The Policy on Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Tobacco is an extension of Syracuse University’s commitment to make every effort to provide a safe and healthy environment for all members of our community. This policy is intended to articulate, affirm, and maintain community-wide norms that support abstinence and encourage low-risk choices regarding alcohol, other drugs, and tobacco; choices that will not compromise positive living, learning, and working experiences for each member of our community. This policy provides an umbrella framework for the University’s approach to prevention and intervention, and defines acceptable and unacceptable behaviors with regard to alcohol, other drugs, and tobacco. In addition, the policy complies with the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989, which requires the University to adopt a program to prevent and prohibit unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illegal drugs and alcohol by students and employees; and, New York State Public Health Law, which prohibits smoking in all indoor areas of the University.
Abuse is a matter of concern for the entire community. Abusing alcohol, other drugs, and tobacco, regardless of the user’s age, poses a threat to health and interferes with one’s ability to fully participate in the academic community. Abusing alcohol, other drugs, and tobacco creates serious problems for other members of the community. Secondhand effects of abuse include incidents of impaired sleep, study, and work time; injuries and other health complications, and criminal victimization including sexual and physical assault, theft, and vandalism. Abusing alcohol, other drugs, and tobacco takes a costly toll on the University community in the form of vandalism/property damage, lost productivity, and health service resources. The complete policy can be found here.
*Violations of the Code of Student Conduct related to alcohol and other drugs are addressed through several sanctioning guidelines, depending on the nature and seriousness of the offense. Those sanctioning guidelines can be found in Part 11 of the Student Conduct System Handbook.*