Western Oklahoma State College

2021-23 DAAPP Report

 

---

 

 

The Drug Free Schools and Campuses Regulations (34 CFR Part 86) of the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (DFSCA) require an Institution of Higher Education (IHE) such as Western Oklahoma State College (WOSC), to certify that it has implemented programs to prevent the abuse of alcohol and use, and/or distribution of illicit drugs both by WOSC students and employees either on its premises and as a part of any of its activities. At a minimum, an IHE must annually distribute the following in writing to all students and employees:

       I.          Standards of conduct that clearly prohibit the unlawful possession, use or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by students and employees;

      II.          A description of the legal sanctions under local, state, or federal law for the unlawful possession or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol;

    III.          A description of the health risks associated with the use of illicit drugs and alcohol abuse;

    IV.          A description of any drug or alcohol counseling, treatment, or rehabilitation or re-entry programs that are available to employees or students; and

     V.          A clear statement that the institution will impose sanctions on students and employees and a description of those sanctions, up to and including expulsion or termination of employment and referral for prosecution, for violations of the standards of conduct or law.

 

Standards of Conduct

In addition to local, state and federal laws, Western has implemented the following standards of conduct regarding alcohol and drugs.

 

Employees

Western Oklahoma State College, in compliance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act (41 U.S.C. 701) and the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (20 U.S.C. 1145g), adopted a policy addressing DAAPP. An excerpt reads:

“the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession or use of a controlled substance or alcohol on property owned or controlled by the College or as part of any College-sponsored program off campus is prohibited.”

The full version of the current Drug and Alcohol Policy can be found in the Employee Handbook, Section 3.3, Drug Free Workplace. 

 

Students

Students attending Western Oklahoma State College are held responsible under the Student Code of Conduct. Western’s Student Code of Conduct prohibits:

• Use, possession, manufacturing, or distribution of marijuana, heroin, narcotics, or other controlled substances, even if substances were lawfully consumed or used in the place (state) of consumption or use. This includes the college campus as well as any college-associated trip.
• Use, possession, manufacturing, or distribution of alcoholic beverages, or public intoxication on college property, such as the resident hall, public areas, and any college-sponsored trip or event regardless of age.
• Furnishing false identification for the purpose of obtaining alcoholic beverages or to conceal the student’s true identity.
• Other alcohol-related offenses as determined by the Vice President for Student Affairs.

The full version of the current Drug and Alcohol Policy can be found in the Student Handbook, College Catalog Section VII, Drug & Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program.

 

Sanctions

Legal Sanctions

The security officers employed by the Office of Safety and Security enforce all federal and state laws as well as local ordinances and report any campus violations to the Student Conduct Administrator (Vice President for Academic Affairs). Any student or employee who violates the drug and alcohol policy is subject both to the institution’s sanctions and to criminal sanctions provided by federal, state, and local law.

 

Federal

Federal law provides criminal and civil penalties for unlawful possession or distribution of a controlled substance. Under the Controlled Substance Act, as well as other related federal laws, the penalties for controlled substance violations include but are not limited to: incarceration, fines, potential for the forfeiture of property used in possession or to facilitate possession of a controlled substance (which may include homes, vehicles, boats, aircrafts and any other personal or real property), ineligibility to possess a firearm, and potential ineligibility to receive federal educational benefits (such as student loans and grants).

A description of the Controlled Substance Act, including federal penalties and sanctions for illegal trafficking and possession of a controlled substance can be found here.

 

State of Oklahoma

Alcohol Age Restrictions: As with all other states, Oklahoma has a minimum alcohol purchase age of 21 years old. In addition, property owners are forbidden from allowing a person under 21 to drink on their property, punishable by a fine and up to 5 years in prison. It is a misdemeanor for anyone under 21 to pretend he/she is over 21 for the purposes of buying alcohol.

Open Container: The "open container" law in Oklahoma forbids consuming alcohol in public, as well as making it illegal to be intoxicated in public. If cited, violators could face a small fine and possibly between 5 and 30 days of imprisonment. An open container in any location accessible by the driver of a car is also prohibited. Even as a passenger of someone who is drinking and driving or has paraphernalia the driver can be charged with possession as well.

