Alcohol and Drug Policies

The College of Coastal Georgia expects faculty and staff to meet appropriate performance standards, observe basic rules of good conduct, and comply with institutional policies and procedures. As an employer, the College promotes and requires a drug-free workplace among its faculty and staff.

This Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy prohibits the unlawful possession, use, manufacture, distribution, or sale of alcohol and illegal drugs on campus premises or at college-sponsored activities, promoting a healthy learning environment while complying with federal and state laws.

Any questions regarding the College’s drug-free workplace program should be directed to the Office of Human Resources at 912-279-5740.

The College of Coastal Georgia follows the Board of Regents’ Policy (4.6.4) on alcohol on campus. The sale, possession, distribution, and consumption of alcoholic beverages are prohibited on the Brunswick main campus, Camden Center, and at off-campus college-sponsored or registered student organization-sponsored events. Unauthorized manufacture, distribution, or possession distribution of any controlled substance or illegal drug/synthetic drug on college premises or at college-sponsored activities is prohibited. Using or possessing any illegal drug or controlled substance (without a valid prescription) on college premises or at college-sponsored activities is prohibited. A conviction for a felony offense includes forfeiture of academic credit and may result in permanent suspension.

The sale or service of alcohol is prohibited on-campus unless specifically authorized by the College President and/or their designee, the Office of Business Affairs. The request for consideration must be submitted to the business office no later than two weeks before the event. The full list of details and regulations is in the “College of Coastal Georgia Alcohol Policy for On-Campus Events” section of the College of Coastal Georgia Student Handbook.

Any disciplinary action will be consistent with the College’s and the Board of Regents’ policies and local and federal laws.

Board of Regents Policy Manual – Disciplinary sanctions for students convicted of a felony offense involving the manufacture, distribution, sale, possession, or use of marijuana, controlled substances, or other illegal or dangerous drugs shall include the forfeiture of academic credit and the temporary or permanent suspension or expulsion from the institution. All sanctions imposed by the institution shall be subject to review procedures authorized by the Board of Regents Policy on Application for Discretionary Review.

Any individual who violates Georgia law and/or the policies stated in the code of conduct in the student handbook may be subject to any or all of the following: expulsion, suspension, conduct probation, mandatory counseling, fines, and/or restitution or compensation.

The Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy applying to residents of Lakeside Village, Mariner Village, and Coastal Place Apartments prohibits the following, regardless of age:

• Promotions and/or public displays referring to or promoting the use of alcoholic beverages;
• Public intoxication;
• Binge drinking and/or otherwise encouraging, supporting, or permitting the rapid consumption of alcohol;
• The organization of and/or attendance at social events or parties in the residence hall where alcoholic beverages are served or consumed;
• Coercing or encouraging another to consume alcoholic beverages against their will;
• The organization of, and/or participation in, drinking games involving the consumption of alcohol;
• Transporting, in vehicles or otherwise, alcoholic beverages;
• Possessing and/or using devices or engaging in activities designed for group and/or excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages, including, but not limited to, bars, punch bowls, beer pong, funnels, and/or ice blocks; and
• The presence of containers of alcoholic beverages, empty or otherwise, in the residence hall.

The unauthorized manufacture, distribution, or possession for purposes of distribution of any controlled substance or illegal drug on college premises or at college-sponsored activities is prohibited.

Using or possessing any illegal drug or controlled substance (without a valid prescription) on college premises or at college-sponsored activities is prohibited. Conviction for a felony offense includes forfeiture of academic credit and may result in permanent suspension.

The misuse of controlled substances by Residents is prohibited. Controlled substances must be issued in the name of the Resident and stored in the Resident’s assigned room.

The residence hall and the campus are tobacco-free. The use of all tobacco products, including chewing tobacco and paraphernalia, is prohibited.

Full details are listed in Sections 1.02 and 1.07 of the College of Coastal Georgia Residence Hall Handbook.

Know the Signs of Alcohol Poisoning!

• Unconscious or semiconscious
• Presents shallow or irregular breathing
• Cold, clammy, pale, or bluish skin
• Cannot be awakened by shouting or prodding
• Vomiting

Know How to Help!

• Turn a vomiting person on their side to prevent choking.
• Clear vomit from the mouth.
• Keep the person awake, and do not leave them unattended.
• Call 911 or Campus Police at 912-258-3133 if someone is displaying any symptoms!

