Drug & Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program Biennial Review 2019

 

1. Introduction

 

The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) Part 86 requires institutions of higher education, which receive federal education funding, to develop and implement a drug and alcohol prevention program that complies with the Drug-Free Schools and Campuses Act (DFSCA).  Roanoke College is required to provide annual notice about its Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program (DAAPP) to students and employees as well as conduct a biennial review of the College’s alcohol and drug policies.  The purpose of the biennial review is to determine program effectiveness, implement changes as necessary, and ensure disciplinary sanctions are consistently enforced.

 

Roanoke College has appointed members to the DAAPP Committee that is responsible for conducting the biennial review and for submitting any resulting recommendations for program alteration to the Dean of Students for consideration.  The committee is chaired by the Assistant Dean of Students and the following individuals serve as committee members: Associate Dean of Students/Director of Campus Safety, Assistant Dean of Students/Director of Student Health and Counseling Services, Director of Human Resources, Director of Residence Life & Housing, Head Resident Advisor (student), HEAT Peer Educator (student), and other appointees as decided by the chair.

 

1. College Alcohol and Drug Policies

 

Students

 

Roanoke College is committed to establishing a safe living/learning environment for the College community, which includes its students, faculty, and staff.

A student's relationship with the College is based on a contractual agreement that the student enters into voluntarily. By joining our College community, the student agrees to abide by the policies of the College including the Student Conduct Code. Individuals are subject to the Student Conduct Code as long as they are enrolled at the College, including break periods and while studying abroad. The College conduct system is not a legal system based on the adversarial model used in the courts. Rather, it is a system that seeks to find the truth by ensuring that students charged with violations of the Student Conduct Code know the charges brought against them by whom and have the opportunity to answer such charges before an impartial authority of members of the College community. The College's conduct system is not a substitute for the criminal justice system or a sanctuary from criminal or civil law. Violations of local, state, and/or federal laws are handled by the respective court systems. Such conduct also may constitute violations of the Student Conduct Code and thus may subject a student to action by the College.

 

Alcohol and Drug Use Policy

 

Roanoke College prohibits the possession, use, manufacture, and distribution of alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and nicotine containing products by all students under the age of 21.  The possession and use of illegal drugs and non-prescribed prescription medicine are prohibited.  Roanoke College observes and enforces all federal, state, and local laws related to the possession, use, manufacture, and distribution of controlled or illegal substances.  Students

 

involved in any drug-related violations are subject to criminal action, as the College may report these individuals to legal authorities.  Roanoke College reserves the right to process conduct violations occurring off-campus reported to the college by local authorities and will cooperate with law enforcement and legal authorities conducting investigations of illegal activity. Students are responsible for knowing, understanding, and following the College’s policies, federal, state, and local laws.

 

Sanctioning

 

Students found in violation of the College’s substance use policies will be sanctioned by Roanoke College’s conduct officer and/or the conduct officer’s designees.  Options for sanctioning include educational assignments, administrative fees, counseling and/or health services referrals, community restitution, and progressive status sanctions from probation to suspension up to and including expulsion. 

 

Employees

 

Policy Statement on Substance Abuse

 

Roanoke College considers its employees and its students to be its most valuable assets. We realize that our employees are not immune to the problems associated with drug and alcohol abuse. To help address such problems, and to prevent drug or alcohol use that adversely affects job performance and safety, the College has developed a substance abuse policy.

 

1. Comprehensive health care benefits are available through our health insurance policy for treatment of alcohol and drug problems.

 

2. The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provided by the College offers free, confidential short-term counseling and referrals for substance abuse problems, both for the employee and for family members dealing with an abuse problem of a loved one. Employees are encouraged to seek help voluntarily through the EAP.

 

3. When an employee's job performance or behavior reasonably suggests a substance abuse problem, the employee may be directed to seek help either through the EAP or through a personal physician.

 

4. Any employee who seeks rehabilitation through an inpatient program will receive the support of the College, including an unpaid leave of absence, upon request, in accordance with the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (see Chapter 6). Although an employee's rehabilitation efforts will be supported, participating in any program will not serve as protection against the normal disciplinary process associated with job performance and behavior.

 

5. Employees under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs while working or scheduled to work will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal.

 

6. Employees properly using prescription medication are responsible for knowing the impact such use may have on the regular performance of their duties. If an employee is unable to work as a result of their prescription medication use, the employee must promptly notify his or her supervisor or Human Resources prior to the start of their work and otherwise cooperate with the College as to any additional information or requests from the College.

 

7. The unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession or use of a controlled substance or prescription medication while on College premises or during the conduct of College business is prohibited and will result in immediate dismissal. Law enforcement authorities will be notified of the facts and circumstances concerning any illegal activity.

 

8. It is the policy of the College to maintain a drug-free workplace (see Appendix C in Staff Handbook). As a condition of employment, employees must abide by the College policy on substance abuse and must report any conviction under a criminal drug statute within five days after the conviction.

