as appropriate.

Substance Abuse
The college reserves the right to require drug and other diagnostic testing of any student or employee of the college when deemed necessary. In compliance with the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act Amendment of 1989 (Public Law 101-2626), the law prohibits the unlawful possession, use or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by students and employees on the property or as part of any of its activities. The consumption or possession of alcoholic beverages, tobacco, non-medical narcotics or hallucinogenic drugs, including marijuana, is strictly prohibited.

Students are expected to observe social norms which exclude behaviors prohibited in the Covenant Code of Honor. The Biblical standard of holiness is expected of all students on and off campus. Student involvement in any use of prohibited substances outlined above at any time while completing course work at VCC, whether on campus or elsewhere, is grounds for immediate disciplinary action up to and including dismissal from Valor Christian College.

IV. CRIMINAL SANCTIONS

Ohio law is very specific concerning sanctions for drug and alcohol related offenses. Please note that offenses committed on or near school property receive harsher sanctions for the same offense not committed on or near school property. Below are examples of a sample of offenses addressed by Ohio law.



Please understand that these are only examples of the penalties that a person may face for the illegal possession, use, and distribution of alcoholic beverages and drugs. It is the College's policy to discourage violations of federal, state, and local law by its employees and students. Where appropriate, the College may refer employees and students who violate such laws for prosecution by the relevant governmental authorities, and will cooperate fully with such authorities.

V. HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH ALCOHOL ABUSE / ILLICIT DRUG USE

The following are summaries provided by the federal government of the health risks associated with illicit drug use and alcohol abuse. These are an overview and each individual will experience the drug or alcoholic beverage in a different way given his or her physical and psychological characteristics.

Alcoholic consumption causes a number of marked changes in behavior. Even low doses significantly impair judgment and reduce the coordination required to drive a car safely, increasing the likelihood that the driver will be involved in an accident. Low to moderate doses of alcohol also increases the incidence of a variety of aggressive acts, including sexual assault, and spouse and child abuse. Moderate to high doses of alcohol cause marked impairments in higher mental functions, severely altering a person's ability to learn and remember information. Very high doses, which vary greatly for different people, can cause respiratory depression and death. If combined with other depressants of the central nervous system, much lower doses of alcohol will produce the effects just described.

Repeated use of alcohol can lead to dependence. Sudden cessation of alcohol intake is likely to produce withdrawal symptoms, including severe anxiety, tremors, hallucinations, and convulsions. Alcohol withdrawal can be life threatening. Long-term consumption of large quantities of alcohol, particularly when combined with poor nutrition, can also lead to permanent damage to vital organs such as the brain and the liver.

Mothers who drink alcohol during pregnancy may give birth to infants with fetal alcohol syndrome. These infants have irreversible physical abnormalities and mental retardation. In addition, research indicates that children of alcoholic parents are at greater risk of becoming alcoholics.

The use of illicit drugs has serious risks for the user. Certain illicit drugs, if taken in sufficient doses or by using certain methods, may result in immediate death or life-threatening conditions. They may also result in irreparable damage to vital organs and create chronic and debilitating health concerns. Prolonged use of certain illicit drugs could cause liver disease, mental impairments, and certain cancers. The combination of illicit drugs and alcohol abuse will exacerbate physical and mental ailments. Illicit drugs also create physical and mental dependencies. As with alcohol withdrawal, withdrawal from illicit drugs causes a variety of physical and mental problems, which may be life threatening. Illicit drug abuse relates to and often results in significant social problems such as job loss, divorce, and financial stresses, and may cause the user to engage in criminal conduct to support the dependency. Using illicit drugs during pregnancy will harm the fetus and may result in miscarriage or birth defects.

Substance abuse may result in a wide array of serious health and behavioral problems. Substance abuse has both long and short-term effects on the body and the mind. Alcohol and drugs are toxic to the human body. In addition to the problem of toxicity, contaminant poisonings often occur with illegal drug use. HIV infection with intravenous drug use is a prevalent hazard. Acute health problems may include heart attack, stroke, and sudden death, which can occur for first time cocaine users. Long lasting effects caused by drug and alcohol abuse can cause problems such as disruption of normal heart rhythm, high blood pressure, leaks of blood vessels in the brain, bleeding and destruction of brain cells, possible memory loss, infertility, impotency, immune system impairment, kidney failure, cirrhosis of the liver, and pulmonary damage. Drug use during pregnancy may result in fetal damage and birth defects causing hyperactivity, neurological abnormalities, and developmental difficulties.

