[Eoscstudents] Monthly Safety Email

Fri Oct 30 08:55:39 CDT 2015

Greetings students, staff, and faculty,

As we move in to the Holiday season we would like to
take a moment to remind our Eastern family of the dangers associated with drug
and alcohol use and abuse. EOSC seeks to
encourage and sustain an academic environment that respects individual freedoms
and promotes the health, safety and welfare of its students, faculty, staff and
visitors. These participants are expected to know and follow the applicable
laws and all EOSC rules and regulations. Each person is responsible for his/her
own behavior. The EOSC Police Department enforces compliance with state law and
alcoholic beverage laws on campus and at college-sponsored activities.

Possession, use, or distribution of alcoholic
beverages, except as expressly permitted by the law and regulations, or public
intoxication are a violation of EOSC policy. The consumption or possession of
alcoholic beverages in any form on the campus, in EOSC student housing, or at
student organizations or other sponsored activities for students is forbidden.

Students, faculty, staff, and visitors are subject
to arrest and prosecution, as well as campus discipline, for violation of any
federal or state drinking laws, including possession, intoxication, and driving
under the influence (inclusive of DUI-Under 21).

Eastern Oklahoma State College recognizes its
responsibility as an educational and public service institution to promote a
productive and healthy environment. This responsibility demands implementation
of programs and services to facilitate that effort. The college is committed to
a program to prevent the abuse of alcohol and the illegal use of drugs and
alcohol by its students and employees. The college prohibits illegal use of
drugs and alcohol in the workplace, on college property, in college housing, or
as part of any college-sponsored activities.

In order to meet these responsibilities, Eastern
Oklahoma State College:

 Requires all students and employees to abide by
the terms of this policy as a condition of an initial and continued enrollment
or employment. EOSC will conduct a biannual review of current Alcohol and Drug
Abuse Policies conducted in even numbered years.

 Provides resident students with information about
college drug and alcohol policies as part of their orientation. Students who
violate the alcohol policy are required to complete an on-line alcohol
awareness program. Information about drug and alcohol issues are also shared
with students via brochures, flyers, and campus safety e-mails.

 Provides student-athletes with specific
information about the drug and alcohol policy in the Student-Athlete Handbook.
The college also conducts periodic, random drug tests of student athletes.

 Works with the Latimer County Sheriff’s Office to
arrange for periodic patrols of a drug dog in the residence halls.

 Has an arrangement with the Wilburton Health &
Wellness Center for students to receive free counseling.

 Recognizes that the illegal use of drugs and
alcohol is in direct violation of local, state and federal laws as well as
college policies set forth within this policy, the staff and faculty handbooks,
and the Student Code of Conduct. College policy strictly prohibits the illegal
use, possession, manufacture, dispensing, or distribution of alcohol, drugs or
controlled substances in the workplace, on its premises, or as a part of any
college-sponsored activities.

 Considers a violation of this policy to be a major
offense, which can result in requirement for satisfactory participation in a
drug or alcohol rehabilitation program, referral for criminal prosecution,
and/or immediate disciplinary action up to and including termination from
employment and suspension or expulsion from the college. A criminal conviction
is not required for sanctions to be imposed upon an employee or student for
violations of this policy.

 Recognizes that violations of applicable local,
state and federal laws may subject a student or employee to a variety of legal
sanctions including but not limited to fines, incarceration, imprisonment
and/or community service requirements. Convictions become a part of an
individual's criminal record and may prohibit certain career and professional opportunities.

 Recommends an employee to notify his or her
supervisor of a criminal conviction for drug or alcohol related offenses
occurring in the workplace no later than five calendar days following the
conviction or to allow the Chief of the Campus Police of EOSC to make such a
notification.

 Forbids an employee from performing sensitive
safety functions while a prohibited drug(s) is in his or her system.

