1. health and fitness
2. addiction

Williams Alcohol, Other Drugs, and YOU Health Risks, Policies, Sanctions, Resources, and New Initiatives. 2014­2015 COLLEGE STANDARDS OF CONDUCT AND SANCTIONS Williams prohibits the abuse of alcohol and expects members of the College community to abide by federal, state, and local regulations concerning the possession and use, purchase, and distribution of alcohol. The College prohibits the unlawful manufacture, sale, distribution, dispensing, possession, or use of illegal drugs, or the unauthorized use of prescription drugs. Members of the community charged with violations of the standards of conduct are subject to disciplinary action through the established disciplinary procedures of the College. When violations are determined to have occurred, the College will impose disciplinary sanctions on students and employees, consistent with local, state and federal law. Depending upon the circumstances of the case, the sanctions available to the College include: warning, probation, suspension, expulsion, termination of employment, and referral for prosecution by public authorities. The College may also require satisfactory completion of an appropriate drug or alcohol rehabilitation program before reinstatement or continued employment. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE DRUG­FREE WORKPLACE ACT OF 1989 Employees receiving federal grants or contracts and student recipients of Pell Grants are required to certify to the funding agency that they are drug­free before receiving any awards. In addition, any employee, including a student, participating in any federal grant or contract must notify the Provost within five (5) days of any criminal drug conviction for a violation occurring in the workplace. The Provost is required to notify the funding agency within ten (10) days of receiving notification of the conviction. Questions regarding these requirements may be directed to the Provost, x 4352 or the Assistant to the President x 4376. LEGAL SANCTIONS CONCERNING ALCOHOL AND DRUGS Federal, state and local laws make illegal use of alcohol and other drugs serious crimes. Convictions can lead to imprisonment, fines and/or required community service. Courts do not lift prison sentences to allow convicted persons to attend college or continue their jobs. A felony conviction for such an offense can prevent you from entering many fields of employment or professions. ALCOHOL Violations and penalties: • Sale or delivery of alcoholic beverages to persons under 21: an arrestable misdemeanor with a penalty of up to $2,000 fine, up to one year imprisonment, or both • Alteration of identification: felony punishable by up to 5 years in jail, up to $500 fine and loss of driver’s license for one year • Misrepresentation of age: fine up to $300, loss of driver’s license up to 180 days • First conviction of driving under the influence Under age 21: Fine up to $1,000, plus 210­day driver’s license revocation and mandatory alcohol education. May also include up to 2.5 years in jail Age 21 and over: Fine up to $1,000, plus 45­90 day loss of driver’s license and mandatory alcohol education. May also include up to 2.5 years in jail • Transportation of alcohol by a person under age 21: an arrestable offense with a penalty of $50­$150 fine and possible 90­day suspension of driver’s license ● Distribution to a minor: minimum mandatory sentence in jail and/or state prison depending on the class of substance (A, B, and/or C). Additional penalties apply for mass distribution and/or distribution over state lines. • Violation of Williamstown’s Open Container Law: fine not less than $20 or more than $200 A ​
host of a party​
may be liable for the injuries suffered by a third person if the host knew, or should have known, that a guest was impaired and permitted the guest to drive under the influence of alcohol. CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES Common examples of controlled substances, as defined by law, include cocaine, marijuana, and heroin. Federal law makes the distribution of drugs to a person under age 21 punishable by twice the normal penalty with a mandatory one year in prison. If death or serious injury results from use of the substance, the prison sentence could be lengthened. Possession of drugs without valid authorization is illegal. While penalties for possession are generally not as great as for manufacture and distribution, the possession of relatively large quantities may be considered as intent to distribute. Under both federal and state laws, penalties for possession, manufacture and distribution are greater for second and subsequent convictions. Persons convicted of drug possession or distribution under state or federal laws may be ineligible for federal student grants and loans. Massachusetts has criminal penalties for use of controlled substances or drugs, varying with the type of drug. In general narcotic or addictive drugs, and drugs with greater potential for abuse carry higher penalties. Massachusetts also makes it illegal to be in a place where heroin is kept and to be “in the company” of a person known to possess heroin. Anyone in the presence of heroin at a private party risks a serious drug conviction. In addition, the sale or possession of “drug paraphernalia” is illegal in Massachusetts. HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL RISKS The negative physical and mental effects of the use of alcohol and other drugs are well documented. Alcohol consumption causes a number of marked changes in behavior. Even low doses significantly impair the judgment and coordination