Alcohol & Drugs

Standards and Conduct

Alcoholic beverages are not permitted on property owned or controlled by Owens Community College.

Owens Community College has established standards of conduct concerning the possession, sale, serving and consumption of alcoholic beverages and drugs on the Owens Community College campus. These policies and rules reflect a concern for the health and safety of the campus community and apply to College faculty, students, staff, visitors and guests.

Violations of these laws are addressed through both the criminal courts and the Office of Student Conduct. Students found liable are subject not only to criminal prosecution but to administrative sanctions, including permanent expulsion from the College.

Campus Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention and Education

Owens Community College participates in the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989. The College prohibits the unlawful possession, use, cultivation, and/or distribution of drugs and alcohol by students and employees on College-owned property.

The College will impose appropriate sanctions on students and employees, consistent with local state and federal laws, including dismissal from College enrollment or termination of employment, as well as referral for prosecution for violation. Where appropriate, the College may require completion of an applicable rehabilitation program.

Although each incident will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, disciplinary actions will be applied. Counseling services can offer information on alcohol and drug support groups. Additional information is available through Human Resources and the Library.

Programs and Treatment Referral

The Campus Alcohol and Drug Information Center is provided by the Department of Public Safety. Educational materials are available for students, faculty, and staff. Referrals to local programs, including counseling services and AA, ACOA, NA and Al-Anon groups are provided.

Drugs

In support of and in compliance with the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989, please be advised that the unlawful possession, use or distribution of drugs and alcohol by students on College property or as part of any institutional activity is clearly prohibited.

The College will impose appropriate sanctions on students, up to and including expulsion and referral for prosecution for violation of this standard of conduct.

Off-Campus Resources

Warning Signs That You or a Friend May Be Addicted to Drugs or Alcohol

If you’ve answered yes to any of the above questions, you/friend are likely experiencing addiction.

Potential Health Risks of Drug and Alcohol Use and Abuse

The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that, “Drug use can have a wide range of short- and long-term, direct and indirect effects. These effects often depend on the specific drug or drugs used, how they are taken, how much is taken, the person’s health and other factors.

Short-term effects can range from changes in appetite, wakefulness, heart rate, blood pressure and/or mood to heart attack, stroke, psychosis, overdose and even death. These health effects may occur after just one use.

Longer-term effects can include heart or lung disease, cancer, mental illness, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and others. Long-term drug use can also lead to addiction.

Drug addiction is a brain disorder. Not everyone who uses drugs will become addicted, but for some, drug use can change how certain brain circuits work. These brain changes interfere with how people experience normal pleasures in life, such as food and sex, their ability to control their stress level, their decision-making, their ability to learn and remember, etc.

These changes make it much more difficult for someone to stop taking the drug even when it’s having negative effects on their life and they want to quit.”

Learn More About the Consequences of Using Drugs or Alcohol

Steps to Take

Come into the Department of Public Safety (Alumni Hall) to pick up resource brochures, or
Visit Counseling Services (College Hall) for a referral to a community provider that specializes in helping people overcome addiction, or email Counseling Services for an appointment or stop by College Hall during our walk-in hours.

Visit our Toledo-area Campus or Findlay-area Campus for campus maps and directions.