Alcohol and Drug Abuse Risks
There are many risks associated with the abuse of alcohol and other drugs including poor academic or job performance; relationship difficulties, including sexual dysfunction; a tendency to verbal and physical violence; financial stress; injuries or accidents; and violations of the law such as driving under the influence and willfully destroying property.
The consumption of drugs and alcohol can increase the risk for a number of health related and other medical, behavioral, and social problems. Even low doses of drugs or alcohol significantly impair the judgment, which can lead to diminished damage, high blood pressure, heart disease, ulcers, and cancer of the liver, mouth, throat, and stomach; contracting diseases such as HIV/AIDS through the sharing of hypodermic needles; pregnancy problems including miscarriages, still birth, and learning disabilities; fetal alcohol syndrome; and psychological or psychiatric problems.
Drugs and Pregnancy
- The “use of marijuana during pregnancy may result in low birth weight and smaller length and head circumference in babies.”
- “Babies whose mothers smoked marijuana during pregnancy may have vision problems and shorter attention spans. Also, THC, the ingredient in marijuana that causes the ‘high,’ accumulates in the mother’s milk and transfers to nursing infants where it could cause harm to the baby’s development.”
- The “use of cocaine during pregnancy increases the risk of hemorrhage and premature delivery. Chronic use of cocaine causes increased risk of spontaneous abortion.”
- “Nursing babies of cocaine abusers can also receive doses of cocaine through their mother’s milk.”
- “Mental retardation and abnormal facial features have been seen in babies whose mothers used inhalants or solvents in combination with alcohol while they were pregnant.”
- “The use of solvents during pregnancy has also been linked to central nervous system defects in newborns.”
- “Heroin use during pregnancy increases the likelihood of stillbirths and neonatal deaths, and babies born to opiate-addicted mothers experience withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness, tremulousness [tremors], sweating, vomiting, diarrhea, high-pitched crying, frantic fist sucking, and seizures.”
Enforcement
Otis College also exercises the right to address alcohol and other drug-related offenses on College property or at College activities in the form of imposed internal sanctions and external, legal sanctions. These sanctions will be consistently enforced and penalties will depend upon the severity of the offense. Internal sanctions may include expulsion, and/or referral for prosecution of the most serious violations of law and this policy. Otis College supports enforcement, by applicable law enforcement agencies, of all local, state and federal laws. Violations of local, state, and federal laws and ordinances may result in misdemeanor or felony convictions and/or the imposition of other legal sanctions, including but not limited to fines, imprisonment, forfeiture of personal and real property, loss of driving privileges, and required attendance at substance abuse education or treatment programs. Federal penalties for illegally distributing drugs include life imprisonment and fines in excess of $1,000,000.
The following is a brief summary of some of the state and federal criminal sanctions that may be imposed upon someone who violates the alcohol and other drug policy in the state of California:
- A violation of California law for the unlawful sale of alcohol may include imprisonment in the county jail for six months, plus fines and penalties.
- A violation of California law for the possession, use and/or sale of narcotics, marijuana and/or other illicit drugs includes imprisonment in the county jail or state prison for one to nine years, plus fines up to $100,000 for each count.
- A violation of federal law for the possession, use and/or sale of narcotics, marijuana and/or other illicit drugs may include imprisonment in the federal penitentiary for one to fifteen years plus substantial financial penalties.
- A violation of the law involving an individual being under the influence of a combination of alcohol and other drugs (itself potentially deadly), may result in an increase in criminal sanctions and penalties.