Alcohol & Drug Information

Fairleigh Dickinson University is the home of the BACCHUS group called FABULOUS which stands for Fairleigh And Bacchus Unite Lots Of Unique Students.  This group is a Peer Education Group that develops programs that focus on reducing the risks associated with alcohol.  Students can join at any time by contacting Kathy Azzaro at 201-692-2174 or Azzaro@fdu.edu .

Alcohol and You — Choices and Guidelines*

Many students already have used alcohol by the time they arrive on campus. Some students have only limited experience with the effects of alcohol. Many already have had problems related to alcohol use. A third group of students have not used alcohol at all. For each of these groups of students, it is important to establish and follow personal guidelines for choices about alcohol use and nonuse.

Choices

As you think about your choices, it is helpful to remember that there are benefits to using alcohol safely and wisely and benefits from abstaining from alcohol use. For many people, alcohol is a complement to social events, good food and conversation with friends or family. For others, alcohol may be part of family tradition or ritual. Some people simply like the taste of wine with a meal or a cold beer on a hot summer afternoon.

Abstaining from alcohol also has benefits. Alcohol-free lifestyles allow people of all ages to be free to grow in their ability to manage stress and develop life skills without the interference of alcohol. People who abstain have no risk of developing alcoholism. For those with a family history of alcoholism, a choice to remain abstinent will help break the cycle of addiction. Lastly, abstinence from alcohol is a lifesaving choice for people recovering from chemical dependency. Choosing to use or not to use alcohol is a personal choice for which each student is responsible. At any age, we are responsible for the consequences of our decisions.

For example, nationwide a high percentage of date or acquaintance rapes on campus are alcohol-related. Alcohol use affects judgment and can result in vandalism and aggressive or even violent behavior. Sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancies occur more often when judgment is impaired by alcohol. Driving after drinking can result in legal hassles and crashes causing serious injury or death. For students, excessive alcohol use is a major factor in academic problems. Many times people who have been drinking too much say and do things that can hurt people they care about or love. College is a time for building relationships and alcohol can make that difficult.

Guidelines

Safe and wise choices about using or abstaining from alcohol will enhance health and reduce the risk of experiencing the wide range of alcohol-related problems that some college students have experienced.

Here are a few guidelines to help you think about your choices:

1. The use of alcohol is a personal choice.

No one should feel pressured to drink or be made to feel uneasy or embarrassed because of a personal choice. However, peer pressure and internal pressure to fit in and successfully integrate into the college scene can exist. Many people will choose to use alcohol safely, moderately and appropriately. Others will simply have no desire to experience the effects of alcohol. A small percentage of students may use alcohol unsafely or appear to use it excessively. Everyone has the right to decide how they want to use, or not use, alcohol. If a student feels he/she is struggling with this decision or the pressure of self/others, he/she can always speak to his/her resident assistant or a counselor at Student Counseling and Psychological Services (SCAPS).

2. Alcohol use is not essential for enjoying social events.

The real value of parties and other social activities is meeting new people, being with friends and taking time out from the pressures of school and work. Drinking alcohol should not be seen as a necessary component for having fun and being with friends. If alcohol is used, it can be an enjoyable complement to other activities, not the only reason for socializing. Actually, focusing on alcohol use as the main reason for a party can result in intoxicated people who get sick, can’t carry on a conversation and generally aren’t much fun to be with after a while.

3. Know when to abstain from alcohol:

• When under the legal drinking age
• When pregnant or breastfeeding
• When operating equipment: cars, motorcycles, boats, firearms, etc.
• When studying or working
• When performing in fine arts or competing in athletics
• When taking certain medications

Each of these situations presents specific risks and are times when alcohol use should be avoided. As caring friends, we can help each other choose not to use during these times.

4. Drinking that leads to impairment or intoxication is unhealthy and risky.

Getting drunk is not a condition to be admired, laughed at or taken lightly. Rude, destructive or just plain foolish behavior triggered by alcohol use is socially unacceptable. It also may indicate an alcohol-use problem. Drinking games often result in drunkenness and can present serious risks for those involved. Alcohol poisoning is a potentially fatal condition that is the result of drinking too much, too fast. Warning signs of alcohol poisoning are vomiting, slow or irregular breathing (less than 8–12 breaths per minute or more than 10 seconds between breaths); cold, clammy skin, bluish-skin color or paleness; mental confusion, stupor, coma or unable to rouse a person; no response to pinching the skin; and/or seizures. A person seeing or knowing anyone with these signs must get help immediately.

5. Know personal limits of moderation.

Everyone who chooses to drink alcohol should know his or her personal limit of moderation. It is important that each person set the limit before having any alcohol. It is also important to know a few facts about alcohol and its effects before establishing personal limits.