Health risks generally associated with alcohol and
drug abuse can result in but are not limited to a lowered immune system, damage
to critical nerve cells, physical dependency, lung damage, heart problems,
liver disease, physical and mental depression, increased infection,
irreversible memory loss, personality changes and thought disorders.

The use of alcohol and other drugs represents a
serious threat to health and the quality of life. More than 25,000 people die
each year from drug-related accidents or health problems. With most drugs, it
is possible that users will develop psychological and physical dependence. The
general categories of drugs and their effects are as follows:

 Alcohol produces short-term effects that include
behavioral changes, impairment of judgment and coordination, greater likelihood
of aggressive acts, respiratory depression, irreversible physical and mental
abnormalities in newborns (fetal alcohol syndrome) and death. Long-term effects
of alcohol abuse include damage to the liver, heart and brain; ulcers;
gastritis; malnutrition; delirium tremens; and cancer. Alcohol combined with
barbiturates and other depressants can prove to be a deadly mixture.

 Amphetamines/stimulants (speed, uppers, crank,
caffeine, etc.) speed up the nervous system and can cause increased heart and
breathing rates, higher blood pressure, decreased appetite, headaches, blurred
vision, dizziness, sleeplessness, anxiety, hallucinations, paranoia,
depression, convulsions and death due to a stroke or heart failure.

 Anabolic steroids seriously affect the liver,
cardiovascular and reproductive systems. Can cause sterility in males and
females as well as impotency in males.

 Barbiturates/depressants (downers, quaaludes,
valium, etc.) slow down the central nervous system and can cause decreased
heart and breathing rates, lowered blood pressure, slowed reactions, confusion,
distortion of reality, convulsions, respiratory depression, coma and death.
Depressants combined with alcohol can be lethal.

 Cocaine/crack stimulates the central nervous
system and is extremely addictive, both psychologically and physically. Effects
include dilated pupils, increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure,
insomnia, loss of appetite, hallucinations, paranoia, seizures and death due to
cardiac arrest or respiratory failure.

 Hallucinogens (PCP, angel dust, LSD, etc.)
interrupt the functions of the part of the brain that controls the intellect
and instincts. May result in self-inflicted injuries, impaired coordination,
dulled senses, incoherent speech, depression, anxiety, violent behavior,
paranoia, hallucinations, increased heart rate and blood pressure, convulsions,
coma, and heart and lung failure.

 Cannabis (marijuana, hashish, hash, etc.) impairs
short-term memory comprehension, concentration, coordination and motivation.
May also cause paranoia and psychosis. Marijuana smoke contains more
cancer-causing agents than tobacco smoke. The way in which marijuana is smoked
- deeply inhaled and held in the lungs for a long period - enhances the risk of
getting cancer. Combined with alcohol, marijuana can produce a dangerous
multiplied effect.

 Narcotics (heroin, morphine, demerol, percodan,
etc.) initially produce feelings of euphoria often followed by drowsiness,
nausea and vomiting. An overdose may result in convulsions, coma and death.
Tolerance develops rapidly and dependence is likely. Using contaminated
syringes to inject such drugs may result in AIDS.

 Tobacco/nicotine causes death among some 170,000
people in the United States each year due to smoking-related coronary heart
disease. Some 30 percent of the 130,000 cancer deaths each year are linked to
smoking. Lung, larynx, esophagus, bladder, pancreas and kidney cancers strike
smokers at increased rates. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are 10 times more
likely among smokers. Tobacco use is prohibited on all college property.

For
more information refer to our ANNUAL SECURITY REPORT AND ANNUAL FIRE SAFETY
REPORT located at:

www.eosc.edu/sites/www/Uploads/files/Campus%20Life/EOSC_ASR_092015.pdf(http://www.eosc.edu/sites/www/Uploads/files/Campus%20Life/EOSC_ASR_092015.pdf)

--
Bryan E. Denny M.S.
COP Director/Criminal Justice Chair/Chief of Police
Eastern Oklahoma State College
Phone:918-465-1755 
Fax:918-465-4494
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