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Drug & Alcohol Prevention

Alcohol and Illegal Drugs

The Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendment of 1989 (the "Act") requires all institutions of higher education, as a condition of receiving any form of federal financial assistance from any federal agency on or after October 1, 1990, to certify to the United States Department of Education (the "Department") that they have adopted and implemented programs to prevent the use of illicit drugs and the abuse of alcohol by students and employees.
At a minimum, the Act requires each institution to distribute to all of its students and employees the following: (a) a statement of standards of conduct that clearly prohibits the unlawful possession, use or distribution of drugs and alcohol by students and employees on the institution's property or as part of any of its activities; (b) a description of the applicable legal sanctions under local, state and federal laws for the possession or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol; (c) a description of the health risks associated with the use of illicit drugs and the abuse of alcohol; (d) a description of any drug or alcohol counseling, treatment, rehabilitation or re-entry programs that are available to the institution's employees or students; and (e) a statement that the institution will impose sanctions on students and employees who violate its standards of conduct relating to illicit drugs and alcohol, and a description of those sanctions. The sanctions must be progressive (up to and including expulsion or termination of employment and referral for prosecution), and consistent with federal, state and local laws.
Community College of Aurora (CCA) is committed to the health and well-being of its students and employees. As part of this commitment, Community College of Aurora complies with and upholds all Federal, State, and local laws that regulate or prohibit the possession, use or distribution of alcohol or illicit drugs. Violations of such laws that come to the attention of College officials will be addressed within the College or through prosecution in the courts, or both.
As a recipient of federal grants and contracts, Community College of Aurora adheres to the provisions of the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 and the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendment of 1989. Also, as a member of the Community Colleges of Colorado, Community College of Aurora adheres to the State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education BP 3-24, Drug-Free Workplace Policy and SP19-30 Drug Free Schools Procedure.

Standards of Conduct

The Student Code of Conduct can be found online which applies to all students at Community College of Aurora, regardless of designation, program, or residence.  You can print a copy of the Student Code of Conduct at: www.ccaurora.edu/students/student-right-know/code-of-conduct on our website.

Students

Students are expected to comply with local and state laws pertaining to alcoholic beverages, controlled substances and illegal drugs. In addition, the manufacture, distribution, sale, possession, consumption, use or transportation of alcoholic beverages, controlled substances and illegal drugs and/or possession of drug paraphernalia by any student on College property, at any college-sponsored student activity, or at CCA approved classes, field trips or activities off campus shall be strictly prohibited. This includes possession of alcoholic beverage containers.
No student shall be in an intoxicated condition, which may be evidenced by disorderly, obscene or indecent conduct or appearance, while on campus or at a college- approved event off campus. No student shall furnish or cause to be furnished any alcoholic beverage to any person under the legal drinking age. Colorado under-age drinking laws will be enforced through judicial referrals and, or reporting incidents to the Aurora and Denver Police Departments.
A violation of CCA alcohol and drug policies by students is a violation of the Student Code of Conduct, which may result in a warning, probation, suspension, expulsion from the campus, or imposition of a lesser sanction. Sanctions may also include referrals for appropriate counseling and/or referral to local law enforcement for prosecution. If a student is convicted of violating criminal laws regarding alcohol or drugs, they may be subject to civil action. Legal sanctions may include classes, community service, fines, prison terms, loss of driving privileges, and mandated rehabilitation programs.  
Employees
The unlawful possession, purchase, manufacture, use, sale or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by employees on college property or at any of its activities is prohibited. Violations of CCA alcohol and drug policies as stated in College policies or employee handbooks/manuals may result in disciplinary action including corrective discipline, counseling, (faculty) reassignment, verbal warnings, documented warnings, probation, suspension with or without pay, and discharge for employees and/or referral to local law enforcement for prosecution.
If an employee is convicted of violating criminal laws concerning alcohol or drugs, in addition to civil action, the employee may be subject to termination. Legal sanctions may include classes, community service, fines, prison terms, loss of driving privileges, and mandated rehabilitation programs.  Failure to disclose previous convictions on a job application is grounds for termination.
CCA supports the laws and regulations of the United States of America, the State of Colorado, Arapahoe & Denver County, and the City of Aurora as well as the counties and cities in which our outreach sites are located. Each student and employee is expected to do the same. A Federal Trafficking Penalties table, obtained from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, is provided below:  
All employees are required to read and sign a Drug-free Workplace Policy Statement provided by the Human Resources Office. All employees must abide by all state system policies including Board Policy 3-24 which states: “The unlawful manufacture, distribution, possession, or use of a controlled substance is prohibited in the workplace.”
Accordingly, all Community College of Aurora full-time and part-time students and employees are hereby notified of the following standards of conduct that Community College of Aurora will apply to all activities conducted on College-owned or College-controlled property and to all other College-sponsored activities.
 

