Alcohol and Other Drugs

1. Students under the minimum legal drinking age of 21 years are not permitted to possess or consume alcohol or provide alcohol beverages to others anywhere on University property or at University-sponsored events.
2. Students who are 21 years of age or older are permitted to possess and consume alcohol in designated University housing rooms, if not residing with minors or if minors are not present. Students who are of legal drinking age may not share or provide alcohol to any students, employees or guests who are under 21 years of age.
3. Drinking games are prohibited on campus.
4. Alcohol beverages may not be possessed or consumed in classrooms, hallways, residence hall lounges, on athletic grounds, in the pool area, or in campus public areas including parking lots, streets and sidewalks or any other area unless designated by the President of the University. Any area on campus can be designated for “temporary use” at the discretion of the President or Dean of Campus Life.
5. The University will not sell, serve or permit the sale of alcohol on campus except in specifically designated building or facilities named by the President of the University. The Dean of Campus Life will maintain a current list of those facilities authorized for an alcohol permit on a permanent or temporary basis.
6. Alcoholic beverages may be sold, served, or consumed in special use facilities only if the activity is (a) in compliance with law, and (b) occurs at social gatherings approved by the Dean of Campus Life or the President of the University.
7. Any sponsoring person or organization must obtain prior written approval from the Director of Campus Engagement for the sale, service or consumption of alcoholic beverages for a specific event. The Dean of Campus Life reserves the right to deny the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages at any event with sound reason.
8. The Director of Campus Engagement may approve alcoholic beverages at events meeting all the following conditions (a) The event is held in a special-use location, facility, or building; (b) The event is requested by an administrator, faculty, staff, student organization, University department or division; (c) The event will have a majority of individuals over 21 years of age in attendance; (d) Food is served and alternate non-alcoholic beverages are provided; (e) The sale and serving of alcoholic beverages be discontinued at least one hour before the event ends; (f) proper security for the event is provided at ticket booths and distribution areas where alcohol is sold and/or served and officers patrol the event location, and (g) Alcohol is dispensed by a licensed Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission (TABC) server or is BYOB*. *with permission
9. The Dean of Campus Life, UIW Police Chief, Director of Special Events, and Director of Campus Engagement (if student group or organization) will determine the adequate number of security officers for the event.

Possession of drug paraphernalia and the use, manufacture, sale, or distribution of illegal drugs, whether on or off campus, by any student is prohibited, in accordance with federal, state and local laws.

Although the state of Texas permits the medicinal use of marijuana, federal laws prohibit the use, possession and/or cultivation of marijuana at educational facilities. The University will defer to federal laws and guidelines in regard to illegal drug usage at any University property, including University housing, or at University-sponsored off-campus events.

1. A request for approval of service and consumption of alcoholic beverages at an on-campus event will be directed to the Dean of Campus Life at least thirty (30) business days prior to the event. Sponsors initiating such a request should obtain an "alcoholic beverage activity permit" from the Dean of Campus Life or the Director of Special Events.
2. At least fifteen (15) working days prior to the date of the proposed event, the sponsor should take the completed form to the Director of Special Events, who will inform the sponsor of any specific policy or procedural limitations regarding the use of the facility. If the Director of Special Events approves the proposed event, they will sign the "alcoholic beverage activity" permit and return it to the sponsor.
3. If the University's food service contractor will be used to serve the alcoholic beverages, the sponsor must contact the contractor at least fifteen (15) working days prior to the proposed event. The food service contractor should inform the sponsor of all requirements for service on the proposed date, and will coordinate TABC permits, if necessary.
4. The sponsor should then contact the UIW Police Chief at least fifteen (15) working days prior to the scheduled event in order to determine the need for officers at the scheduled event. The Police Chief will assign the number of officers and assess the costs to be incurred by the sponsor. If they approve the proposed event, the Police Chief will then sign the alcoholic beverage permit and return it to the sponsor.
5. The sponsor will deliver the form to the Dean of Campus Life. If the Dean approves the event, they will sign the form, notify the sponsor, and send copies to offices involved in coordination of the event.
6. After the Dean of Campus Life approves the event, the sponsor will notify the Director of Special Events who will then place the event on the University Calendar.
7. If a planned event is canceled, the sponsor is responsible for notifying the Dean of Campus Life, the UIW Police Chief, Special Events and Dining Services as soon as possible. The University will ensure that all permits required by the Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission (TABC) are approved prior to the activity.
8. Student organizations or groups should review the Student Organization Handbook - Requirement for Securing an Alcohol Permit at the UIW Student Organizations page.

