Cookies on NWTC's Website

Alcohol and Drug Policies and Programs Resources for maintaining a drug-free college environment

Home » Current Students » Student Handbook Policies » Conduct and Community Standards » Alcohol and Drug Policies and Programs

Focused on the health and wellbeing of our college community, NWTC is committed to providing a drug-free learning and working environment.

From a safety perspective, the use of drugs or alcohol may impair the wellbeing of students, employees, and visitors, interfere with the College’s educational environment, and result in damage to College property.

Are controlled substances or alcohol having a negative impact on you or someone you know? Are you looking for our policies on drug/alcohol misconduct? This page provides information and resources for NWTC students, faculty, and staff.

Alcohol and Drug Misconduct Policy and Statement

The Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (DFSCA) of 1989 - also known as the Drug-Free Schools and Campuses Act - requires institutions of higher education to establish policies that address unlawful possession, use, or distribution of alcohol and illicit drugs for faculty, staff and students. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College faculty, staff and students are also subject to federal and Wisconsin state laws.

It is the College’s policy that the unlawful manufacturing, distribution, dispensation, possession, or use of narcotics, drugs, other controlled substances, or alcohol is prohibited on College premises or as part of any College-sponsored activity.

Impacts of Alcohol and Drug Use

Excessive drug and alcohol use can have negative consequences and impacts on a person: physically, mentally, and within our community.

Outlined below is a list of drugs and their health risks taken from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration website. For more information view the complete resource guide provided by the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration. 

Alcohol

Alcohol (beer, wine, or liquor) has a high potential for physical and psychological dependence and increased tolerance. Possible effects include impaired memory, slurred speech, drunken behavior, vitamin deficiency, and organ damage. Overdose may result in vomiting, respiratory depression, loss of consciousness, and possible death. Withdrawal may include trembling, anxiety, insomnia, vitamin deficiency, confusion, hallucinations, and convulsions. 8 Females who drink alcohol during pregnancy may give birth to infants with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Fetal alcohol syndrome causes brain damage and growth problems. The problems caused by fetal alcohol syndrome vary from child to child, but defects caused by fetal alcohol syndrome are not reversible. The severity of fetal alcohol syndrome symptoms varies, with some children experiencing them to a far greater degree than others. Signs and symptoms of fetal alcohol syndrome may include any mix of physical defects, intellectual or cognitive disabilities, and problems functioning and coping with daily life.

Narcotics

Narcotics (including heroin, morphine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, codeine, and others) have a high potential for both physical and psychological dependence and increased tolerance. The possible effects of using narcotics include euphoria, drowsiness, respiratory depression, constricted pupils, and nausea. Overdose may result in shallow breathing, clammy skin, convulsions, coma, and death. Withdrawal may include irritability, tremors, panic, nausea, chills, and sweating.

Other Depressants

Other depressants (including GHB or liquid ecstasy, valium, Xanax, Ambien, and barbiturates) have a potential for both physical and psychological dependence and increased tolerance. The possible side effects include slurred speech, disorientation, appearance of intoxication, and impaired memory. Overdose may result in shallow respiration, clammy skin, dilated pupils, weak and rapid pulse, coma and possible death. Withdrawal may include anxiety, insomnia, tremors, delirium, convulsions, and possible death.

Stimulants

Stimulants (including cocaine, methamphetamine, and methylphenidate) have a possible risk of physical dependence and high risk for psychological dependence. Tolerance can develop in all stimulants. The possible side effects include increased alertness, excitation, euphoria, increased pulse rate and blood pressure, insomnia, and decreased appetite. Overdose may result in agitation, increased body temperature, hallucinations, convulsions, and possible death. Withdrawal may result in apathy, long periods of sleep, irritability, depression, and disorientation.

Hallucinogens

Hallucinogens (including MDMA, LSD, Phencyclidine, and others) are less likely to result in physical dependence, except for phencyclidines and analogs, and vary in terms of psychological dependence, ranging from none to moderate (MDMA) to high (phencyclidine and analogs). Tolerance can develop. Possible effects include heightened senses, teeth grinding, and dehydration (with MDMA and analogs) and hallucinations, altered perception of time and distance in other types of hallucinogens. Overdose may result in increased body temperature and cardiac arrest for MDMA and more intense episodes for LSD. Some hallucinogens may result in muscle aches and depression when in withdrawal (MDMA) or may result in drug seeking behavior.