• Drinking on an empty stomach can have a greater effect on judgment and behavior than expected.
• Alcohol’s effects can be greater than expected when a person is feeling tired, stressed out, angry, lonely or other strong emotions.
• Because of differences in body composition and chemistry, females are affected more than males of equal weight after drinking the same amount of alcohol.
• The effects of alcohol vary with body weight and the strength and number of drinks.

6. There are ways to minimize health and safety risks when serving alcohol. Examples include:

• Emphasize other activities besides drinking.
• Offer a variety of attractive nonalcoholic drinks that are easily available.
• Provide a variety of foods.
• Be sure to have designated drivers who abstain from alcohol.
• Inform guests whether beverages such as punch contain alcohol.
• Stay alert and assume responsibility for helping a guest who may have had too much to drink.
• Create an environment that allows guests to feel comfortable making a personal choice about alcohol use or nonuse.
• Avoid drinking games that can quickly lead to intoxication.

7. Avoid situations where someone else’s alcohol or other drug use may put you at risk.

• Make an alcohol-intake plan for the day/evening ahead of time and stick to it. Think about the goal ahead of time and how to achieve it.
• Make a plan for getting to and from an event.
• Eat before drinking, and eat while drinking.
• Space and pace the drinks.
• Drink water between drinks.
• Avoid drinking games.

What to Do on the Metropolitan Campus

• If you have questions about developing your own personal guidelines;
• If you are concerned about someone else’s use/abuse of alcohol; or
• If your life already has been affected by alcohol-related problems:

The Wellness Center (Student Counseling and Psychological Services [SCAPS] and Student Health Services), (201) 692-2437, serves as a campus resource to assist you with questions about psychoactive substance use and abuse. You can drop in or schedule an appointment. (An appointment is recommended as you can talk privately without interruption.) All conversations are strictly confidential and focus on offering information, sharing feelings and making you feel comfortable in exploring you choices and personal guidelines.

Counseling and treatment for alcohol and drug abuse is available through the Wellness Center (Student Counseling and Psychological Services and Student Health Services [SCAPS]) and off-campus sources. Alcohol Violations

I.2C:33-15 Possession or Consumption of Alcoholic Beverage by Person Under Legal Age

• Knowingly possesses without legal authority or knowingly consumes an alcoholic beverage in any school, public or private conveyance, public place, public assembly or motor vehicle.

—Disorderly Persons Offense (not less than $500.00 fine)*
—In addition to the sentence authorized from the offense, the court shall suspend or postpone for six months the driving privileges of the defendant.*

II.2C:33-16 Possession of Alcoholic Beverage on School Property

• Any person of legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages, who knowingly and without express written permission of the school board, its delegated authority or any school principal, brings any alcoholic beverage on any property used for school purposes, which is owned by any school or school board.
—Disorderly Persons Offense

III.2C:33-17 Offering Alcoholic Beverages to Underage Person

• Purposely or knowingly offers or serves or makes available an alcoholic beverage to a person under the legal age for consuming alcoholic beverages or entices that person to drink an alcoholic beverage.
—Disorderly Persons Offense

General Requirements of the Drug-free Schools and Communities Act: Amendments of 1989

The Drug-free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989 (the Act) requires an institution of higher education, as a condition of receiving funds or any other form of financial assistance under any federal program, to certify that it has adopted and implemented a program to prevent the unlawful possession, use or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by students (and employees). The following describes the Act’s provisions as applied to students.

* In addition to the general penalty prescribed for Disorderly Persons Offense, the court may require the defendant to participate in an alcohol education or treatment program.

As part of its drug prevention program for students and employees, Fairleigh Dickinson University annually distributes in writing to each student (and employee) the following information:

• standards of conduct that clearly prohibit the unlawful possession, use or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by regularly matriculated students (and employees) on its property as a part of any of its activities;
• a description of applicable local, state and federal legal sanctions pertaining to the unlawful possession, use or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol;
• a description of health risks associated with the use of illicit drugs and the abuse of alcohol;
• a description of available drug and alcohol counseling, treatment, rehabilitation and re-entry programs; and
• a clear statement of the disciplinary sanctions that the University will impose on students (and employees) who violate the standards of conduct.

The University will conduct a biennial review of its drug prevention program to determine its effectiveness, implement needed changes and ensure that disciplinary sanctions are consistently enforced.

