Washtenaw Community College wants students and employees to be successful. Alcohol and other drug use can undermine this goal, so much so that the federal government has required us to make sure that you receive important information on these issues:
- Preventing alcohol and other drug use
- The health risks of use, dependence, or addiction
- What we expect from you concerning alcohol and other drugs
- The laws and sanctions for violations
- Treatment or rehabilitation resources
Safety Threats
Please contact Public Safety at 734-973-3411 (ext. 3411 from an on-campus phone) - or for non-emergency situations, Report a Concern.
Preventing drug and alcohol abuse
Abuse of drugs or alcohol causes problems for the user and for others. This includes commonly misused substances such as tobacco, alcohol, and prescription drugs, in addition to illegal drugs. For more information consult how to prevent drug addiction to read
- How Alcohol and Drug Addiction Develops
- If You Have a Drug or Alcohol Abuse Problem, Get Help Now
- Avoid Temptations and Peer Pressure
- Find the Support You Need
- Practice Healthier Living Habits
Peer opinion and parental influence against abuse of drugs or alcohol helps support responsible behavior. Do this for yourself and others
- Stay informed about the latest trends
- Learn how to support a healthy lifestyle for yourself or others
- Act when you think alcohol or drugs are being abused
Consult help guide or partnership for drug free kids.
In preventing abuse, the Surgeon General tells us that our “quality of life, academic performance, workplace productivity” are best when drug and alcohol abuse are prevented.
Health risks of abuse or addiction
There are many health risks associated with the following substances.
- Tobacco
- Alcohol
- Cannabinoids (marijuana and hashish)
- Opioids (heroin and opium)
- Stimulants (cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine)
- Club Drugs (MDMA, ecstasy, ruffy, GHB)
- Dissociative Drugs (ketamine, PCP, nitrous oxide, DXM)
The National Institute on Drug Abuse provides information on the health risks associated with each substance.
Don’t leave drinks unattended in a public or casual setting as these are easy targets for adding drugs.
What we expect from you
Don’t possess, use, make, share, sell or be under the influence of drugs or alcohol on College property, which includes rented spaces, or anywhere while on College business. This applies to students, employees and visitors.
Alcohol restrictions may be waived on a permission-only basis as explained in Trustee Policy 8010
Employees involved in a federal grant or contract are required to inform their supervisor within five days of a conviction for a violation of any federal or state criminal drug statute occurring in the workplace. In addition, employees taking legal medications must follow the instructions in Trustee Policy 5091.
Laws and Sanctions for Violations
There are many legal and WCC sanctions for offenses involving alcohol and other controlled substances.
Federal Statutes require that you lose your financial aid eligibility for a period of time, possibly indefinitely, if you are convicted of an offense involving controlled substances.
Sanctions for violations of Federal/state/local drug laws may include fines; be imprisoned; have to surrender your personal and real property; such as land or your belongings; have your driver's license revoked; be required to attend substance abuse education or treatment; as well as other legal sanctions.
However, if you are under the age of 21 and seek medical help for a legitimate health concern for yourself or someone else (such as a condition or examination necessary due to a sexual assault) after consuming alcohol, you may have some protection against prosecution for alcohol-related charges. Read about the medical amnesty law, Michigan House Bill 4393, enacted in 2012.
WCC may impose sanctions such as disciplinary reprimand, restitution, failing grade, removal from a course or program, probation, suspension, expulsion or others that are deemed necessary as described in Trustee Policy 4095.
As a condition of employment, WCC employees are also subject to all these sanctions, including possible dismissal, for possessing, using, making, sharing, selling or being under the influence of drugs or alcohol in the workplace as listed in Trustee Policy 5091.
Treatment and rehabilitation resources
You can access many resources to help with treatment and recovery of alcohol or substance abuse. Some are physically located in your community, some are globally-based; some are free or low-cost options. Review this resources page to find a treatment facility.
Anyone is welcome to browse the WCC Employee Assistance Plan extensive resources, which include alcohol and drug information.
Full-time WCC employees can also contact the Cigna Employee Assistance Plan at 877-622-4327 (open 24 hours each day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year) and they will provide you, your dependents, and your household family members up to six sessions of personal counseling per issue each year as well as ideas or referrals for information you seek or call 734-973-3497 or (734) 973-3588 to get the login.
This benefit for full-time WCC employees is confidential and protected by HIPAA laws, so WCC will not get information about your discussion, recommendations or treatment, even if the College refers you for mandatory treatment.
More resources
This government site has links to research, information, organizations related to drug and alcohol use.
Other sites for parents: