LIM College and its students, faculty, and staff, are committed to providing a safe, healthy learning community for all its members. The College strives to encourage safe and legal behavioral norms, standards, and practices regarding student use of alcohol and other drugs. The United States Department of Education has issued regulations for the implementation of the provisions of the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989.

To comply with these regulations, LIM College annually distributes in writing to all students and employees the following information: 

• Standards of conduct that prohibit the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by students and employees on our property or as any part of our institutional activities. 
• A description of applicable sanctions consistent with local, state, and federal law pertaining to the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol, as well as a statement of the disciplinary sanctions that LIM will impose on students and employees who violate the College Alcohol and Drug Policy. 
• A description of the health risks associated with use of illicit drugs and the abuse of alcohol. 
• A description of resources on and off-campus for assistance with alcohol and other drug problems. 

The purposes of this Policy on Alcohol and Other Drugs are to define the philosophical framework for the College’s values, and to define acceptable and unacceptable student behavior with regard to alcohol and other drugs. LIM College conducts biennial reviews of this policy and its programs associated with this statement to determine its effectiveness and implement necessary changes. LIM College also intends to assure consistent applications of this policy to all students and employees alike. 

 

Standards of Conduct

All LIM College students are required to familiarize themselves with, as well as to conform to, College rules and regulations governing personal conduct on campus. LIM College expects its students to abide by all federal, state, and local laws with respect to drugs and alcohol. 

Using, selling, sharing or possessing alcoholic beverages, or illegal or controlled substances or being under the influence of alcohol or illegal or controlled substances on College premises or at College sponsored activities is prohibited. 

Alcohol consumption is allowed by students of legal age at LIM College sponsored events and College sponsored activities where pre-approved by the College. However, inappropriate or excessive alcohol consumption is not acceptable and the College, at its discretion for students of any age, may enforce a “no alcohol for students” policy at any given event without advance notice or warning. 

For more information, see Student Code of Conduct, Section III (Standards & Offenses), and Number 3. 

 

Legal Sanctions

Both Federal and New York State law make it a criminal offense to manufacture, distribute, dispense or possess with intent to manufacture, distribute, dispense or simply possess a controlled substance, including marijuana. See Title 21 US Code 801 et. seq.; New York State Penal Law 220-221; and New York State Public Health Law § 3306. 

The sanctions for violation of these laws depend upon the particular offense and depend on aggravating factors such as the type and quantity of drugs involved. Sanctions range from monetary fines and community service to imprisonment. 

It is a violation of New York State Penal Law 240.40 for a person to appear in public under the influence of narcotics or drugs other than alcohol, to the degree that he may endanger himself or other persons or property, or annoy persons in his vicinity. This is punishable by a fine and imprisonment up to 15 days. Below are some additional and important New York State laws regarding the unlawful use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs: It is a violation of New York State Law 260.20 (d) (4) for a person to give or sell an alcoholic beverage to a person less than twenty-one years old. This is class A misdemeanor punishable by a sentence of imprisonment up to one year. It is illegal to use a false ID or to provide someone else with a false ID to buy alcohol. This is punishable by a $100 and/or completion of an alcohol awareness program, and/or 30 hours of community service. If the false ID is a driver’s license, your license may also be suspended for up to 90 days. 

Any person who operates a motor vehicle while intoxicated or while his ability to operate such vehicle is impaired by the consumption of alcohol or by drugs, is in violation of New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law 1192, and is subject to suspension or revocation of driving privileges in the state as well as a fine up to $1,000 and possible imprisonment for up to one year. 

It is a violation of New York State Penal Law, 260.21(3) to sell tobacco products to any person under the age of eighteen. This is a class B misdemeanor and punishable by imprisonment up to three months. 

All other NYS laws regarding alcohol and other drugs can be viewed on the New York State Legislature website: http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/menugetf.cgi?COMMONQUERY=LAWS 

 

College Sanctions

A student who is in violation of LIM College's policies on drugs and alcohol shall be subject to sanctions in accordance with LIM College policies and procedures. Students violating College policies with respect to drugs and/or alcohol will be disciplined in accordance with LIM College's Disciplinary Code. Disciplinary action involving drug and alcohol violations by students may result in suspension, dismissal, or expulsion from the College. The judicial procedures and sanctions regarding student alcohol use builds alcohol education and treatment into the system. A sensitive continuum linking offenses with commensurate sanctions, and providing for education and treatment options is in place. Students who are adjudicated for alcohol-related offenses in the residence hall may be mandated for assessment with the Office of Counseling & Wellness Services, and may be required to participate in on or off campus treatment when indicated, depending on the severity of the problem, and may be required to complete the E-Chug program and discuss results with a counselor. 