Students who violate these policies can expect significant sanctions, up to and including suspension or expulsion from University Housing and/or the University. The following document has been created to outline possible sanctions based on the behaviors occurring: Sanctioning Guide - Alcohol and Other Drug Violations

While recognizing that there is a need to address violations of these policies, the University must address the education and well-being of all its students. Additional educational sanctions are typically also imposed which focus on the University’s fundamental Mission of holistic education and the development of human potential.

A non-exhaustive list of additional possible sanctions is below:

• Alcohol offense reflection essay
• Behavioral expectations essay
• Career Services referral
• Community service hours
• Counseling Services referral
• Drug education activity, at the student’s expense, by an approved agency
• Educational discussion with University Police
• Loss of University privileges
• Marijuanaoffense reflection essay
• Personal portfolio presentation
• Providing alcohol to minors essay
• Restriction from Residence Life
• Substance abuse assessment, at the student's expense, by an approved agency and required compliance with the assessing counselor’s evaluation;
• Vector LMS course (Alcohol)
• Vector LMS course (Marijuana)
• Weekly mentor meetings

UIW’s behavioral misconduct system also allows parent/guardians to be notified when their student who is under 21 years old has been found responsible for violating the Alcohol and/or Illegal Drug policies.

In addition to University-imposed sanctions, students are subject to all legal sanctions under federal, state and local law for any offenses involving illegal drugs on University property or at University-sponsored activities.

A student who has engaged in prohibited drug/banned drug or alcohol use is encouraged to seek assistance from the Office of Student Advocacy and Accountability by voluntarily disclosing use prior to a report of an alcohol or drug violation.

If the student seeks assistance prior to being identified as having violated this policy, the impermissible use will not be deemed an offense for purposes of determining sanctions under this policy. The Dean of Campus Life and the Director of Student Advocacy and Accountability will work collaboratively to enforce this policy and to support all students participating in the Voluntary Disclosure/Safe Harbor program. Any student entering the Safe Harbor program may be required to take a drug test (at the student’s expense) to establish a baseline for follow up testing.

Upon requesting Safe Harbor, a student must meet with Dean of Campus Life or the Director of Student Advocacy and Accountability. This meeting must take place within 7 days of the student’s request for Safe Harbor. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the student’s needs, and an initial plan to address the student’s illegal alcohol or other drug use (e.g. substance abuse assessment, counseling, treatment, etc.).

While participating in the Safe Harbor program, the student must fulfill the planned requirements assigned by the Dean of Campus Life/Director of Student Advocacy and Accountability. (Requirements will include speaking/meeting with a counselor/therapist about their substance abuse, receiving a substance abuse assessment from an assigned agency, etc.). The student will be permitted to remain in Safe Harbor for a reasonable period of time as determined by their treatment plan.

If a student fails to meet with the Dean of Campus Life/Director of Student Advocacy and Accountability within the 7-day timeframe, the request for Safe Harbor is considered null and void, and the student is subject to all potential consequences of illegal drug use. Failing to complete the treatment plan and/or any other requirements from the Dean of Campus Life/Director of Student Advocacy and Accountability or designee, and/or having a positive test for any banned substance that indicates new use after entering the program will be deemed a first offense under this policy.

If a counselor/therapist determines that a student-athlete should not continue participation, the student-athlete will not be permitted to return to participation until re-entry into intercollegiate sports is deemed appropriate.

At the conclusion of the treatment plan, the student will be required to undergo a screening to verify that the student is free of illegal substances.

For questions about the alcohol or drug policy or available resources, please contact:

Janine L. Chavez
Director of Student Advocacy and Accountability
Telephone: (210) 829-6034
Email: jlchavez@uiwtx.edu
Office: Student Engagement Center, Suite 3150

Effects of Alcohol

Alcohol affects every organ in the drinker's body and can damage a developing fetus. Intoxication can impair brain function and motor skills; heavy use can increase risk of certain cancers, stroke, and liver disease. Alcoholism or alcohol dependence is a diagnosable disease characterized by a strong craving for alcohol, and/or continued use despite harm or personal injury. Alcohol abuse, which can lead to alcoholism, is a pattern of drinking that results in harm to one's health, interpersonal relationships, or ability to work. Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism published the following information regarding the consequences of drinking and underage college students. For more information, visit these websites:

Collegedrinkingprevention.gov and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

A Snapshot of Annual High-Risk College Drinking Consequences

The consequences of excessive and underage drinking affect virtually all college campuses, college communities, and college students, whether they choose to drink or not.

