POL 09.00.02 – Drug Education, Screening Counseling and Deterrence Program

Authority: Board of Trustees

History: First Issued: September 15, 1990. Last Revised: July 1, 2013.

Additional References:
Drug Education, Screening, Counseling, and Deterrence Program Consent & Release Form

Contact Info: Associate Athletics Director for Academic and Support Services (919-515-0332)

INTRODUCTION

The illegal and improper use of drugs is a matter of deep concern and importance at North Carolina State University (NC State). Of particular concern is drug abuse by student-athletes. Student-athletes are often subject to performance, social and personal pressures that might make them vulnerable to this dangerous activity. Student-athletes should not be engaged in impermissible drug use. NC State is committed to help its student-athletes avoid these hazards and consequences

DEFINITIONS

For purposes of this policy:

2.1 The term Chancellor includes his or her designees or appointees.

2.2 The terms “illegal drugs”, “prohibited substances”, and “prohibited drugs” should be considered synonymous unless otherwise noted within this policy. These terms mean those drugs or substances categorized in the NCAA-Banned-Drug Classes list, which is updated and revised periodically. A copy of this list can be found online at www.ncaa.org. NC State reserves the right to modify the NCAA banned list at any time. .

POLICY MANDATES AND PROHIBITIONS

3.1 Illegal, non-medical drug use is detrimental to the student-athlete, against the law, and a violation of team and NCAA rules. To that end, the use of any NCAA banned substance/drug, which includes, but is not limited to recreational drugs, anabolic agents, masking agents, and non-prescribed/undocumented stimulants and opiates, is prohibited.

3.2 Student-athletes are prohibited from using, possessing, purchasing, selling and/or participating in the distribution of any prohibited substance.

3.3 The illegal acquisition, distribution, and/or misuse of any legal prescription or over-the-counter drug are strictly prohibited.

3.4 The Chancellor shall ensure that a mandatory drug education, screening, counseling and deterrence program for students athletes is implemented and monitored.

3.5 All student-athletes involved in NC State’s intercollegiate athletic teams must comply with this policy in order to participate on an NC State’s intercollegiate athletic team.

4. PURPOSES OF THE POLICY

There are four primary purposes for this policy. These purposes are:

4.1 Preservation and Enhancement of a Student Athlete’s Health. Many drugs, when used in conjunction with athletic activities or physical conditioning programs pose serious risks to the health of the athlete. Periodic or sustained illness, temporary or permanent injury, and even death can be caused by such drug use.

4.2 Preservation of the Health of Other Athletes and Members of the University Community. Drug use by an athlete can cause physical and mental damage to the athlete that might endanger other persons in contact with the drug user. These other individuals include, but are not limited to team members, residence hall neighbors/roommates, and faculty and staff in contact with the athlete. The health and safety of these other persons is an important concern of NC State.

4.3 Avoidance of Unfair Advantage. The use of certain drugs may temporarily improve athletic performance and thereby create an unfair competitive advantage for the athlete using them. Such uses of drugs violate the basic principles of sportsmanship, the rules of the university of conferences and associations dedicated to athletic competition and the laws of the State of North Carolina.

4.4 Avoidance of Harmful Influence. Intercollegiate athletes frequently garner significant publicity and are viewed as role models for numerous young impressionable children and teenagers. The use of illegal drugs by these athletes can negatively influence these young people, as well as damage the reputation of the athletic program, the university and the State of North Carolina. The avoidance of such damaging influence is an important objective of NC State.

POLICY GOALS

There are four goals of this policy. These goals are (1) to provide an educational program that informs student-athletes about the perils of drug abuse as a means of prevention; (2) to discourage the misuse of drugs with randomized testing; (3) to identify the student-athlete who is a substance abuser through periodic testing and provide medical treatment once identified; and (4) to reinforce and regulate the compliance of any student-athlete found to have violated the requirements of this policy.