required to drive a car safely, increasing the likelihood that the driver will be involved in an accident. Low to moderate doses of alcohol also increase the incidence of a variety of aggressive acts, including sexual violence and spouse and child abuse. Moderate to high doses of alcohol can cause marked impairments in higher mental functions, severely altering a person’s ability to learn and remember information. Very high doses cause respiratory depression and death. If combined with other depressants of the central nervous system, much lower doses of alcohol will produce the effects just described. Repeated use of alcohol can lead to dependence. Sudden cessation of alcohol is likely to produce withdrawal symptoms, including severe anxiety, tremors, hallucinations, and convulsions. Alcohol withdrawal can be life threatening. Long­term consumption of large amounts of alcohol, particularly when combined with poor nutrition, can also lead to permanent damage to vital organs such as the brain and the liver. Women who drink alcohol during pregnancy may give birth to infants with fetal alcohol syndrome. These infants have irreversible physical and mental retardation. Research indicates that children of alcoholic parents are at greater risk of developing alcoholism than are other children. SAFETY WITH ALCOHOL 1. A healthy liver is capable of metabolizing less than a half ounce of pure alcohol per hour. Therefore, one beverage (i.e. 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1 1/4 ounces of 80­proof spirits) per hour will minimize your Blood Alcohol Content. 2. Eat while you drink to slow absorption into the blood stream. 3. Do not let others convince you to drink if you are not in the mood. 4. Do not let alcohol be the focus of an evening out. 5. Drink with the “buddy” system and don’t hesitate to get help for a friend who has consumed too much. ASK YOURSELF THESE QUESTIONS 1​
. Do you have blackouts? 2.
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Does alcohol interfere in your life? Do you wish people would mind their own business about your drinking? Do you miss time from class or work because of drinking? Have you ever felt that your quality of life would improve if you did not drink? Do you ever drink alone? Do you drink to escape worries or troubles? Have you ever later regretted what you said or did while you were drinking? Do you find it difficult to stop at two or three drinks? Do you feel the need to drink at all social events? You may be at risk if you answered yes to any of these questions. RESOURCES We hope you will make use of any of the following people for confidential conversations, advice, referral or counseling​
: Laini Sporbert, Substance Abuse Educator/Counselor, 597­3165 Dr. John Miner or Margi Wood, Co­Directors of Psychological Counseling, 597­2353 Sarah Bolton, Dean of the College, 597­4261 Martha R. Tetrault, Director of Human Resources, 597­2058 William Dudley, Provost​
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597­4352 Adam Falk, President, 597­4233 Any of the Chaplains in the Chaplains’ Office, 597­2483 SERVICES The College student health plan • Covers outpatient substance abuse services the same as any other sickness covered by the plan. • Covers in­patient mental health and substance abuse treatment the same as any other sickness. The College employee health plan ● Covers inpatient and outpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment, based on the health insurance plan you have chosen (​
HMO Blue Value Plus New England, POS Blue Choice Value Plus New England, or PPO Blue Care Elect Preferred​
). Details of your plan can be found on the Human Resources website under Benefits, or contact the Benefits Office at 597­4478. Health Services • Any member of the community may use the services for referral to the appropriate medical or counseling services • Only students may seek treatment or counseling directly from College Health Services Health Education Office • The Health Education Office offers alcohol and drug education classes, tobacco cessation and individual consultations for students, and supports an anonymous support group on campus. • Call Laini Sporbert at 597­3165 for more information. Employee Assistance • Employee assistance in the form of assessment, counseling, referral, and follow­up for alcohol or drug­related problems is available through LifeScope, 800­828­6025. • Call Martha R. Tetrault in the Human Resources Office for advice, 597­2681. OFF CAMPUS Alcoholics Anonymous 443­0212 Narcotics Anonymous 443­4377 Al Anon (for families of alcoholics) 445­5852 The Counseling Center in the Berkshires 458­3279 The Brien Center: 664­4541 24­hour Emergency Service: (800) 252 0227 WILLIAMS COLLEGE TRENDS IN ALCOHOL INFRACTIONS AND REFERRALS: Students who are receive medical care for dangerous levels of intoxication are required to meet with Laini Sporbert, the Health Educator who specializes in assisting students with matters related to drugs and alcohol. Other students may also be referred to Laini, and students self refer as well. During the 2013­14 school year, a total of 99 students were referred to the Health Educator (up from last year’s 73 and slightly more than the 93 in 2011­2012). Of these, eleven were self­referred. Twenty students participated in Drink Smart (the alcohol education program), and 3 in Straight Dope (the marijuana education program.) Drink Smart There were a total of 20 students referred to Drink Smart in 2013­2014. (16 were referred in 2012­2013 and 28 were referred in 2011­2012). See table below for details. Fall 2013 WS/Spring 2014 Total Fall 2013 WS/Sprin