State and Federal Legal Sanctions Concerning Drugs and Alcohol

Federal law penalizes the manufacture, distribution, possession with intent to manufacture or distribute and simple possession of drugs (“controlled substances”) [Controlled Substances Act 21 U.S.C. Sections 841,843 [b],844,845,846 (1988)].The following is a list of the punishments prescribed for each crime/offense:

Controlled dangerous substances (CDS) are classified into five different schedules (I–V):

Schedule I Schedule II Schedule IV

• Opiates Oxycodone (Percodan) Barbital
• Amphetamine Fentanyl (Sublimaze) Meprobamate (Dimepheptanol, Methadone (Dolophine) (Equanil, Miltown) Hydroxypethidine, Meperidine (Demerol) Chloral hydrate
• Normethadone) ^{Phenobarbital}

Narcotics Schedule III

• (Donnatal, Bellergal) (Acetylcodone, (Biphetamine) Bensylmorphine, Phenmetrazine ^{Schedule V} Heroin, Morphine, Glutethimide (Doriden) ^Codeine Nicocodeine) Phencyclidine ^Codeine Hallucinogenic ^Phosphate (LSD, Marijuana, ^(Robitussin)
• Diphenoxylate
• Mescaline, Peyote, (Lomotil) Psilocybin)

New Jersey Laws: Criminal Statutes I.2C:35-3 Leader of a Narcotic Trafficking Network

• Conspires with others as an: organizer (or) financier, supervisor (or) manager
• To manufacture or distribute: Methamphetamine, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD), Phencyclidine
• Any CDS in Schedule I or II

— First Degree Crime (Life Term)

II.2C:35-4 Maintaining or Operating a CDS Production Facility

• Knowingly maintains or operates a premise used to manufacture: Methamphetamine, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide
• Any CDS in Schedule I or II

— First Degree Crime

III.2C:35-5 Manufacturing, Distributing or Unlawfully Dispensing Controlled Dangerous Substances

• Knowingly or purposely: manufactures, distributes or dispenses (or possesses with intent to dispense) a CDS (or analog); or creates, distributes or possesses (or possesses with intent to distribute) any counterfeit CDS. Possession with intent to distribute.

— Degree of crime dependent on drug and amount involved

IV.2C:35-5.1 Distribution, Manufacture or Possession with Intent to Distribute Anabolic Steroids

— Third Degree Crime

V.2C:35-6 Employing a Juvenile in a Drug Distribution Scheme

• Any person 18 years of age who knowingly uses, solicits, directs, hires or employs

— Second Degree Crime

VI.2C35-7 Distribution or Possession with Intent to Distribute a CDS Within 1,000 Feet of School Property or School Bus

• Violates 2C:35-5 within 1,000 feet of school property or school bus

— Third Degree Crime — three-year minimum
 — Marijuana less than one ounce — one-year minimum

VII.2C:35-8 Distribution to Person Under 18 or Pregnant Female

— Twice term of imprisonment
— Twice the fines
— Twice the term of parole ineligibility

VIII.2C:35-9 Strict Liability for Drug-induced Deaths

• Any person who manufactures, distributes or dispenses Methamphetamine, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Phencyclidine, or any other Schedule I or II, or controlled analog thereof is strictly liable for a death that results from injection, inhalation or ingestion of that substance.

— First Degree Crime

IX.2C:35-10 Possession, Use or Being Under the Influence

— Violation of this section by a person while on any property used for school purposes, or within 1,000 feet of any school property, school bus or on any school bus, who is not sentenced to a term of imprisonment, shall be required to serve not less than 100 hours of community service.
— Degree of crime dependent on drug and amount involved.

X.2C:35-11 Imitation CDS

• Distribution, possession, manufacturing, etc.

— Third Degree Crime

New Jersey Laws: Drug Paraphernalia XI.2C:36-1 Drug Paraphernalia Defined:

• All equipment, material and products of any kind, used or intended for use in planting, growing or harvesting, manufacturing, compounding, testing, preparing or introducing a CDS into the human body.
• Drug paraphernalia includes kits, scales, balances, dilutants, adulterants, sifters, blenders, grinders, spoons, capsules, balloons, envelopes, water paper, roach clips, ceramic pipes and chillers.

XII.2C:36-2 Use or Possession of Drug Paraphernalia with Intent to Use
— Disorderly Persons Offense

XIII.2C:36-3 Distribute, Dispense or Possession of Drug Paraphernalia with Intent to Distribute or Manufacture
— Fourth Degree Crime

XIV.2C:36-4 Advertising to Promote Sale of Drug Paraphernalia
— Fourth Degree Crime

XV.2C:36-5 Delivering Drug Paraphernalia to Person Under 18 Years of Age
— Third Degree Crime

XVI.2C:36-6 Possession or Distribution of Hypodermic Syringe
— Disorderly Persons Offense

* Adapted, with permission, from Svendsen, Griffin, Tom and Roger. Alcohol: Choices and Guidelines for College Students. St. Paul, Minn.: Health Promotion Resources, 1991.