Additional Health Risks

Alcohol
Alcohol toxic psychosis, physical dependence, neurological and liver damage, fetal alcohol syndrome, impaired judgment

Amphetamines
Amphetamines can cause a rapid or irregular heartbeat, tremors, convulsions, loss of coordination, collapse and death. Heavy users are prone to irrational acts.

Cannabis (Marijuana, Hashish)
The use of marijuana may impair or reduce short-term memory and comprehension, alter sense of time, and reduce coordination and energy level. Users often have a lowered immune system and an increased risk of lung cancer. Users also often lack motivation and general drive to achieve goals.

Club Drugs
Club drugs are drugs such as MDMA (Ecstasy), Rohypnol, GHB, LSD and methamphetamine and others, which are used at all-night parties such as trances or raves, dance clubs and bars. These party drugs, particularly when mixed with alcohol, can cause serious health problems, injuries or even death.

Cocaine/Crack
Cocaine users often have a stuffy, runny nose and may have a perforated nasal septum. The immediate effects of cocaine use include dilated pupils and elevated blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate and body temperature, followed by depression. Crack, or freebase rock cocaine, is extremely addictive and can cause delirium, hallucinations, blurred vision, severe chest pain, muscle spasms, convulsions and even death.

Hallucinogens
Lysergic acid (LSD), mescaline and psilocybin cause illusions and hallucinations. The user may experience panic, confusion, suspicion, anxiety and loss of control. Delayed effects, or flashbacks, can occur even when use has ceased. Phencyclidine (PCP) affects the section of the brain that controls the intellect and keeps instincts in check. Because the drug blocks pain receptors, PCP episodes may result in self-inflicted injuries, violence and aggressive behavior toward others.

Heroin
Heroin is an opiate drug that causes the body to have diminished pain reactions. Overdoses of this highly addictive drug can result in coma or death due to respiratory failure or cardiovascular collapse.

Methamphetamines
Methamphetamines can cause rapid or irregular heartbeat, increased blood pressure and body temperature. Possible side effects with long-term use include mood disturbances, violent behavior, anxiety, confusion and insomnia. All users risk becoming infected with diseases such as HIV/ AIDS and hepatitis.

Prescription Drug Abuse
Taking a prescription medication that is not prescribed for you, or taking it for reasons or in dosages other than as prescribed, is prescription drug abuse. Commonly abused classes of prescription medications include opioids, central nervous system (CNS) depressants and stimulants. Long-term use of opioids or central nervous system depressants can lead to physical dependence and addiction. Opioids and CNS depressants may cause the user to experience drowsiness, slowing of brain function, as well as decreased heart and respiration rates. Stimulants can cause anxiety, paranoia, dangerously high body temperatures or seizures if taken repeatedly or in high doses.

Salvia Divinorum
Use of salvia can cause hallucination, changes in visual perception, feelings of detachment and a decreased ability to interact with one’s surroundings.

Synthetic Drugs (Spice, Bath Salts, etc.)
"Spice" refers to a wide variety of herbal mixtures that produce experiences similar to marijuana (cannabis) and that are marketed as "safe," legal alternatives to that drug. The term “bath salts” refers to an emerging family of drugs containing one or more synthetic chemicals related to cathinone, an amphetamine-like stimulant found naturally in the Khat plant. Though research on synthetic substances is still limited, they have been found to be potentially more dangerous than marijuana, cocaine, or other substances of abuse, as they are addictive and can be highly dangerous to humans.

Steroids
Steroids can cause cholesterol imbalance, acne, baldness, anger management problems, masculinization of women, breast enlargement in men, premature fusion of long bones preventing attainment of normal height, atrophy of reproductive organs, impotence, reduced fertility, stroke, hypertension, congestive heart failure, liver damage, and depression.

VI. COUNSELING AND SUPPORT PROGRAMS

The College educates students about alcohol and drug use through specific programs throughout the year, such as programs in the residence halls, and through published information and other services of the Office of the Dean of Students.

Students who wish to discuss in confidence matters related to drug and alcohol abuse are encouraged to contact the Dean of Students. Staff members are available for counseling, and can serve as consultants or resource persons for referrals.

Similarly, employees may seek the assistance of the Human Resources department in locating appropriate outside services.

There is a wide range of treatment programs for drug and alcohol abuse in Franklin County, Ohio. The following is a sampling of the self-help and resource organizations that are located in New York, which offer services or referral information at little or no cost:


If you have any questions about these programs, or about any other aspect of this program, please contact the Office of the Dean of Students.