Concorde Career College (“Concorde”) supports and endorses the Federal Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 and the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act amendments of 1989.
The unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession, or use of a controlled substance or abuse of alcohol by an employee or student on Concorde’s property or as part of any Concorde activity is prohibited. Any student or employee of Concorde found to be abusing alcohol or using, possessing, manufacturing, or distributing controlled substances in violation of the law on Concorde property or at Concorde events shall be subject to disciplinary action. For employees, the school will take appropriate personnel action for such infractions, up to and including dismissal. Students who violate this policy will be dismissed and are not eligible for readmission.
For purposes of this policy, “conviction” means a finding of guilt (including a plea of nolo contendere) or imposition of sentence or both by any judicial body charged with the responsibility of the federal or state criminal drug statutes.
Health Risks
Abuse of alcohol and use of drugs is harmful to one’s physical, mental, and social well-being. With excessive drug use, life becomes centered on drugs to the exclusion of health, work, school, family, and general well-being. Accidents and injuries are more likely to occur if alcohol and drugs are used. Alcohol and drug users can lose resistance to disease and destroy one’s health. Increasing tolerance developed by the user complicates the effects of drug use. This tolerance may be psychological, physiological, or both and may lead to greater danger of overdose.
Alcoholism takes a toll on personal finances, health, social relationships, and families. Abuse of alcohol or use of drugs may cause an individual driving a motor vehicle to injure himself or herself or others and may subject the person to criminal prosecution.
The following summarizes the effects and dangers of the major categories of drugs:
Amphetamines: Physical dependency, heart problems, infections, malnutrition, and death may result from continued high doses of amphetamines.
Narcotics: Chronic use of narcotics can cause lung damage, convulsions, respiratory paralysis, and death.
Depressants: These drugs, such as tranquilizers and alcohol, can produce slowed reactions, slowed heart rate, damage to liver and heart, respiratory arrest, convulsions, and accidental overdoses.
Hallucinogens: These drugs may cause psychosis, convulsions, coma, and psychological dependency.
Counseling, Treatment, or Rehabilitation Programs
The administration of Concorde maintains a list of hospital and community agencies available to assist employees and students seeking alcohol and drug counseling and treatment.
Employees and students who have a substance-dependency problem are strongly encouraged to obtain counseling and treatment. Anyone seeking additional information about health problems and treatment related to alcohol and drug problems can contact the Campus President or Human Resources. Requests for assistance will be held in complete confidentiality and will be provided on a need-to-know basis only.
Penalties
A student suspected of the possession, sale, manufacture, use, or distribution of a controlled substance, may be suspended from the student’s program of study during the investigation and may become ineligible for continued participation in the Higher Education Act (HEA), Title IV Student Assistance Programs. If convicted, the student’s relationship with Concorde will be terminated, and the student may lose the ability to participate in the HEA, Title IV Student Assistance Programs.
A student who violates any provision of this policy shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action to include dismissal from Concorde. A student who is dismissed is not eligible for readmission.
In addition, any student or employee who violates the standards of conduct as set forth in this policy may be subject to referral for prosecution.