g 2014 Total Male Female 10 0 10 0 20 0 Frosh ‘17 2 2 5 5 7 7 Soph ‘18 Total 10 10 20 Jr. ‘15 Sr ‘14 Total 4 2 10 0 0 10 4 2 20 First­year students and sophomores make up a majority of Drink Smart referrals (55%), thirty percent of the students were referred via the Court Diversion program, and 25% were referred via Campus Safety and Security. Half were referred to Drink Smart for having or using a fake ID. Drink Smart students attend four sessions – an individual intake session, two group educational sessions and a brief individual follow­up session. Numbers of alcohol and drug arrests and disciplinary referrals in recent years can be seen in the Annual Security report, ​
here​
. Williams has not had any alcohol –related student deaths in the past 20 years. CURRENT PREVENTION AND SAFETY INITIATIVES: The APPLE team​
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was created two years ago. This year the team again took four students to the ​
Apple conference​
at the Gordie Center for Substance Abuse Prevention at the University of Virginia. The team is also piloting the use of the ​
360 proof​
program through the NCAA and NASPA. 360 Proof provides tools to Division III schools to reduce high­risk alcohol use. The APPLE team has also held several alcohol education workshops with teams, captains and coaches, and has promoted safety campaigns around homecoming and other key moments on campus. Though we were not successful in receiving an NCAA Choices grant this year, the initial work with 360 proof followed by group/team interventions has been quite successful. Support for Students In Recovery​
in addition to working with our Health Educator, students in recovery have started their own peer support group, LIVE. This group, which has been active for two years, has provided important social support for students in recovery, whether or not they have taken a leave from Williams. nb21​
has merged with the Prescription Drug/Heroin Work Group of the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition. This group developed a palm card listing local resources that can help law enforcement, clergy, medical practices, and community members to access treatment options for individuals wanting to address their addiction. The group is looking at some broader issues, as well: community education on this issue, connecting with our North County physicians to assess their awareness of this issue, and solutions for the need for appropriate aftercare when persons in recovery come out of detox. Host Education and TIPS classes​
– Student Life and Health Education collaborate in presenting Host Education. A majority of the Host Education classes take place at the beginning of the fall. The Alcohol Working Group​
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Starting in the fall of 2013, we have convened and interdisciplinary group of students and staff to make concerted and long term interventions that will increase the safety of the campus as it relates to alcohol. The group is co­chaired by the Dean of the College and the Vice President for Campus Life, and includes Health Educators, the Director of Campus Safety and Security, the Assistant Director of Student Life for Student Organizations and the Dean of First Year Students, as well as the leaders of the College Council (Student Government), the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, the Junior Advisors (Juniors who oversee first­year residential groups), the Honor and Discipline Committee, the Rape and Sexual Assault Network and Peer Health, as well as several other students. The group has worked to review results of the NESCAC (our athletic conference) alcohol survey, which was designed through collaboration of the NESCAC deans and health educators, and run at Williams and ten of our peer colleges in the springs of 2012 and 2015. This survey includes drinking behaviors, rates of harm to self and others, observations about where students drink and how underage students obtain alcohol, as well as opinions about resources, administrative support, policy and enforcement. As a result of these studies the group developed three new educational initiatives, one of which was started in 2014 ­15 and the other two which will go into effect in 2015­16. The one started this year was a strengthening of alcohol and drug education in first year orientation, through means of a play written and performed by the Junior Advisors, and followed by discussions within each first year entry. (An entry is ~25 students who live together.) We have observed significant reductions in first year alcohol incidents in the wake of this new program. In 2014­15 we will implement two additional programs, one of which involves students writing a letter to themselves in orientation and then checking in with a trained peer educator who can take them through a brief motivational interview in the mid­fall. The second program will be a January check­in with each entry about alcohol and other drugs and social life. The Alcohol Working Group has also moved in 2014­15 to focus on reducing particularly high­risk drinking that comes from rapid pre­gaming with hard alcohol. We have conferred with several peer schools at length and, informed by those conversations, have created new sanctions relevant to hard alcohol and new expectations for safe parties that will be implemented in fall 2015. Williams already bans hard­alcohol at College­sponsored events. However, these new measures will make far more meaningful to students the requirement that they not have or serve hard alcohol on campus, even if they are over 21.