Driving Under the Influence: Driving Under the Influence (DUI) is defined as a blood or breath alcohol content of 0.08% or more in the state of Oklahoma. It is punishable by a fine of up $1000 and up to 1 year in prison. If under the age of 21, a blood or breath alcohol content of anything over 0.00% results in a DUI charge and driver’s license revocation.

Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS): Oklahoma divides CDS into five “Schedules.”

• Schedule I lists the most dangerous drugs, which have a high probability of abuse and addiction, and no recognized medical value.
• Schedules II, III, IV, and V decrease in dangerousness and probability of abuse, and increase in recognized medical uses.

Schedule I or II CDS penalties for a first offense include a fine of up to $5,000, at least two (and up to five) years in prison, or both. Second and subsequent offenses incur a fine of up to $10,000, at least four (and up to 20) years in prison, or both. (63 Okl. Stat. Ann. § 2-402(B)(1).)  Schedule III, IV or V CDS Penalties for a first offense include a fine of up to $1,000, up to one year in jail, or both. Second and subsequent offenses incur a fine of up to $5,000, at least two (and up to ten) years in prison, or both. (63 Okl. Stat. Ann. § 2-402(B)(2).)

Purchase or Possession Near a School Buying or possessing CDS on or within 1,000 feet of a school, public park or recreation area, or in the presence of a child under 12 years old incurs twice the fine, prison time, or both applicable to the underlying offense (as described above). Second and subsequent offenses incur up to three times the applicable prison time, an additional fine of up to $10,000, or both. (63 Okl. Stat. Ann. § 2-402(C).)

A complete and detailed listing of Oklahoma sanctions pertaining to controlled dangerous substances can be found at

 

Local

The City of Altus ordinances regarding alcohol includes, but are not limited to, consumption in public places, possession and use of alcohol by minors, uncapped liquor in passenger compartments of vehicles, and all substance abuse ordinances.

Sanctions could range from a civil infraction with attached fines to probation, rehabilitation, or even imprisonment.

A full version of the city ordinances pertaining to alcohol (Chapter 3, Articles I – VI) can be found at http://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientId=10356

The City of Altus ordinances regarding the possession of controlled dangerous substances include but are not limited to the possession of marijuana as well as the delivery, sale, possession, manufacture, or use of drug paraphernalia.

A full version of the city ordinances pertaining to controlled dangerous substances (Chapter 20, Sections 23-24) can be found at http://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientId=10356

 

Institutional

Western will impose sanctions on students and employees for violation of WOSC’s policies and standards of conduct (consistent with federal, state, and local laws) up to and including reprimands, expulsion, termination, and referral for prosecution.

 

Employees

See Employee Handbook section 3.3.1.A Drug-Free Work Place.

 

Students

The Vice President for Student Affairs or designee handles matters that require disciplinary action at Western Oklahoma State College. A full description of possible sanctions are described in the Student Handbook.

A Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) amendment adopted in the fall of 1998 (P.L. 105-244), permits colleges and Universities to inform the family of a student under 21 years of age when their student has been found in violation of University alcohol or other drug policies and/or in the case of a health or safety emergency.

 

 

Health Risks

The use of alcohol and other drugs represents a serious threat to health and the quality of life. More than 25,000 people die each year from drug-related accidents or health problems. With most drugs, it is possible that users will develop psychological and physical dependence.

The general categories of drugs and their effects are as follows:

