DESCRIPTION OF HEALTH RISKS
Drug and/or alcohol use contribute to: suicides, drowning deaths, fire deaths, motor
vehicle accidents, fatal automobile accidents, and homicides.
Alcohol is a potentially addictive drug of significant physical and psychological
consequence. Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that affects all neurological
functions. At relatively low levels it affects one's judgment and decision-making,
and at higher levels it impairs the functioning of one's vital organs and can result
in coma or death. Alcohol is an irritant to the gastrointestinal tract and moderate
over-indulgence ordinarily results in nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Prolonged
and excessive use of alcohol usually causes progressively more serious erosion of
the gastrointestinal tract lining ranging from gastritis to ulcers and hemorrhage.
Damage to the pancreas is frequent among those who have used alcohol. Alcoholism
is the third major "killer disease" in the United States, second to heart disease
and cancer, and acute alcohol intoxication is the second leading cause of death
by poisoning.
In addition to these significant physical consequences, there are a number of less
obvious consequences to alcohol use. For example, the effects of alcohol on sleep
have been well documented. Consuming several drinks before bedtime has been found
to decrease the amount of REM (rapid eye movement) or dreaming sleep. The consequences
of being deprived of REM sleep are impaired concentration and memory, as well as
anxiety, tiredness, and irritability. Additionally, research has demonstrated that
alcohol tends to decrease fear and increase the likelihood that an individual will
accept risks. This "lack of inhibition and judgment" is a major contributor to the
extraordinarily high percentage of serious accidents and accidental deaths related
to alcohol use.
Marijuana is an illegal drug that impairs memory, perception, judgment, and hand-eye
coordination skills. The tar content in cannabis smoke is at least 50% higher than
that of tobacco and thus smokers run the added risk of lung cancer, chronic bronchitis,
and other lung diseases. Recently, the medical community has diagnosed the existence
of an "Amotivational syndrome" that affects moderate to chronic users and includes
symptoms of loss of energy, motivation, effectiveness, concentration, ability to
carry out long-term plans, and performance in school and work.
LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide) is a semi-synthetic drug regarded as a hallucinogenic.
Short-term effects of this drug are generally felt within an hour of consumption
and may last from two to twelve hours. Physiologically the user experiences increased
blood pressure, rise in body temperature, dilated pupils, rapid heart beat, muscular
weakness, trembling, nausea, chills, numbness, loss of interest in food, and hyper-ventilation.
Fine motor skills and coordination are usually impaired, as are perception, thought,
mood, and psychological processes. Long-term effects may include flashbacks weeks
and even months after taking the drug, mental illness, prolonged depression, anxiety,
psychological dependence, and suicidal thoughts.
PCP (Phencyclidine Hydrochloride) is a white crystalline powder that was originally
used as a local anesthetic, but due to extreme side effects was discontinued in
l967. In humans, PCP is a difficult drug to classify in that reactions may vary
from stupor to euphoria and resemble the effects of a stimulant, depressant, anesthetic,
or hallucinogen. Short-term effects include hyperventilation, increase in blood
pressure and pulse rate, flushing and profuse sweating, general numbness of the
extremities, and muscular incoordination. At higher doses it causes nausea, vomiting,
blurred vision, loss of balance, and disorientation. It produces profound alteration
of sensation, mood and consciousness, and can cause psychotic states in many ways
indistinguishable from schizophrenia. Large doses have been known to cause convulsions,
permanent brain damage, and coma.
Psilocybin is a hallucinogenic drug occurring naturally in about twenty species
of Mexican mushrooms and is also produced synthetically. It is a white powder made
of fine crystals and distributed in tablet, capsule, or liquid form. Shortly after
taking psilocybin a user may experience increased blood pressure, rapid breathing,
rapid heart beat, a rise in body temperature, dry mouth, dilated pupils, and some
degree of agitation or excitement. This is followed by a decrease in the ability
to concentrate or stay in contact with reality. (Hallucinations, as well as altered
perceptions of time and space, may occur). The effects are usually shorter lasting
than those of LSD, yet the dangers are very similar.
Cocaine is a naturally occurring stimulant drug which is extracted from the leaves
of the cocoa plant. Cocaine is sold as a white translucent crystalline powder frequently
"cut" to about half its strength by a variety of other ingredients including sugars
and cleaning powders. It is one of the most powerfully addictive drugs in use today.
Short-term effects of cocaine include constricted peripheral blood vessels, dilated
pupils, increased heart rate and blood pressure. It also causes appetite suppression,
pain indifference, possible vomiting, visual, auditory, and tactile hallucinations,
and occasionally paranoia. Long-term effects include nasal congestion, collapse
of nasal septum, restlessness, irritability, anxiety, and depression. Overdoses
or chronic use may result in toxicity which includes symptoms of seizures followed
by respiratory arrest, coma, cardiac arrest, and/or death.
