Drug & Alcohol Abuse Information
Drug-free schools and campuses standards of conduct: This is to inform you of the requirements of the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989, Public Law #101-226 and what The American Musical and Dramatic Academy requires of all students, staff and faculty.
Students, staff and faculty are prohibited from the unlawful manufacture, distribution, possession or use of illicit drugs or alcohol. This prohibition applies while on the property of the school, in off-campus housing or when participating in any institutional activity. Students or employees who violate this policy will be subjected to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion or termination of employment.
There are numerous legal sanctions under local, state and federal laws that can be used to punish violators.
Federal anti-drug laws affect a number of areas in everyone’s life. Students could lose eligibility for financial aid and could be denied other benefits such as social security, retirement, welfare, health, disability and veterans’ benefits. The Department of Housing and Urban Development, which provides funds to states and communities for public housing, now has the authority to evict residents and members of their households who are involved in drug-related crimes on or near the public housing premises. Businesses could lose federal contracts if the company does not promote a drug-free environment. Finally, a record of felony or conviction in a drug-related crime may prevent a person from entering certain careers.
The laws of California are adequate to protect the innocent but stringent enough to ensure that persons involved with the illegal dealing of drugs or excessive use of alcohol can be adequately punished. For example, a small amount of drugs found on a person may lead to an arrest requiring the person to make payment of all court costs as well as participate in mandatory community service. A person found with drugs with the intention to distribute could be imprisoned. A person found to be intoxicated while driving could be forced to pay court costs, lawyer’s fees, participate in community service, receive an increase in the cost of auto insurance, or lose his/her license and be imprisoned.
Students with legalized medical marijuana cards are not permitted to consume, possess, or distribute any drugs or drug paraphernalia in AMDA residence halls.
In addition to local and state authorities, the federal government has four agencies engaged in fighting illicit drugs. These agencies are the Drug Enforcement Agency, the U.S. Customs Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the U.S. Coast Guard.
It is a crime to hold/carry someone else’s drugs. It is a crime to sell fake drugs. You can be arrested if you are in a house or a school where people are using drugs, even though you are not. You can be charged with possessing drugs even if drugs are not on your person. You are considered to possess or, in legal terms, be in “constructive possession” of drugs that are in your locker, bag/purse, car or place of residence.
Drug abuse is the utilization of natural or synthetic chemical substances for non-medical reasons to affect the body and its processes, the mild nervous system, and behavior. The abuse of drugs can affect a person’s physical and emotional health and social life. Alcohol is the most abused drug in the United States.