DBU Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Program

What is the Prevention Program?

The University's Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Program maintains information on several sources of help for dealing with drug or alcohol abuse or addiction problems. Where community-provided (local government or charitable) drug abuse/drug treatment or rehabilitation services exist, appropriate information and referrals will be made. Additionally, information on private, professional counseling and treatment services will be made available. The Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Program is located in the DBU Counseling Center and is available to all full-time and part-time faculty and staff of the University, as well as students.

Services Available 

The DBU Counseling Center serves as the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Office and maintains information on several sources of help for dealing with drug or alcohol abuse or addiction problems. Where community-provided (local government or charitable) drug abuse/drug treatment or rehabilitation services exist, appropriate information and referrals will be made. Additionally, information on private professional counseling and treatment services will be made available.

Alcohol and Drug Policy

The Dallas Baptist University Education program and Policy concerning the use, possession, or distribution of alcoholic beverages and/or illicit drugs on University property or as part of any University activity is detailed below. Each student, faculty member, and staff member should be familiar with its contents.

Standards of Conduct

  • The University code of conduct prohibits possession and consumption or being under the influence of alcoholic beverages on University property or as a part of any University activity.
  • The University code of conduct prohibits possession and consumption or being under the influence of any illicit drugs on University property or as a part of any University activity.
  • The University code of conduct requires that all students and employees be in compliance with all local, state, and federal laws regarding illicit drugs, including, but not limited to, their use, sale, possession, or manufacture.
  • The University code of conduct requires that employees must notify the University, in writing, of any criminal drug statute conviction for a violation occurring in the workplace no later than five (5) calendar days after such conviction.

Federal Financial Aid Drug Policy

In accordance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 (Pub. L. No. 100-690, 102 Stat. 4181), any student who receives a Federal Pell Grant and who is convicted of a criminal drug offense that occurred during the period of enrollment covered by the Pell Grant must report the conviction in writing to the Director, Grants and Contracts Service, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Room 3124, GSA Regional Service Building No. 3, Washington, D.C. 20202-4571. This report must be made within ten calendar days of the conviction. Failure to report such a conviction may subject the student to suspension or termination of the Pell Grant and ineligibility for other types of federal financial assistance.

Health Risks of Alcohol and Drugs

Alcohol

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 increases 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.

Depressants

Depressants such as barbiturates and Quaaludes can cause slurred speech, disorientation, and drunken behavior. An overdose of a depressant may result in shallow respiration, clammy skin, dilated pupils, weak and rapid pulse, coma, and possible death. Withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, insomnia, tremors, delirium, convulsions, and possible death.

Hallucinogens

Hallucinogens such as LSD and amphetamines cause illusions and hallucinations, and poor perception of time and distance. The effects of an overdose include psychosis and possible death.

Marijuana

Marijuana and hashish can cause euphoria, increased appetite, relaxed inhibitions, and disoriented behavior. The effects of an overdose include fatigue, paranoia, and possible psychosis. Withdrawal symptoms include insomnia, hyperactivity, and decreased appetite.

Narcotics

Narcotics such as opium, morphine, and heroin can cause euphoria, drowsiness, respiratory depression, constricted pupils, and nausea. The symptoms of an overdose of narcotics are slow and shallow breathing, clammy skin, convulsions, coma, and possible death. Persons experiencing withdrawal from addiction to narcotics can experience watery eyes, runny nose, yawning, loss of appetite, irritability, tremors, panic, cramps, nausea, chills, and sweating.

Stimulants

Stimulants such as cocaine and crack can cause increased alertness or euphoria, an increased pulse rate and blood pressure, insomnia, and loss of appetite. An overdose of stimulants results in agitation, an increase in body temperature, hallucinations, convulsions, and possible death. Withdrawal symptoms include apathy, long periods of sleep, irritability, depression, and disorientation.

DBU Sanctions

When the standards of conduct regarding alcohol and/or illicit drugs are violated, the University may impose the following actions and/or sanctions.

  • Automatic referral to the University Office of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention in the Counseling Center.
  • Automatic and immediate expulsion or termination from the University.
  • Other actions and/or sanctions may be imposed if deemed appropriate.

University-imposed sanctions are additional to any legal actions taken by local, state, or federal authorities.

Legal Sanctions

The State of Texas prohibits the following acts and prescribes the corresponding penalties:

  1. Being intoxicated in public such that one is a danger to oneself or others is punishable by a fine of up to $500. Texas Penal Code Sec. 49:02
  2. It is illegal to possess or distribute alcoholic beverages in dry areas. Violation of this law is punishable by a fine of up to $2000 and/or imprisonment up to 180 days. Texas
    Alcoholic Beverage Code Sec. 1.05, 101.31
  3. The purchase, possession, or consumption of alcoholic beverages by a person less than twenty-one years of age subjects that person to a fine of up to $500 for the first offense and at least $250 up to $2,000 for the second offense and/or 180 days confinement. Repeat offenders face increased penalties. Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code Sec. 106.02,
    106.04-106.05, 106.071
  4. Furnishing alcoholic beverages to a minor is punishable by a fine of up to $4,000 and/or imprisonment up to one year. Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code Sec. 106.06
  5. Driving a vehicle while having an open container of alcohol in the passenger compartment is punishable by a fine of up to $500 and jail time of minimum jail time of six (6) days. Texas Penal Code Sec. 49.04
  6. The possession of an intoxicating beverage on the grounds of any public school carries a penalty of a fine up to $500. Code Sec. 37.122
  7. Driving under the influence of alcohol is punishable by a fine of up to $2,000 and/or imprisonment up to 180 days with a minimum term of confinement of 72 hours. Repeat offenders face increased penalties. If a person driving under the influence of alcohol has an open container of alcohol in his/her immediate possession, such offense is punishable by a fine of up to $2,000 and/or imprisonment up to 180 days with a minimum term of confinement of 6 days. If a person's blood, breath, or urine showed an alcohol concentration level of 0.15 or more at the time the analysis was performed, such offense is punishable by a fine up to $4,000 and/or imprisonment up to one year. Texas Penal Code Sec. 49.04
  8. A person under age twenty-one who misrepresents his/her age for the purpose of purchasing alcoholic beverages may be punished by a fine of up to $500.Repeat offenders face increased penalties Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code Sec. 106.07
  9. The illegal distribution, possession with intent to deliver, or manufacture of illicit drugs may be punished by imprisonment of 10 years to life and up to a $250,000 fine. Depending on aggregate weight, an offense may be punished by imprisonment for a term not more than 99 by years or less than 15 years and a fine not to exceed $250,000. Repeat offenders may face increased penalties. Texas Health and Safety Code Sec.
    481.112-120
  10. The manufacture, delivery, or possession with intent to deliver an illicit drug is punishable by imprisonment for 180 days to 2 years and a fine up to $250,000. Depending on nature of offense offenders may face increased penalties. Texas Health
    and Safety Code Sec. 481.102-106, 481.115-118
  11. The possession of marijuana may be punished by imprisonment for 180 days to twenty years in prison and/or up to a $10,000 fine depending on the amount of marijuana involved. Depending on nature of offense offenders may face increased penalties. Texas Health and Safety Code Sec. 481. 121
  12. The distribution of marijuana to a minor is punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison and/or up to a $10,000 fine. Texas Health and Safety Code Sec. 481.122