Sanctions for Drug & Alcohol Use

Local, state, and federal laws make illegal use of drugs and alcohol serious crimes. Convictions can lead to imprisonment, fines and assigned community service.
In order to assure fair and consistent treatment of all students or employees who are accused of illegal use of drugs and alcohol, the College will handle all cases which come to its attention within the guidelines of the applicable policies and procedures of the College as well as local, state, and federal regulations.
Sanctions will be imposed on students or employees who violated State Board or College drug and/or alcohol policies. Sanctions may include up to suspension or expulsion for students and, for employees, disciplinary action up to and including termination.

Federal Trafficking Penalties

DRUG/SCHEDULE  QUANTITY  PENALTIES  QUANTITY  PENALTIES 
Cocaine (Schedule II) 500 - 4999 gms mixture First Offense : 5 kgs or more mixture First Offense :
   
Cocaine Base (Schedule II) 28-279 gms mixture Not less than 5 yrs, and not more than 40 yrs. If death or serious injury, not less than 20 or more than life. Fine of not more than $5 million if an individual, $25 million if not an individual 280 gms or more mixture Not less than 10 yrs, and not more than life. If death or serious injury, not less than 20 or more than life. Fine of not more than $10 million if an individual, $50 million if not an individual.
Fentanyl (Schedule II) 40 - 399 gms mixture   400 gms or more mixture  
Fentanyl Analogue (Schedule I) 10 - 99 gms mixture Second Offense : Not less than 10 yrs, and not more than life. If death or serious injury, life imprisonment. Fine of not more than $8 million if an individual, $50 million if not an individual 100 gms or more mixture Second Offense : Not less than 20 yrs, and not more than life. If death or serious injury, life imprisonment. Fine of not more than $20 million if an individual, $75 million if not an individual.
Heroin (Schedule I) 100 - 999 gms mixture   1 kg or more mixture  
LSD (Schedule I) 1 - 9 gms mixture   10 gms or more mixture 2 or More Prior Offenses: Life imprisonment
Methamphetamine (Schedule II) 5 - 49 gms pure or 50 - 499 gms mixture   50 gms or more pure or 500 gms or more mixture  
PENALTIES
Other Schedule I & II drugs (and any drug product containing Gamma Hydroxybutyric Acid) Any amount First Offense : Not more that 20 yrs. If death or serious injury, not less than 20 yrs, or more than Life. Fine $1 million if an individual, $5 million if not an individual.
Other Schedule III drugs Any amount First Offense : Not more than 10 years. If death or serious injury, not more that 15 yrs. Fine not more than $500,000 if an individual, $2.5 million if not an individual.
 
All other Schedule IV drugs Any amount First Offense : Not more than 5 years. Fine not more than $250,000 if an individual, $1 million if not an individual.
 
Flunitrazepam (Schedule IV) Less than 1 gm Second Offense : Not more than 10 yrs. Fine not more than $500,000 if an individual, $2 million if not an individual.
All Schedule V drugs Any amount First Offense: Not more than 1 yr. Fine not more than $100,000 if an individual, $250,000 if not an individual.
 
Second Offense : Not more than 4 yrs. Fine not more than $200,000 if an individual, $500,000 if not an individual.

 

*The minimum sentence for a violation after two or more prior convictions for a felony drug offense have become final is a mandatory term of life imprisonment without release and a fine up to $8 million if an individual and $20 million if other than an individual.

Legal Sanctions

There are legal sanctions for violations of the Student Code of Conduct. Any student convicted of the unlawful manufacture, distribution, purchase, dispensation, possession, use or abuse of illicit drugs or alcohol is subject to criminal penalties under local, state or federal law. These penalties range in severity from a fine of $100 to $8,000,000 and/or life imprisonment. The exact penalty assessed depends upon the nature and severity of the individual offense.

College Penalties

The College will impose penalties against students who violate the Student Code of Conduct. Violators will be subject to disciplinary action under student disciplinary policies. The sanctions include, but are not limited to, probation, suspension or expulsion from the College or probation, suspension or termination of employment; and referral to authorities for prosecution, as appropriate.
·         Student Code of Conduct-Narcotics/Alcohol: Use, being under the influence, manufacturing, possession, cultivating, distribution, purchase, or sale of alcohol and/or drugs (illegal and/or dangerous or controlled substance) and/or alcohol/drug paraphernalia while on college owned or college controlled property, and/or at any function authorized or supervised by the college and/or in state owned or leased vehicles. Note: Although possession and use of marijuana consistent with the requirements of the Colorado Constitution is no longer a crime in the State of Colorado, the possession and use of marijuana remains illegal under federal law. Consistent with federal law, including the Controlled Substances Act and the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act, the use and/or possession of marijuana continues to be prohibited while a student is on college owned or college controlled property, and/or any function authorized or supervised by the college and/or in state owned or leased vehicles.