 

9. The College reserves the right to require an employee to submit to a drug or alcohol screening test, if the College reasonably suspects: (a) the employee of substance abuse which is adversely affecting the employee’s performance of job responsibilities or attendance, or (b) the employee of being impaired or under the influence of drugs or alcohol when a work-related accident occurs if such impairment may have contributed to the accident.

 

• Alcohol and Drug Prevention Education and Awareness

 

The following includes programming and interventions to support alcohol and drug prevention for students on campus.

 

1. Individual Level Programs and Interventions

 

1. Reality Check and Let’s Be Blunt

     Evidenced-based programs designed to engage students in meaningful discussion about alcohol and marijuana use. Reality Check and Let’s Be Blunt were 
     developed utilizing components of the Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students (BASICS) and Alcohol Skills Training Program (ASTP).
     The educational programming is provided by Student Health and Counseling Services with coordination support from Student Conduct. Referrals to the
     program come from Student Conduct. Students are most often referred to the program due to an alcohol or marijuana-related violation. Students
     participate in two 60-minute group sessions.  Upon completion of the Reality Check program, students have a foundational understanding of 1). Alcohol or
     marijuana and the effects of each on the body, 2) myths and realities associated with substance induced effects, and 3) skills to limit the negative
     ramifications of underage and excessive alcohol use or other substance use.

 

2. Screening and Brief Intervention (SBI) is an American Public Health Association program designed to identify individuals at risk for alcohol use problems, followed by a brief discussion between an individual and a service provider, with referral to specialized treatment as needed. Screening asks several questions to determine whether individuals are misusing alcohol—that is, are they drinking too much, too often, or experiencing harm from their drinking. The provider evaluates the answers and then shares the results and their significance with the individual. SBI consists of three one on one counseling sessions. Referrals to the program come from Student Conduct. The purpose is to increase the person’s awareness of his or her alcohol use and its consequences and then motivate the person to either reduce risky drinking or seek treatment, if needed. The provider works with the person on willingness and readiness to change their drinking behavior. The SBI program:

• is designed for use by service providers who do not specialize in addiction treatment
• uses motivational approaches based on how ready the person is to change behavior
• gives feedback and suggestions respectfully in the form of useful information, without judgment or accusations
• has been shown by research to be effective in reducing alcohol use and alcohol-related adverse consequences, including injury.

 

1. Institutional-level Programs and Interventions

 

1. Educational Workshops. Educational workshops are the cornerstone of early intervention practices at Roanoke College. Workshop activities are conducted by trained peer wellness educators. “Love and Liquor” and “Bartender School” are instrumental in reducing the burden of excessive and underage alcohol and substance use and the associated risk of sexual violence. Presentations are available upon request by students, faculty, staff, coaches, residence halls and student organizations. Students can also meet with peer wellness educators to ask questions or receive more information. 

 

2. AlcoholEdu

        AlcoholEdu is a comprehensive online education program designed to provide students with the information they need to make informed decisions about
        alcohol, link their choices about drinking to academic and personal success, and help cope with the drinking behavior of peers, as well as respond effectively
        in situations where others are at risk of alcohol-related harm. AlcoholEdu has been a mandatory requirement for all incoming first-year Roanoke College
        students since the fall of 2009. We believe the implementation of AlcoholEdu on Roanoke College’s campus continues to help us: 

1. Decrease high-risk drinking during critical times, especially the first 8 weeks of the fall term.
2. Increase basic knowledge of alcohol.
3. Track and monitor students’ alcohol use.
4. Decrease alcohol-related disruptions in residence halls.
5. Change culture and expectations around alcohol use.

 

3. New Student Orientation

       All new students participate in “Community Meetings” to encourage conversations about health promotion, risk reduction, campus resources, bystander
       intervention strategies for substance misuse and related harms to self and others. These sessions are facilitated by wellness peer educators.  The content
       is designed to raise awareness of various college health topics, including mental health, and the non-medical use of prescription drugs, recognizing signs of
       alcohol poisoning, alcohol harm reduction strategies, alcohol policies, and university resources such as Campus Recreation, Counseling Services, Student
       Activities, and Campus Safety.

 

4. Parent Education during Summer Orientation

        Parents are provided with a letter encouraging them to talk with their student and set expectations for alcohol use.  Tips for starting the conversation are
        provided.  Parents are also invited to attend a Student Affairs panel where drug and alcohol policies are reviewed.

 

5. TIPS Training

        The Office of Residential Life & Housing offers the TIPS (Training for Intervention ProcedureS) course to individual students and student organizations
        during fall and spring semesters.  TIPS is the global leader in education and training for the responsible service, sale, and consumption of alcohol. Proven
        effective by third-party studies, TIPS is a skills-based training program that is designed to prevent intoxication, underage drinking, and drunk driving.
        (from the TIPs webpage). The training for students is a 3-hour course that teaches bystander intervention, risk management, and personal responsibility
        regarding alcohol.  All five nationally recognized fraternities on campus are required to send their new members to TIPS.  The entire Residence Life &
        Housing resident advisor staff is also trained.

 

6. Resident Advisor led hall meetings with First-Year students

        During their first meeting, all first-year students receive detailed explanations of Roanoke College’s alcohol and drug policies.  On the first full day of
        classes, every residential student is informed/reminded about general College policies including alcohol and drug policies. The RA’s provide opportunities for
        the peer educators to facilitate educational workshops referenced above in B(1) within the residence halls.

Judicial Educator Online Modules for Conduct Sanctions

Alcohol Module 1: Choosing A Direction (for first time referrals)
Key teaching points in this module:
If you choose to consume, how can you do so responsibly?
What is alcohol poisoning and what should you do if someone you know may have it?
The concept of "tolerance" as it relates to alcohol consumption
Characteristics of high-risk consumption
Positives and negatives of consumption
Social norms - actual vs. perceived consumption
Strategies to help students determine if there is a problem
Long-term effects of consumption
Helping a friend

• Recommended for use by students who are involved with their first alcohol referral on campus

Alcohol Module 2: Choosing Options (for 2nd referrals)

Key teaching points in this module:

Education and feedback to assist students in evaluating whether they have a problem with alcohol pertaining to: average number of drinks per week consumed
binge drinking and social norms;
regularity of consumption
BAC and unsafe behavior
Abuse vs. dependence vs. addiction
Things you can do if you think you have a problem 

• Recommended for use by students who are involved with their second alcohol referral on campus

 

Marijuana: Herb, Drug or Medicine?

Key teaching points in this module:

Smoking marijuana in the halls and the likely loss of housing privileges
Research: THC and other chemicals in marijuana
Marijuana and addiction
Toxicity and detoxification issues with marijuana
THC and the brain
Marijuana and the body
The societal impact of marijuana smoking
Marijuana and medicine
Legalization issues

• Recommended for students at schools without zero tolerance policies who are
  experiencing a first offense marijuana policy violation.

 

 

1. Alcohol and Drug Conduct Data

 

Conduct Violation	AY 2017-2018	AY 2018-2019
Alcohol Distribution	3	0
Alcohol - Intoxication	62	27
Alcohol - Other	1	0
Alcohol – Use/Possession	115	79
Illegal Drug Related - Distribution	1	2
Illegal Drug Related – Marijuana Possession or Use	38	40
Illegal Drug Related – Other	0	0
Illegal Drug Related – Non-marijuana Possession or Use	1	3
Illegal Drug Related - Paraphernalia	5	18

 

Sanctioned Educational Program	AY 2017-2018	AY 2018-2019
Reality Check	28	29
Let’s be Blunt	19	27
SBI	10	12

 

Sanctioned JE Online Modules	AY 2017-2018	AY 2018-2019
Alcohol Modules	83	65
Marijuana/Drug Modules	15	10

  

1. Residence Life & Housing Assessment Data

 

The following graphs illustrate the past 5 years of data regarding residential student opinion on alcohol education.  Students in the 2019-2020 year note the College’s alcohol policy to be more effective than in years past.  In addition, there has been a reported decrease in students being affected by someone else’s use of alcohol. Finally, an increased percentage of students report learning about the negative effects of alcohol and drugs. 

 

1. Student Health & Counseling Services Assessment Data

 

AlcoholEdu Data 6 weeks post-matriculation	AY 2017-18	AY 2018-19
Abstainer (no alcohol in the past year)	32%	42%
Consumed no alcohol in the past 2 weeks, but may have consumed in the past year	26%	22%
Heavy drinking >5 drinks in one sitting	15%	14%
Problem drinker >10 drinks in one sitting	9%	4%
Marijuana use in the past 30 days	11.8%	11%
Non-prescription use of stimulants	5%	3.36%
Non-prescription use of opioids	3.2%	2.4%

 

*Pregaming and doing shots remain the top two high risk drinking behaviors year over year.

 

• Goals & Recommendations for the Next Biennium

 

1. Collect and analyze assessment data for educational conduct sanctions.
2. Enhance programming efforts targeting high-risk drinking behavior in residential students and high-risk populations (e.g. athletes and Greeks).
3. Address spike in marijuana conduct violations with expanded programming and training for resident advisors and peer educators.
4. Consider offering a substance-free intentional living-learning community designated for students in recovery.
5. Conduct National College Health Assessment survey in 2020.

 

• Conclusion

 

Roanoke College is committed to the process of continual improvement.  Our assessment data and DAAPP Committee recommendations will drive future efforts to enhance our programming and prevention work.

 

*In compliance with the DFSCA, this report has been reviewed and approved by the College’s Chief Executive Officer.