Drugs and Alcohol: Education, Testing and Counseling

Drug and Alcohol Education, Testing and Counseling

Guidelines

It shall be the policy of Galveston College to take responsible action to recognize and prevent drug and alcohol use by student-athletes, which have a detrimental and adverse effect on one’s conditioning and physical wellbeing. Therefore, in the best interests of all concerned and to maintain the quality and integrity of the athletic department at Galveston College, a comprehensive education, counseling, testing program has been created and implemented for anyone involved in athletics at Galveston College.

Prohibited Drugs

Amphetamines, Barbiturates, Benzodiazepines, Cocaine, Opiates, Methaqualone, Phencyclidine, Steroids, Tetrahydrocannabinoids (Marijuana), and any form, combination, or derivative thereof.

In addition to the substances specified above, a urine specimen of a student-athlete may be tested for alcohol. If a test is positive, a student will be subject to the sanctions specified in this guideline.

Assumptions

1. The use of illicit drugs and alcohol will impair an individual’s good judgment and diminish one’s ability to behave in a prudent manner, especially in pressure situations. Illicit drugs are referred to as “mind altering” substances.

2. Students who participate in collegiate athletics must use good judgment, or the probability of injury to themselves or to others is increased. The use of illicit drugs and alcohol is detrimental not only to the physical but also the mental wellbeing of student-athletes.

3. The use of illicit drugs and alcohol is harmful to one’s health and may be life threatening. Numerous highly publicized deaths of prominent athletes have occurred because of a drug overdose.

4. Students who want to excel as a collegiate athlete must have a high degree of physical fitness. The use of illicit drugs and alcohol seriously affects the fitness of student-athletes.

5. There is a belief that individuals who use illicit drugs and alcohol and become addicted to them have a greater propensity to resort to criminal activities to support a very expensive habit.

6. There is a need for a concerted effort to deter the use of illicit drugs and alcohol, especially in public schools and colleges/universities.

7. College athletes are a uniquely visible group of students because of the nature of the extracurricular activities in which they are engaged. College athletes have a strong influence on young people and a responsibility to be good role models for them.

8. Comprehensive drug programs for highly visible groups that involve education, testing, and rehabilitation for drug users can be a strong deterrent to drug and alcohol use.

9. It would be desirable but not practical for every college student to participate in a comprehensive drug program.

10. College student-athletes are not discriminated against when they are required to participate in a comprehensive drug and alcohol program for it is in their best interest and welfare that such a program is established. Participation in collegiate athletic programs is a privilege and is not a right.

Purpose of the Program

The purpose of the Galveston College Drug and Alcohol Education, Testing and Counseling Program will be:

Educate

The Galveston College Athletic Department and the Counseling Center will counsel and/or educate any participant in the athletic program about the effect drugs and alcohol may have on him/her and his/her teammates.

Prevent

A drug and alcohol screening program, coupled with counseling and disciplinary actions will be used to discourage student-athletes’ drug and alcohol experimentation and the resulting possible dependency.

Education, Counseling, and Detection Procedures

The following procedures will be used by College personnel to implement the illicit drug and alcohol prevention guidelines:

1. The coaching staff will explain the drug and alcohol abuse prevention guidelines and procedures to prospective student-athletes when recruiting.

2. The student-athlete will sign a special form acknowledging consent to undergo drug and alcohol screening(s). Student-athletes may refuse to consent to drug and alcohol testing under this program. However, those who decline participation in the GC (Galveston College) Athletics Drug and Alcohol Prevention Program, which is designed to protect the health and reputation of the student-athlete, will not be eligible for nor shall be permitted to receive institutional financial support or to participate in intercollegiate athletics for Galveston College. A student-athlete who fails or refuses to be tested for drugs and alcohol as provided in these guidelines, after initially consenting to drug and alcohol testing, shall be considered to have decided not to participate in the Galveston College Athletics Program and to agree to forfeit his/her institutional financial support.

3. All student-athletes, student managers and students working in the intercollegiate athletic program will be tested.

4. Each student-athlete will be subject to a random number of tests throughout the school year. Each subsequent test will be unannounced; therefore, everyone should be prepared and is subject to

being tested at any time during the school year. Students will be tested in groups or by random selection process.