Amendment 64 Information

In November 2012, Colorado voters passed Amendment 64 to the Colorado Constitution. This amendment changed Colorado law to allow people 21 or over to cultivate, consume and possess limited amounts of marijuana in private, not in public. In light of the public nature of our campuses, any marijuana use or possession on campus would run contrary to this restriction. This amendment does not alter existing policies at Community College of Aurora prohibiting the possession, use, and distribution of marijuana by students, employees, and all other visitors on College property.
Marijuana remains a controlled substance under Federal law and possession, cultivation and use are Federal offenses. Our College has an obligation to comply with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 and the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989, which require the colleges, as recipients of federal funds, to take measures to combat the use of drugs and alcohol. 

Laws Related to Drug & Alcohol Use and Sale

Community College of Aurora will take immediate action if any student or employee is violating a law related to the use and sale of alcohol and/or drugs.
·         The possession, sale, and use of any illegal drug are strictly prohibited on the CCA Campuses. Any violations will be immediately referred to Aurora or Denver Police Departments. Alcohol sale, use, and possession are dictated by Colorado law and CCA Policies and Procedures. CCA will strictly enforce these laws and policies. The following applies to all students, employees, and guests of the College:
·         The sale of alcoholic beverages is prohibited except in designated areas, at times and dates approved by CCA Administrators and licensed by the Colorado State Department of Revenue.
·         Persons under 21 years of age cannot legally possess or consume malt (6 percent beer), fermented malt liquor (3.2 percent beer), or vinous or spirituous liquor. The furnishing of alcoholic beverages to under-age persons is prohibited.
·         No person under legal drinking age nor any obviously intoxicated person shall be furnished, served, or given an alcoholic beverage.
·         Alcohol cannot be consumed or carried in open containers on any street, sidewalk, alley, automobile, or public area.

Health Risks

Substance abuse may result in a wide array of serious health and behavioral problems. Substance abuse has both long and short-term effects on the body and the mind. Alcohol and drugs are toxic to the human body. In addition to the problem of toxicity, contaminant poisonings often occur with illegal drug use. HIV infection with intravenous drug use is a prevalent hazard.
Acute health problems may include heart attack, stroke, and sudden death, which can occur for first time cocaine users. Long lasting effects caused by drug and alcohol abuse can cause problems such as disruption of normal heart rhythm, high blood pressure, leaks of blood vessels in the brain, bleeding and destruction of brain cells, possible memory loss, infertility, impotency, immune system impairment, kidney failure, cirrhosis of the liver, and pulmonary damage. Drug use during pregnancy may result in fetal damage and birth defects causing hyperactivity, neurological abnormalities, and developmental difficulties.

Additional health risks can include:

DRUG/SCHEDULE

QUANTITY

PENALTIES

QUANTITY

PENALTIES

Cocaine (Schedule II)

500 - 4999 gms mixture

First Offense :

5 kgs or more mixture

First Offense :

 

 

Cocaine Base (Schedule II)

28-279 gms mixture

Not less than 5 yrs, and not more than 40 yrs. If death or serious injury, not less than 20 or more than life. Fine of not more than $5 million if an individual, $25 million if not an individual

280 gms or more mixture

Not less than 10 yrs, and not more than life. If death or serious injury, not less than 20 or more than life. Fine of not more than $10 million if an individual, $50 million if not an individual.

Fentanyl (Schedule II)

40 - 399 gms mixture

 

400 gms or more mixture

 

Fentanyl Analogue (Schedule I)

10 - 99 gms mixture

Second Offense : Not less than 10 yrs, and not more than life. If death or serious injury, life imprisonment. Fine of not more than $8 million if an individual, $50 million if not an individual

100 gms or more mixture

Second Offense : Not less than 20 yrs, and not more than life. If death or serious injury, life imprisonment. Fine of not more than $20 million if an individual, $75 million if not an individual.

Heroin (Schedule I)

100 - 999 gms mixture

 

1 kg or more mixture

 

LSD (Schedule I)

1 - 9 gms mixture

 

10 gms or more mixture

2 or More Prior Offenses: Life imprisonment

Methamphetamine (Schedule II)

5 - 49 gms pure or 50 - 499 gms mixture

 

50 gms or more pure or 500 gms or more mixture

 

PENALTIES

Other Schedule I & II drugs (and any drug product containing Gamma Hydroxybutyric Acid)

Any amount

First Offense : Not more that 20 yrs. If death or serious injury, not less than 20 yrs, or more than Life. Fine $1 million if an individual, $5 million if not an individual.