Cocaine Free-Base or Crack is the result of converting street cocaine to a pure
base by removing the hydrochloric salt in many of the "cutting" agents. The end
result is not water soluble and, therefore, must be smoked. It is much more dangerous
than cocaine because it reaches the brain in seconds, and the intensified dose results
in a sudden and intense physical reaction. This response lasts a few minutes and
is followed by deep depression, loss of appetite, difficulty in sleeping, feeling
revulsion for self, and worries and obsessions about getting more crack. Consequently,
users often increase the dose and frequency of use resulting in severe addiction
that includes physical debilitation and financial ruin. Physiologically, seizures
followed by respiratory arrest and coma or cardiac arrest and death may accompany
long-term use.
Amphetamines are central nervous system stimulants that were once used medically
to treat a variety of symptoms including depression and obesity. They may be taken
orally, sniffed, or injected into the veins. Short-term effects disappear within
a few hours and include reduction of appetite, increased breathing and heart rate,
raised blood pressure, dilation of pupils, dry mouth, fever, sweating, headache,
blurred vision and dizziness. Higher doses may cause flushing, rapid and irregular
heartbeat, tremor, loss of coordination, and collapse. Death has occurred from ruptured
blood vessels in the brain, heart failure, and very high fever. Psychological effects
include increased alertness, postponement of fatigue, a false feeling of well being,
restlessness, excitability, and a feeling of power. Long-term effects include drug
dependence and the risk of drug induced psychosis. Withdrawal includes extreme fatigue,
irritability, strong hunger, and deep depression that may lead to suicide.
DESCRIPTION OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL COUNSELING
More information about drugs and the risks they pose to health is available at the
Counseling Center, located in Thomas Branch. Printed materials and videotapes/dvd’s
are included in the library of resources in the Counseling Center.
Randolph-Macon College faculty and staff can obtain information about services offered
by the Community Services Board of Hanover County and independent counseling services
available in the Richmond area from the Counseling Center.
INSTITUTIONAL SANCTIONS
Randolph-Macon believes that the purpose of disciplinary action should be corrective
rather than punitive. In cases of serious infractions, severe discipline may be
applied immediately. In most cases, however, a series of progressively serious disciplinary
actions will afford the employee the opportunity to change behavior at each stage
of the disciplinary process. Therefore, disciplinary action taken by the College
should not come as a surprise to the employee.
Depending upon the severity of the infraction, a supervisor may take any of the
following actions: written warning, written reprimand, counseling, transfer or probation,
suspension, or dismissal.
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Written Warning
The mildest form of disciplinary action is a written warning from the supervisor,
who will meet with the employee to discuss the infraction outlined in the warning,
suggest courses of action, and set a time period for resolving the problem. If the
difficulty is satisfactorily resolved within the specified period of time, and if
no further warnings become necessary within one year, the letter of warning will
be removed from the employee's personnel file.
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Written Reprimand
The supervisor may begin disciplinary action with a written reprimand, or the reprimand
may follow a written warning. If a problem is not resolved within the time specified
in a letter of warning, or if a second warning for the same problem becomes necessary
within one year, the supervisor will issue the employee a written reprimand. Also,
if a warning for a separate problem is necessary within one year, the supervisor
may elect to issue a written reprimand. A reprimand, along with any relevant written
warnings, will become a part of the employee's permanent record at the College.
The supervisor will seriously consider the reprimand in determining future promotions
and pay raises.
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Counseling
The College may require the employee to enter a drug counseling program at the employee's
expense and to present the College certification of completion of the program. Failure
to do so may result in disciplinary action which may lead to dismissal.
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Transfer or Probation
In response to a serious infraction, a supervisor may place an employee on disciplinary
probation immediately. If warnings or reprimands fail to correct a less serious
problem within a reasonable period of time, a supervisor may place an employee on
probation or transfer the employee to another work area with a different supervisor.
Probation will normally last for 30 days but may be extended at the discretion of
the College. During the probationary period the employee may be dismissed without
stated cause.
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Suspension
An employee may be suspended without pay under any of the following circumstances:
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for any reason while on probation,
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for receiving 2 written reprimands within a period of 12 months,
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for receiving 3 written reprimands over the course of employment at the College,
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for the benefit of the workplace (to maintain a positive working environment and
to give the employee an opportunity to reflect very seriously upon the situation).
Suspension may last from 2 to 30 days. Since suspension is the final step before
dismissal, the employee may be required to use the services of the College's Counseling
Center or some other health or counseling service as a precondition for returning
to work. An employee will always be placed on probation when returning to work from
a suspension.
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Dismissal
Dismissal is costly to the College. It can involve the loss of an experienced worker.
It is therefore an action that is never taken without careful consideration. Employees
of the College who do not have a contract of employment with the College may be
terminated at any time, for any reason or no reason. Such employees may be terminated
as part of a chain of discipline or without prior disciplinary action, when their
actions, in the College’s judgment, warrant immediate termination.
Dismissals must be approved by the respective senior administrator reporting directly
to the President of the College or by the President.
REVIEW POLICY
The President's Cabinet will receive an annual report in July of each year from
the staff members responsible for administering the programs for students, employees,
and faculty and review the program's effectiveness. This annual report will include
data on the number of violations and the sanctions. The Cabinet will make changes
in the program as necessary.