Alcohol & Other Drug Prevention Team
About the Team
The Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Team (AOD Prevention Team) is an interdisciplinary team of College professionals and students that are committed to identifying and implementing current best practices to promote health and wellness for the entire SUNY WCC community. Working collaboratively within the SUNY WCC community and with stakeholders in the community at large, the AOD Prevention Team aims to educate students and employees on various AOD topics, implements strategies to reduce the harmful effects of AOD use, and provide resources for individuals who may require support for problems related to AOD use.
Team Members
- Janice Gilroy, Health Services Coordinator – Co-Chair
- Patrick Sheehan, Director of Mental Health Services – Co-Chair
- Scott Sullivan, Director of Security
- Joshua Gaccione, Director of Student Support Services
- Tiago Machado, Director of Student Involvement
- Catherine Estella-Fleshman, Human Resources Benefits Manager
Westchester Community College recognizes that alcohol and other drug use can have a harmful impact on the social, personal and academic lives of students as well as the health and safety of the college community as a whole.
The following are risks associated with the use and or misuse of alcohol and other drugs.
- Illness and Health Problems: All drugs can be toxic when misused. Alcohol and other drugs can interact negatively with over the counter and prescription drugs and every individual reacts differently to the effects of both these drugs and the combination involved. Short-term use of alcohol and drugs can hinder a person’s immune system and long-term use can lead to serious health risks such as addiction, liver disease, digestive problems, diabetes complications, birth defects, heart disease , certain cancers, overdose and death.
- Academics and other responsibilities: Difficulty meeting academic and other responsibilities such as work and other commitments is a common consequence of alcohol and other drug use. Academic issues may include missing classes, falling behind on assignments and the possibility of failure. It can lead to excessive use of sick time, the inability to meet work requirements putting one’s employment at risk.
- Impaired Judgement: The use of alcohol and other drugs can impair a person’s judgement, normal reaction and perception; impair motor skills; lower inhibitions and intensify emotions. All of these increase the chances of accidents to the user or others.
- Interpersonal Problems: The more a person uses alcohol or other drugs, the greater the potential for relationship issues. Classmates, friends, family members and work associates can experience secondhand consequences from others excessive use.
To see the Student & Employee Annual Notice – open here
Annual Notice
SUNY Westchester Community College is committed to maintaining an environment that supports academic success and personal wellness for all members of our college community. The use or misuse of alcohol and other drugs can lead to unwanted or harmful outcomes that interfere with the college’s goal of fostering a healthy and safe learning and work environment. In accordance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 and the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989, Westchester Community College, through comprehensive and coordinated efforts, aims to prevent the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession and use of illegal drugs or alcohol by students and employees.
Westchester Community Colleges prohibits the manufacture, distribution, sale, possession, and/or use of illicit drugs and/or loitering with intent to engage in these activities on Westchester Community College property, in Westchester Community College facilities, and/or at Westchester Community College on- or off-campus activities or events sponsored by the institution. This includes student-sponsored social activities or professional meetings attended by employees that the campus authorizes and/or use any campus resources. This policy is applicable for all employees and students.
Employees and students are expressly prohibited from selling, dispensing, or consuming alcoholic beverages on Westchester Community College property, in Westchester Community College facilities, or at Westchester Community College activities or events. Limited exceptions to this policy on alcohol can be found in the SUNY WCC Policy on Drugs & Alcohol.
In compliance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 and the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989, Westchester Community College will impose disciplinary sanctions on students and employees (consistent with local, state and federal law and in accordance with Collective Bargaining Agreements), up to and including expulsion or termination of employment and referral for prosecution, for violations of the standards of conduct described above. Violators of the WCC Policy on Drugs & Alcohol may be subject to both WCC sanctions and criminal sanctions under federal, state, and local law.
Under federal law, a person convicted of any federal or state offense involving possession of a controlled substance is ineligible to receive any and all federal benefits (e.g., student loans, social security) for a period of up to one year. A person convicted of the distribution of a controlled substance may be ineligible for any or all federal benefits for up to five years. There are both federal and state laws dealing with the distribution or manufacture of controlled substances in or near schools or colleges or universities. Federal law provides that a drug offense within 1,000 feet of Westchester Community College is punishable by a term of imprisonment and a fine of up to twice the amount authorized for the same offense when it is committed away from Westchester Community College. Please click here to see a list of legal sanctions under state and federal law for the unlawful possession or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol.
Westchester Community College recognizes that alcohol and other drug use can have a harmful impact on the social, personal and academic lives of students as well as the health and safety of the college community as a whole. The following are risks associated with the use and or misuse of alcohol and other drugs:
- Illness and Health Problems: All drugs can be toxic when misused. Alcohol and other drugs can interact negatively with over the counter and prescription drugs, and every individual reacts differently to the effects of both these drugs and the combination involved. Short-term use of alcohol and drugs can hinder a person’s immune system and long-term use can lead to serious health risks such as addiction and other mental health problems, liver disease, digestive problems, diabetes complications, birth defects, heart disease, certain cancers, overdose and possibly even death.
- Academics and other responsibilities: Difficulty meeting academic and other responsibilities such as work and other commitments is a common consequence of alcohol and other drug use. Academic issues may include missing classes, falling behind on assignments and the possibility of failure. It can lead to excessive use of sick time and the inability to meet work requirements putting one’s employment at risk.
- Impaired Judgement: The use of alcohol and other drugs can impair a person’s judgement, normal reaction and perception ; impair motor skills; lower inhibitions and intensify emotions. All of these increase the chances of accidents or unwanted outcomes to the user or others.
- Interpersonal Problems: The more a person uses alcohol or other drugs, the greater the potential for relationship issues. Classmates, friends, family members and work associates can experience secondhand consequences from others excessive use.
Please click here to see a list of the health risks associated with the use of illicit drugs and the abuse of alcohol.
Alcohol abuse and illicit drug use are serious societal problems. To help contend with such problems, and to prevent drug or alcohol use that adversely affects academic and job performance and safety, the College either directly or through referrals offers students and/or employees counseling, treatment, or rehabilitation or re-entry programs. Please click here for a current list of these programs.
This Annual Notification is distributed in accordance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 and the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989 (the “Acts”). It is critical every community member, both student and employee, be familiar and comply with the SUNY WCC Policy on Drugs & Alcohol. You can visit the College’s Policies webpage and click on the Drugs & Alcohol policy link or you can click here to directly view the policy.
Resources
Community Resources – SUNY Westchester Community College (sunywcc.edu)
Policy
https://www.sunywcc.edu/CMS/wp-content/documents/WCC-Drug-Alcohol-Policy.pdf