Other Schedule III drugs

Any amount

First Offense : Not more than 10 years. If death or serious injury, not more that 15 yrs. Fine not more than $500,000 if an individual, $2.5 million if not an individual.

 

All other Schedule IV drugs

Any amount

First Offense : Not more than 5 years. Fine not more than $250,000 if an individual, $1 million if not an individual.

 

Flunitrazepam (Schedule IV)

Less than 1 gm

Second Offense : Not more than 10 yrs. Fine not more than $500,000 if an individual, $2 million if not an individual.

All Schedule V drugs

Any amount

First Offense: Not more than 1 yr. Fine not more than $100,000 if an individual, $250,000 if not an individual.

 

Second Offense : Not more than 4 yrs. Fine not more than $200,000 if an individual, $500,000 if not an individual.
  Provided courtesy of the University of Washington.

HEATH RISKS-ALCOHOL USE AND ABUSE

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 of a traffic accident. Moderate to high doses of alcohol cause marked impairments in higher mental functions, severely altering a person's ability to learn and remember information.
Alcohol use also affects the body. Repeated used can lead to dependence. Long-term consumption can lead to permanent damage to vital organs such as the brain and liver.
Mothers who drink during pregnancy may give birth to infants with fetal alcohol syndrome. These infants have irreversible physical abnormalities and mental retardation. In addition, research indicates that children of alcoholic parents are at greater risk than others of becoming alcoholics themselves.

HEALTH RISKS-CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Controlled substance abuse causes varied physical and psychological reactions that can be permanent or temporary. Excessive drug use (depending on the drug) can cause respiratory depression, nausea, slurred speech, disorientation, drunken behavior, increased alertness, excitation, euphoria, increased pulse rate and blood pressure, insomnia, loss of appetite, illusions and hallucinations, and poor perception of time and distance.
·         Effects of drug overdose (depending on the drug) can result in slow and shallow breathing, clammy skin, convulsions or seizures, weak and rapid pulse, agitation, increased body temperature, hallucinations, psychosis, fatigue, paranoia, coma, and possible death.
·         Other concerns relating to substance abuse include the following:
·         Regular users of alcohol and other drugs often have erratic life styles which interfere with sleep, nutrition, and exercise.
·         Alcohol and substance use and abuse may lead to financial difficulties, domestic violence, deterioration of the family structure, motor vehicle accident injuries, and reduced job performance.
·         Repeated use of alcohol can lead to dependence.

Alcohol and Drug Abuse Information and Programs

The College assists in drug education and prevention programs to reduce the abuse and illegal use of alcohol and other drugs. The College also provides education through dissemination of informational materials, educational programs, counseling referrals and college disciplinary actions.

Resources Available to Students and Employees

The communities that serve the Campuses of Community College of Aurora provide several resources for educational programs related to alcohol and drug use. These programs are provided by law enforcement agencies, mental health services, and local hospitals. 

Treatment Programs

Counseling is available for students on campus. To schedule an appointment, complete the Online Referral Form or call 303-360-4949. Staff and faculty who are experiencing symptoms associated with their own or someone else’s alcohol or drug use are encouraged to seek assistance and referrals through the Colorado State Employee Assistance Program (CSEAP) or their medical insurance provider.

Community College of Aurora does not endorse any one treatment program or facility; however, a comprehensive searchable database of Colorado treatment and recovery programs and providers can be accessed through the Colorado Office of Behavioral Health here:  https://www.colorado.gov/ladders 

Other resources include: 

• Alcoholics Anonymous: https://daccaa.org/meetings/

• Al-Anon and Alateen:  https://al-anon-co.org/ 

• Narcotics Anonymous: https://nacolorado.org/ 

• U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration national helpline (English & Spanish): 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

• Colorado Crisis Services: https://coloradocrisisservices.org/ 

• Self-screening for substance use and mental health disorders: http://screeningtools.peerassistanceservices.org/ 

Alcohol and Other Drugs Biennial Review

CCA compiles a Biennial Review of the College alcohol and drug policy and initiatives. The Biennial Review for 2016-2018 includes: foundational belief, a review of procedure, annual notification, goals, statistical reporting elements, enforcement/sanction consistency, AOD campus efforts, measured effectiveness of the policy and programs.

The Community College of Aurora’s mission is to provide educational opportunities for citizens of the Aurora area. The college cannot permit any individual to impede this process for the student enrolled at the college. All students, faculty, and staff of the college must abide by the laws of the state and nation; any infringement of this through the use of drugs and alcohol on campus is strictly forbidden. The college provides referral information about substance abuse for interested students. For more information about programs offered, please contact Dr. Reyna Anaya,, Dean of Student Success, Reyna.Anaya@CCAurora.edu, or visit the Office of Dean of Student Success at the CentreTech Campus.

To access the 2016-2018 report, please see the 2016-2018 Biennial Review.

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