A myriad of health risks is associated with drug and alcohol abuse.

Risks include but are not limited to: malnutrition, brain damage, heart disease, pancreatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, mental illness, death, low birth-weight babies, and babies with drug addictions. Personal relationships, family dynamics, ability to work and study are also at risk.

For more information on drug use risks, consult:

www.drugabuse.gov

Penalty for possession and/or use of controlled substances and alcohol abuse vary with specific jurisdictions and are at the discretion of the judge in specific cases.  For first time convictions of the use of a controlled substance or alcohol abuse, offenders will be referred to a rehabilitation/education program.  However, state and/or federal law provide penalty guidelines for drug trafficking or selling/providing alcohol to anyone under 21 are as follows:

Substance Crime and Penalties Chemically treated/manufactured drugs Felony, up to 10 years in prison and $4 million Marijuana Felony, up to 20 years in prison and $4 ‑ $10 million Selling/Providing alcohol to minors felony or Misdemeanor, discretion of the judge.

Students who are currently enrolled and are completing the FAFSA will be asked: “Have you been convicted for the possession or sale of illegal drugs for an offense that occurred while you were receiving federal student aid?”

Students who answer “Yes” will be asked an additional series of questions to determine if the conviction affects
their eligibility for federal student aid.

Students convicted of a federal or state offense of selling or possessing illegal drugs that occurred while they were receiving federal student aid should still complete and submit the FAFSA to determine if there is aid for which they are still eligible. Students who leave question 23 blank cannot receive federal financial aid until they respond by making a correction to their FAFSA.

A student who has been convicted of possession or sale of illegal drugs loses Title IV eligibility for a period of time specified in law. The period of ineligibility depends on whether the conviction was for possession or sale of (including conspiring to sell) illegal drugs.

For convictions involving possession, the periods of ineligibility are as follows:

• One conviction: one year after the date of conviction.
• Two convictions: two years after the date of the second conviction.
• Three or more convictions: indefinite from the date of the third conviction

For convictions involving sale, the periods of ineligibility are as follows:

• One conviction: two years after the date of conviction.
• Two or more convictions: indefinite from the date of the second conviction.

A federal or state drug conviction can disqualify a student for federal financial aid.

Convictions only count if they were for an offense that occurred during a period of enrollment for which the student was receiving Title IV aid—they do not count if the offense was not during such a period. Also, a conviction that was reversed, set aside, or removed from the student’s record does not count, nor does one received when the student was a juvenile, unless the student was tried as an adult.

Regaining Eligibility

A student regains eligibility the day after the period of ineligibility ends or when the student successfully completes a qualified drug rehabilitation program. Further drug convictions will make the student ineligible again.

A student whose Title IV eligibility has been suspended indefinitely may regain eligibility only by successfully completing a drug rehabilitation program. A student who is under a one- or two-year penalty may regain eligibility before the expiration of the period of ineligibility by successfully completing a drug rehabilitation program. If the student successfully completes an approved drug rehabilitation program, eligibility is regained on the date the student successfully completes the program. It is the student’s responsibility to certify to the school that he/ she has successfully completed the rehabilitation program.

To qualify the student for eligibility, the drug rehabilitation program must include at least two unannounced drug tests, and:

• have received or be qualified to receive funds directly or indirectly under a Federal, State, or local government program; or
• be administered or recognized by a Federal, State, or local government agency or court; or
• have received or be qualified to receive payment directly or indirectly from a Federally- or State-licensed insurance company; or
• be administered or recognized by a Federally- or State-licensed hospital, health clinic or medical doctor.

All students and employees are informed that the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispersion, possession, or use of a controlled substance or alcohol within the premises of the school or as a part of any College activity is strictly prohibited.

The College will impose penalties against students who violate the above Code of Conduct. Violators will be subject to disciplinary actions. The sanctions include, but are not limited to, probation, suspension or expulsion from the college or probation, suspension or termination of employment.

Persons distributing drugs to employees or students will be referred to the authorities and charges of drug distribution will be pressed by BHDI. 

While in suspension or probation, BHDI will require such employee or student to participate satisfactorily in a drug or alcohol abuse assistance or rehabilitation program approved for such purposes by Federal, State, or local health, enforcement, or other appropriate agency.

 

Following is a list of drug-free awareness programs that also provide detailed information regarding:

• Dangers of Drug and Alcohol Abuse
• Assistance with drug and Alcohol Abuse Counseling
• Penalties for the Abuse of Alcohol or Drugs
• Rehabilitation Programs

The following are local and national agencies that provide assistance to employees, students, and their families:

 

Drug and Alcohol Information Hot Lines:

 

National Institute on Drug Abuse   

(800) 662-HELP

(800) 843-4971

www.drugabuse.gov

 

Narcotics Anonymous

Main Office

PO Box 9999

Van Nuys, California 91409 USA

Telephone (818) 773-9999

Fax (818) 700-0700

www.na.org

 

Alcoholics Anonymous

L.A. Central Office
4311 Wilshire Blvd. #104
Los Angeles , CA 90010

Tel (323) 936-4343

www.lacoaa.org

 

For further information, contact the BHDI Student Service Center.