5. The collection and coding of specimen samples are executed in a manner insuring total confidentiality and identification. • Initially, students will be tested by groups: baseball players and softball players. In subsequent tests, students will be tested in groups or by a random selection process. • Students will be tested at a location determined by the athletic director. • An independent drug testing lab will be responsible for the testing. • The procedures will assure confidentiality and integrity of the tests.

Testing Rules

1. Randomly throughout the academic year a percent of testing numbers will be drawn using a random table to determine which student-athletes will be tested in that particular group. 2. A student-athlete who has a legitimate reason for not being tested at the prescribed time must present that information to the athletic director within the period for testing. 3. A student-athlete who does not report at the appointed time without just cause will be considered to have a positive test. The Athletic Director will determine whether or not the absence is just cause. 4. The test numbers of all student-athletes will be in the pool. Test numbers of student-athletes who will be tested on the last test will be returned to the pool. When a student-athlete has had two consecutive random tests and his/her number is drawn again, the athletic director may elect to defer that test. 5. The analysis results are returned to the Athletic Director. Test results are revealed to the student athlete, athletic director, the head coach of the student-athlete’s sport and the parents/guardian of a minor student-athlete. If the student-athlete is not a minor and has signed an authorization, the information will be released to his or her spouse and/or parent/guardian. 6. All offenses are cumulative for the term of the athlete. For example, if a student-athlete test positive their freshman year and then has a negative follow-up test, but has a positive test at any time during their GC tenure, this will be considered the second positive result. 7. An athlete who was been sanctioned for a positive drug test will be subject to re-tests for the remainder of the athletic year. 8. A positive test is that result which generates readings which are considered a positive result according to a court of law.

Drug Sanctions

Positive Test Results

If the results of said test show a positive use of illegal drugs, steroids, or alcohol, a meeting will be scheduled to take place within a prompt period, when possible, not to exceed 48 hours, so that the student-athlete will have an opportunity to discuss the matter. The Athletic Director shall be the person with Galveston College who is responsible for scheduling and organizing the meeting, and for providing notice of the meeting to the student-athlete as described above. The Athletic Director and the Head Coach will be in the meeting. At the meeting, the student-athlete will be given an opportunity to present any rebuttal evidence or mitigating circumstances he/she feels important. No decision may be made prior to this meeting. During the meeting, the student-athlete will be explained

the minimum automatic penalty process and made aware of the necessary steps to return to competition.

Minimum Automatic Penalty Process for a Positive Drug test.

1. Student-Athlete will be suspended from competition until a negative test result may be obtained.

The Head Coach or the Athletic Director may impose a suspension period. The Student-Athlete, the Athletic Director and the Head Coach together will determine the date of a re-test to regain competitive playing status. This date may not be longer than 42 calendar days from the date of the original test. 1a. Students' parents will be notified. 2b. During the student-athlete’s suspension he/she must meet with a counselor, complete Safe-

College's training through GC Student Services, and/or complete 30 hours of community service. 2. Re-tests will be scheduled, by the athletic department. 3. During the competitive suspension the student-athlete will be allowed to practice with their respective team with the approval of the Head Coach of that program. 4. A positive result on a retest will result in the student-athlete becoming ineligible for competition for the remainder of the school year. 5. A negative result on a retest may allow the Student-Athlete to return to competition with the approval of the Athletic Director. 6. The student-athlete may be automatically tested from that time through the remainder of the school year during any tests administered by the Athletic Department. 7. A subsequent positive test will remove the student-athlete from competition for the remainder of the school year. 8. Student-Athletes will bear the cost of all re-tests.

Alcohol Sanctions

1st offense

• Suspension from 2 games and 10 hours of community service and possible parental notification (at the discretion of the Athletic Director).

During the student-athlete’s suspension he/she must meet with a counselor, complete Safe- College's training through GC Student Services, and/or complete 30 hours of community service.

2nd Offense

• Suspension from 4 games and 20 hours community service, parental notification, and an alcohol assessment (in the case of alcohol abuse)

3rd Offense

• Suspension from 6 games • Possible removal from the team and all athletically related aid is removed at the end of the academic year

If this time falls when there is no athletic contest being played, the Athletic Director and the Associate Vice President for Student Services will decide on other consequences.