• Death: 1,825 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die from alcohol-related unintentional injuries, including motor vehicle crashes ( Hingson et al., 2009).
• Injury: 599,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are unintentionally injured under the influence of alcohol ( Hingson et al., 2009).
• Assault: 696,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are assaulted by another student who has been drinking ( Hingson et al., 2009) .
• Sexual Abuse: 97,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape ( Hingson et al., 2009).
• Unsafe Sex: 400,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 had unprotected sex and more than 100,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 report having been too intoxicated to know if they consented to having sex ( Hingson et al., 2002).
• Academic Problems: About 25 percent of college students report academic consequences of their drinking including missing class, falling behind, doing poorly on exams or papers, and receiving lower grades overall ( Engs et al., 1996; Presley et al., 1996a , 1996b; Wechsler et al., 2002).
• Health Problems/Suicide Attempts: More than 150,000 students develop an alcohol-related health problem ( Hingson et al., 2002), and between 1.2 and 1.5 percent of students indicate that they tried to commit suicide within the past year due to drinking or drug use ( Presley et al., 1998).
• Drunk Driving: 3,360,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 drive under the influence of alcohol ( Hingson et al., 2009).
• Vandalism: About 11 percent of college student drinkers report that they have damaged property while under the influence of alcohol ( Wechsler et al., 2002).
• Property Damage: More than 25 percent of administrators from schools with relatively low drinking levels and over 50 percent from schools with high drinking levels say their campuses have a "moderate" or "major" problem with alcohol-related property damage ( Wechsler et al., 1995).
• Police Involvement: About 5 percent of 4-year college students are involved with the police or campus security as a result of their drinking ( Wechsler et al., 2002), and 110,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are arrested for an alcohol-related violation such as public drunkenness or driving under the influence ( Hingson et al., 2002).
• Alcohol Abuse and Dependence: 31 percent of college students met criteria for a diagnosis of alcohol abuse and 6 percent for a diagnosis of alcohol dependence in the past 12 months, according to questionnaire-based self-reports about their drinking ( Knight et al., 2002).

For more information and the references for these studies go to: Collegedrinkingprevention.gov/StatsSummaries/

What is Binge Drinking?

Many college alcohol problems are related to binge drinking. Binge drinking is a pattern of drinking that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels to 0.08 g/dL. This typically occurs after 4 drinks for women and 5 drinks for men—in about 2 hours. Drinking this way can pose serious health and safety risks, including car crashes, drunk-driving arrests, sexual assaults, and injuries. Over the long term, frequent binge drinking can damage the liver and other organs.

How Much is a Drink?

To avoid binge drinking and its consequences, college students (and all people who drink) are advised to track the number of drinks they consume over a given period of time. That is why it is important to know exactly what counts as a drink. In the United States, a standard drink is one that contains about 14 grams of pure alcohol, which is found in:

• 12 ounces of beer with 5 percent alcohol content
• 5 ounces of wine with 12 percent alcohol content
• 5 ounces of distilled spirits with 40 percent alcohol content

Unfortunately, although the “standard” drink amounts are helpful for following health guidelines, they may not reflect customary serving sizes. A large cup of beer, an overpoured glass of wine, or a single mixed drink could contain much more alcohol than a standard drink. In addition, while the alcohol concentrations listed are “typical,” there is considerable variability in alcohol content within each type of beverage (e.g., beer, wine, distilled spirits).

Alcohol Poisoning and College Students

Thousands of college students are transported to the emergency room each year for alcohol poisoning, which occurs when high levels of alcohol suppress the nervous and respiratory systems and the body struggles to rid itself of toxins produced from the breakdown of alcohol. Signs of this dangerous condition can include:

• Mental confusion, stupor, coma, or the person cannot be roused
• Vomiting
• Slow or irregular breathing
• Hypothermia or low body temperature, bluish or pale skin

Alcohol poisoning can lead to permanent brain damage or death, so a person showing any of these signs requires immediate medical attention. Don’t wait. Call 911 if you suspect alcohol poisoning.

Source: Drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/alcohol

Commonly Used Drugs and their Risks

The National Institute on Drug Abuse provides the following information. Most drugs of abuse can alter a person’s thinking and judgment, leading to health risks, including addiction, drugged driving and infectious disease. Most drugs could potentially harm an unborn baby; pregnancy-related issues are listed in the chart below for drugs where there is enough scientific evidence to connect the drug use to specific negative effects. To learn more about each of the following commonly used drugs, their street names, their possible long and short-term health effects, including combining them with alcohol. and treatment options, click on the link below.

• Alcohol
• Ayahuasca
• Cocaine
• GHB
• Hallucinogens
• Marijuana (Cannabis)
• MDMA (Ecstasy/Molly)
• Mescaline (Peyote)
• Methamphetamine
• Over-the-counter Cough/Cold Medicines (Dextromethorphan or DXM)
• Prescription Opioids
• Prescription Sedatives (Tranquilizers, Depressants)
• Prescription Stimulants
• Psilocybin
• Rohypnol (Flunitrazepam)
• Salvia
• Steroids (Anabolic)
• Synthetic Cannabinoids
• Synthetic Cathinones (Bath Salts)
• Tobacco

Source: Drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/commonly-abused-drugs-charts

Texas State Law and Alcohol

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) provides the following summary of Texas state alcohol laws and the mandatory legal sanctions imposed upon individuals found in violation of the law. For more information visit the TABC website.

Underage Drinking Laws

Minors who purchase, attempt to purchase, possess, or consume alcoholic beverages, as well as minors who are intoxicated in public or misrepresent their age to obtain alcoholic beverages, face the following consequences:

• Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $500
• Alcohol awareness class
• 8 to 40 hours community service
• 30 to 180 days loss or denial of driver's license

If a minor is seventeen years of age or older and the violation is the third offense, the offense is punishable by a fine of $250 to $2,000, confinement in jail for up to 180 days or both, as well as automatic driver's license suspension.

A minor with previous alcohol-related convictions will have his or her driver's license suspended for one year if the minor does not attend alcohol awareness training that has been required by the judge.

Penalties for Providing Alcohol to a Minor

Adults and minors who give alcohol to a minor also face a stiff penalty. The punishment for making alcoholic beverages available to a minor is a class A misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $4,000, confinement in jail for up to a year, or both. Additionally, the violator will have his or her driver´s license automatically suspended for 180 days upon conviction.

Persons 21 or older (other than the parent or guardian) can be held liable for damages caused by intoxication of a minor under 18 if the adult knowingly provided alcoholic beverages to a minor or knowingly allowed the minor to be served or provided alcoholic beverages on the premises owned or leased by the adult.

Sale to a minor is a class A misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $4,000, confinement up to a year in jail, or both.

Zero Tolerance Law

In Texas it is illegal for a person under 21 to operate a motor vehicle in a public place while having ANY detectable amount of alcohol in their system. On September 1, 2009, this law was expanded to include watercraft in addition to motor vehicles.

1. The consequences for the minor on the first offense of driving under the influence of alcohol:
   • Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $500
   • Attendance at an alcohol awareness class
   • 20 to 40 hours of mandatory community service
   • 60 days driver's license suspension. The minor would not be eligible for an occupational license for the first 30 days.

2. A second offense increases the consequences to:
   • Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $500
   • Attendance at an alcohol awareness class at the judge's discretion
   • 40 to 60 hours of mandatory community service
   • 120 days driver's license suspension. The minor would not be eligible for an occupational license for the first 90 days.

3. A third offense is not eligible for deferred adjudication. The minor's driver's license is suspended for 180 days and an occupational license may not be obtained for the entire suspension period. If the minor is 17 years of age or older, the fine increases to $500 to $2,000, confinement in jail for up to 180 days, or both.

UIW Behavioral Health (Counseling Services)
Telephone: (210) 829-5656
Location: Administration Building 4th floor Suite: 438

UIW Health Services
Telephone: (210) 829-6017
Location: Agnese/Sosa Living and Learning Center, Ground Floor (Entrance behind the Ila Faye Miller School of Nursing)

Student Advocacy and Accountability
Telephone: (210) 805-5864
Location: Student Engagement Center, Suite 3150

University Police Department
Telephone: (210) 829-6030, or x 6030 from any on-campus phone
Location: Clement Hall, First Floor

Local Resources

National Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Promoting healthy and safe behaviors, communities and environment.

Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA): CADCA is a nonprofit organization that is committed to creating safe, healthy and drug-free communities globally.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities.

That’s Not Cool: National public education initiative that partners with young people to help raise awareness and bring educational and organizing tools to communities.