It is illegal for:

• Minors (persons under the age of 21) to purchase or possess alcoholic beverages (Refer to O.C.G.A. 3-3-23.2).
• Parents or other adults contribute to the delinquency of a minor through the purchase, sale, or providing of alcoholic beverages (Refer to O.C.G.A. 3-3-23.1).
• Anyone can use a false driver’s license, birth certificate, or any other false identification card to obtain any alcoholic beverage illegally (Refer to O.C.G.A. 3-3-23.5).
• Anyone to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence (Refer to O.C.G.A. 40-6-391).
• Refusing to submit to a chemical test (Refer to O.C.G.A. 40-5-67.1, 40-6-392).
• Anyone to give an alcoholic drink to a person in a state of noticeable intoxication (Refer to O.C.G.A. 3-3-22).
• Anyone to possess an open container of alcohol in a vehicle (Refer to O.C.G.A. 40-6-253).
• Anyone to be intoxicated, boisterous, or loud using profane or inappropriate language in a public place or on property not his own (Refer to O.C.G.A. 16-11-41).

It is illegal under Georgia law:

• to possess, manufacture, deliver, distribute, dispense, administer, or sell any amount of marijuana or other “controlled substances,” such as methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, cocaine base, PCP, LSD, hashish, etc. This includes prescription medication without proper authorization (Refer to O.C.G.A. 16-13-30).
• Chase’s Law amended O.C.G.A. 16-13-25 to make synthetic marijuana a Schedule I Controlled substance.
• to possess drug-related objects (Refer to O.C.G.A. 16-13-1, 16-13-32.2).
• abandon controlled substances (Refer to O.C.G.A. 16-13-3).
• to possess drugs within one thousand feet of a school (Refer to O.C.G.A. 16-13-32.4).

Please contact any of the following for questions concerning alcohol or drug policies, procedures, disciplinary actions, and education programs.

• Department of Public Safety (912-279-5820)
• Dean of Students (912-279-5815)
• Director of Human Resources (912-279-5740)

The College of Coastal Georgia routinely hosts seminars, events, and educational programs to educate students and prevent substance abuse. Multiple units provided educational programming on alcohol and other drugs throughout the year. Delivered in both active and passive ways, the Residence Life and Housing staff hosted programming centered around the impacts of alcohol, marijuana, and DUI.

The largest student programming function at the College, Student Life, provided alternative programming by hosting things like Late Night Breakfast, Homecoming, and MarinerFest. Other programs, such as “Mocktails and Make a Craft Night,” provided “mocktails” and other engaging activities that provided substitutes for going out and using substances.

Other AOD programs may include, but are not limited to, the following:

The College of Coastal Georgia actively encourages employees who feel they have a potential substance abuse problem to seek counseling and treatment. The Human Resources Office maintains a listing of referral agencies and has resources for drug education materials available upon request.

Alcohol Risks

The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) recognizes “alcohol-related problems and impairments such as liver disease, gastritis, anemia, neurological disorders, impairments in cognition, [and] changes in mood or behavior.” Additionally, alcohol consumption poses grave health dangers for pregnant women and can cause congenial disabilities.

For more information, visit Recovered – Helping people to beat addiction.

Abuse of alcohol, including excessive or “binge” consumption, can negatively impact academic and occupational performance. Alcohol abuse can also result in destructive, combative, and antisocial behavior. In some instances, excessive alcohol consumption can directly or indirectly result in mortality.

Risks of Drugs and Controlled Substances

Similar to alcohol, drugs frequently pose significant health risks, impair cognitive function, and alter mood and behavior. Additionally, drug abuse can directly or indirectly result in mortality. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has compiled a compendium of Commonly Abused Drugs, including their street names, effects, and potential treatments.

For more information, visit the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Student and Employee Assistance

The College has no drug treatment or rehabilitation programs. A list of options for addiction treatment is available from the Director of Student Well-Being and Support at 912-279-5804. Programs listed as representative referral sources should not be interpreted as an endorsement by the College. Some of the local and regional community resources available to members of the campus community include:

Amnesty

Students should be encouraged to come forward and report violations of the law and/or student code of conduct, notwithstanding their choice to consume alcohol or drugs. Information reported by a student during the conduct process concerning their consumption of drugs or alcohol will not be voluntarily reported to law enforcement, nor will information that the individual provides be used against the individual for purposes of conduct violations. Nevertheless, these students may be required to meet with staff members regarding the incident and may be required to participate in an appropriate educational program(s).

Under this amnesty procedure, the required participation in an educational program will not be considered a sanction. Nothing in this amnesty procedure shall prevent a staff member otherwise obligated by law (the Clery Act) from reporting information or statistical data as required.

Counseling Services

College students normally experience many changes during their time at school. The pressures they experience may result from academic, social, emotional, career, developmental, financial, or spiritual concerns and can lead to feelings such as confusion, anxiety, or depression. Counseling is a process by which students receive assistance from trained, experienced professionals knowledgeable about the problems students may face.

The College of Coastal Georgia provides free, short-term counseling to students attending classes when counseling is sought.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 912-279-5803, or email counseling@ccga.edu.