• Alcohol produces short-term effects that include behavioral changes, impairment of judgment and coordination, greater likelihood of aggressive acts, respiratory depression, irreversible physical and mental abnormalities in newborns (fetal alcohol syndrome) and death.
• Long-term effects of alcohol abuse include damage to the liver, heart and brain; ulcers; gastritis; malnutrition; delirium tremens; and cancer.
• Alcohol combined with barbiturates and other depressants can prove to be a deadly mixture.
• Amphetamines/stimulants (speed, uppers, crank, caffeine, etc.) speed up the nervous system and can cause increased heart and breathing rates, higher blood pressure, decreased appetite, headaches, blurred vision, dizziness, sleeplessness, anxiety, hallucinations, paranoia, depression, convulsions and death due to a stroke or heart failure.
• Anabolic steroids seriously affect the liver, cardiovascular and reproductive systems. Can cause sterility in males and females as well as impotency in males.
• Barbiturates/depressants (downers, quaaludes, valium, etc.) slow down the central nervous system and can cause decreased heart and breathing rates, lowered blood pressure, slowed reactions, confusion, distortion of reality, convulsions, respiratory depression, coma and death. Depressants combined with alcohol can be lethal.
• Cocaine/crack stimulates the central nervous system and is extremely addictive, both psychologically and physically. Effects include dilated pupils, increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, insomnia, loss of appetite, hallucinations, paranoia, seizures and death due to cardiac arrest or respiratory failure.
• Hallucinogens (PCP, angel dust, LSD, etc.) interrupt the functions of the part of the brain that controls the intellect and instincts. May result in self-inflicted injuries, impaired coordination, dulled senses, incoherent speech, depression, anxiety, violent behavior, paranoia, hallucinations, increased heart rate and blood pressure, convulsions, coma, and heart and lung failure.
• Cannabis (marijuana, hashish, hash, etc.) impairs short-term memory comprehension, concentration, coordination and motivation. May also cause paranoia and psychosis. Marijuana smoke contains more cancer-causing agents than tobacco smoke. The way in which marijuana is smoked - deeply inhaled and held in the lungs for a long period - enhances the risk of getting cancer. Combined with alcohol, marijuana can produce a dangerous multiplied effect.
• Narcotics (heroin, morphine, demerol, percodan, etc.) initially produce feelings of euphoria often followed by drowsiness, nausea and vomiting. An overdose may result in convulsions, coma and death. Tolerance develops rapidly and dependence is likely. Using contaminated syringes to inject such drugs may result in AIDS.
• Tobacco/nicotine causes death among some 170,000 people in the United States each year due to smoking-related coronary heart disease. Some 30 percent of the 130,000 cancer deaths each year are linked to smoking. Lung, larynx, esophagus, bladder, pancreas and kidney cancers strike smokers at increased rates. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are 10 times more likely among smokers.

 

 

Education, Intervention, and Prevention Programs

The following training, programs, resources, counseling, treatment, rehabilitation or re-entry programs are available to students as described below.

Western’s Counselor provides alcohol and drug education programming for groups and classes on campus, as requested. The Counselor provides an annual health education to students living in the Student Housing as part of their orientation. Student-athletes are presented with general information as part of team orientation. Individual counseling is also available, free of charge, to any student with possible referral to an outside agency.

Additional resources are also available on the counselor’s web page.

 

The following drug and alcohol-related services and resources are available through local agencies:

 

• Jackson County Memorial Hospital, Altus, OK
• Taliaferro Mental Health Center: (580) 248-5780, 602 SW 38th St, Lawton, OK - Inpatient and outpatient treatment. Counseling appointments are available in Altus. Accepts clients without any insurance and does have psychiatrists on staff.
• Roadback, Inc. (Lawton, OK): (580) 357-6889 or (580) 357-8114. In-patient treatment for women, halfway house for men and women.
• 988 Oklahoma Helpline – Oklahoma’s mental health helpline provides resources for substance and alcohol abuse.
• Alcoholics Anonymous:
  • Local meetings website
  • National hotline: 800-970-9040
  • Marijuana Anonymous:
    • Find a local meeting
    • National hotline: 800-766-6779
    • National Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Information Center: 800-784-6776
    • National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Hotline: 800-662-HELP (4357)

 

NOTIFICATION OF THE DAAPP

Drug and Alcohol policies are made available annually to the campus community (students and employees) each fall with the publication of college documents (College Catalog, Student Handbook, and Employee Handbook) via email, and via Canvas (Western’s learning management system) along with resources for prevention and treatment.

 

Employees

Notification of the information contained in the DAAPP is distributed to all current employees of the college on an annual basis via an all-staff email and Canvas (Course Management System). New employees receive notification during their orientation process.

 

Student Notification

Notification of the information contained in the DAAPP is distributed to all currently enrolled students at the beginning of each semester via email and Canvas (Course Management System).