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Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act & Drug-Free Workplace Act

UNC Charlotte is committed to maintaining a drug-free campus.  To accomplish this, all students, faculty, and staff are responsible for conducting themselves in a way that contributes to an environment free of illegal drug use and abuse of alcohol. 

The University’s annual notice on compliance with the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act and the Drug-Free Workplace Act is distributed at least annually to all UNC Charlotte students and employees.

The University’s Program to Prevent Use of Illegal Drugs and Alcohol Abuse includes the following components:

Prevention of Drug and Alcohol Abuse - The University's awareness, education, and training efforts stress preventing the illegal use of drugs and abuse of alcohol. The goal of these efforts is (1) to encourage non-users of illegal drugs and alcohol to continue to be non-users, (2) to encourage users of alcohol to do so safely and responsibly, and (3) to encourage users of illegal drugs to stop such use. 

Standards of Conduct - To address the awareness needs of students, faculty, and staff with regard to the use of illegal drugs and alcohol abuse, Charlotte has established University Policy 711, “Program to Prevent Use of Illegal Drugs and Alcohol Abuse,” available online at legal.charlotte.edu/policies/up-711.  This Policy clearly prohibits the unlawful possession, use, manufacture, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by students and employees on University property or while participating in University activities and is referenced in the new employee orientation packet and Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs.

Legal Sanctions - Students, faculty, and staff are responsible, as citizens, for knowing about and complying with the provisions of North Carolina law that make it a crime to possess, sell, deliver, or manufacture those drugs designated collectively as "controlled substances" in Article 5 of Chapter 90 of the North Carolina General Statutes, as well as federal law (Drug-Free Workplace Act), which prohibits unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession, or use of a controlled substance in the workplace of any employer receiving federal grant funds.

Health Hazards - The scope of the University’s Program to Prevent Use of Illegal Drugs and Alcohol Abuse includes information about the health hazards associated with the use of illegal drugs and alcohol abuse.  For descriptions of commonly-abused drugs, including specific health effects and treatment options, refer to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

University Resources - The Director of the Center for Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) provides services and programs to students seeking assistance with problems of illegal drug use or alcohol abuse.  The Employee Relations Manager in the Department of Human Resources provides faculty and staff with information regarding the University's Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which offers consultation about alcohol and drug problems and referral to alcohol and drug treatment facilities in the community.  CAPS is available to provide community referral information for treatment of faculty and staff on request.

Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students (BASICS) is a risk reduction program offered by the Center for Wellness Promotion for students who use alcohol, cannabis, and/or other substances  and have experienced, or are potentially at-risk for, substance-related concerns. BASICS aims to motivate students to examine their relationship to substance use in order to decrease the negative consequences of drinking. 

Collaboration with Community Resources - The University's Program to Prevent Use of Illegal Drugs and Alcohol Abuse emphasizes collaboration with local resources, including:

​To this end, the University participates in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Drug Free Coalition and will work with local advisory boards to further collaborate between the University and the Charlotte community.

Penalties and Other Conditions - A student, faculty member, or staff member found to have violated applicable law or University policies concerning illegal drug use or alcohol abuse may be subject to disciplinary sanctions up to and including expulsion or termination of employment and referral for prosecution. In addition, such an individual may be required to participate in a substance use education and counseling program, consent to regular drug testing (if applicable), and accept other conditions and restrictions, including a program of community service, as appropriate.

The University includes references to its Alcohol and Drug Policies and Programs and its student substance-abuse Help-Seeking Protocol in its Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. 

Students should be aware that the University will notify parents of students who are under 21 years of age who have been found responsible for an alcohol or controlled substance violation.

Additional External Resources