For more information, see Student Code of Conduct, Section VI (Informal & Formal Disciplinary Procedures) and Section VII (Sanctions Administered by a Judicial Body for Violators of the Student Code of Conduct). 

 

Health Risks

A chart on the uses and effects of controlled substances (http://police.unl.edu/policies/useffect.pdf) can be viewed using Adobe Acrobat© Reader. The chart is taken from United States Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration, Drugs of Abuse (1997 edition). The chart contains a description of health risks associated with various drugs covered by the Federal Controlled Substances Act. The summary of health risks associated with alcohol is taken from United States Department of Education, What Works: Schools Without Drugs (1992 edition). 

Alcohol consumption causes a number of marked changes in behavior. Even low doses significantly impair the judgment and coordination required to drive a car safely, increasing the likelihood that the driver will be involved in an accident. Low to moderate doses of alcohol also increase the incidence of a variety of aggressive acts, including spouse and child abuse. Moderate to high doses of alcohol cause marked impairments in higher mental functions, severely altering a person's ability to learn and remember information. Very high doses cause respiratory depression and death. If combined with other depressants of the central nervous system, much lower doses of alcohol will produce the effects just described. 

Repeated use of alcohol can lead to dependence. Sudden cessation of alcohol intake is likely to produce withdrawal symptoms, including severe anxiety, tremors, hallucinations, and convulsions. Alcohol withdrawal can be life-threatening. Long-term consumption of large quantities of alcohol, particularly when combined with poor nutrition, can also lead to permanent damage to vital organs such as the brain and the liver. 

Mothers who drink alcohol during pregnancy may give birth to infants with fetal alcohol syndrome. These infants have irreversible physical abnormalities and mental retardation. In addition, research indicates that children of alcoholic parents are at greater risk than other youngsters of becoming alcoholics. 

 

Resources for Assistance

The College recognizes the need for assistance, intervention and educational programs related to the abuse of alcohol and drugs. The Comprehensive Alcohol and Drug Education and Intervention Program at LIM College is organized around the understanding that independent efforts at addressing alcohol and drug use on campus are less effective when they are not part of a larger coordinated program. The program we have developed is organized around the key areas of: education; early intervention and treatment; alcohol-free social and recreational activities; and policy revision and enforcement. 

Several educational courses and programs are offered on campus that are directly concerned with alcohol and drug use. One of these courses is a First Year Experience course. As part of the requirement for the First-Year Experience course, all first year students must complete E-Chug, an interactive web survey that allows our college students to enter information about their drinking patterns and receive feedback about their use of alcohol. This is then discussed in the class. College-wide information programs are offered throughout the year. 

The Division of Student Affairs also facilitates the prevention of problems through promoting and supporting alcohol-free institutional programming. Several alcohol- and drug-free social events and wellness programs, such as the annual drag show, fashion shows, and yoga sessions, are sponsored regularly throughout each semester. All students are encouraged to seek help early in the discovery of a problem with alcohol or other drugs. LIM College Office of Counseling & Wellness Services provides free and confidential assessment and referral services for students. The Office of Counseling & Wellness Services is located at 216 East 45th Street, 14th Floor, and the telephone number is (212) 752-1530 ext. 315. In addition, off-campus resources in the community are available. 

The following is a list of some of these resources: 

 

Telephone Resources:

• Alcohol and Drug Abuse Hotline (1-800-ALCOHOL) 
• Alcoholics Anonymous, New York Intergroup (212-647-1680) 
• Alcoholics Anonymous, Nassau Intergroup (516-292-3040) 
• Alcoholism Council of New York (212-252-7001) 
• Narcotics Anonymous (1-800-777-1515) 
• Marijuana Anonymous (1-800-766-6779
• Cocaine Anonymous (212-262-2463) 
• National Cocaine Hotline (1-800-COCAINE) 
• National Institute on Drug Abuse/Treatment Hotline (1-800-662-HELP) 
• Federal Drug, Alcohol and Crime Clearinghouse Network (1-800-788-2800) 

 

Internet Resources:

• A comprehensive source of information regarding substance abuse is the National Institute on Drug Abuse: http://www.nida.nih.gov/ 
• A meeting locator for all AA meetings in the down-state area: http://www.nyintergroup.org/meetinglist/ 
• A meeting locator for all NA meetings: http://www.na.org/meetingsearch/ 
• General information on substance abuse, how to receive help, Drug abuse Effects & Programs: http://drugabuse.com/library/drug-abuse-recovery/