Cannabis

Cannabis includes marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and hashish or hashish oil. All may result in moderate psychological dependence with THC resulting in physical dependence. Tolerance can develop 9 in all forms. Possible effects include euphoria, relaxed inhibitions, increased appetite, and disorientation. Overdose may result in fatigue, paranoia, and possible psychosis. Withdrawal may occasionally result in insomnia, hyperactivity, and decreased appetite. Anabolic Steroids Anabolic steroids (including testosterone and others) may result in psychological dependence. Less is known as to their potential for physical dependence and increased tolerance levels. Possible effects may include virilization, edema, testicular atrophy, gynecomastia, acne, and aggressive behavior. Effects of overdose are unknown. Withdrawal may include depression.

Inhalants

Inhalants (including amyl and butyl nitrite, nitrous oxide, and others) vary in their level of psychological dependence, with less known about their potential for physical dependence and tolerance. Possible effects may include flushing, hypotension, and headache, impaired memory, slurred speech, drunken behavior, vitamin deficiency, and organ damage. Overdose may result in methemoglobinemia, vomiting, respiratory depression, loss of consciousness, and death. Withdrawal may result in agitation, trembling, anxiety, insomnia, vitamin deficiency, confusion, hallucinations, and convulsions.

Nicotine Abuse

Nicotine is readily absorbed into the bloodstream when a tobacco product is chewed, inhaled, or smoked. A typical smoker will take 10 puffs on a cigarette over a period of five minutes that the cigarette is lit. Thus, a person who smokes about 1 ½ packs (30 cigarettes) daily gets 300 “hits” of nicotine each day. Upon entering the bloodstream, nicotine immediately stimulates the adrenal glands to release the hormone epinephrine (adrenaline). Epinephrine stimulates the central nervous system and increases blood pressure, respiration, and heart rate. Like cocaine, heroin, and marijuana, nicotine increases levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which affects the brain pathways that control reward and pleasure. For many tobacco users, long-term brain changes induced by continued nicotine exposure result in addiction—a condition of compulsive drug seeking and use, even in the face of negative consequences. Studies suggest that additional compounds in tobacco smoke, such as acetaldehyde, may enhance nicotine’s effects on the brain. When an addicted user tries to quit, her or she experiences withdrawal symptoms including irritability, attention difficulties, sleep disturbances, increased appetite, and powerful cravings for tobacco.

Resources

Life can be challenging; however, illegal drugs and excessive alcohol use are not positive solutions. We are committed to help you find positive solutions if you believe that drugs and/or alcohol are having a negative impact on your life.

Campus Resources 

Students: NWTC Counseling Services is a free and confidential service that is available to students who are enrolled in at least 3 credits or more per semester. To schedule an appointment, call 920-498-5444, or stop in the Counseling Services office located in Room SC231 on the Green Bay campus. NWTC counselors can identify the personal problems and concerns of students and, if necessary, may refer students to outside agencies for treatment and intervention. To assist in this mission, NWTC counselors maintain current community resource information on area counseling, treatment and rehabilitation programs. 

Employees: NWTC recognizes that employees may experience problems in life that may jeopardize their health, family life or job performance. To help employees deal with these problems, the College provides an employee assistance program (EAP) which offers counseling services at no cost to benefit-eligible employees and their family members. The EAP service is paid for by the College and is completely confidential. No one at the College can obtain any information regarding any employee or dependent who voluntarily seeks assistance through this program without the employee’s express written consent. NWTC’s current EAP provider is the Employee Resource Center. For more information on the ERC, call 800-222-8590. 

Community Resources 

Brown County: 

View a listing of additional agencies that provide services for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (AODA) treatment in Brown County.

Door County: 

Florence County: 

  • Alcoholics Anonymous Hotline for Florence County 906-774-0900 
  • Florence County Crisis Services 866-317-9362 
  • Florence County Dept of Human Services – Florence 715-528-3296 
  • Koinonia Residential Treatment Center – Rhinelander 715-362-5745

Kewaunee County: 

  • Alcoholics Anonymous Hotline for Kewaunee County 855-746-0901 
  • Kewaunee County Behavioral Health Unit – Kewaunee 920-388-7030 

Manitowoc County: 

  • Manitowoc County Dept of Human Services – Manitowoc 920-683-4230 
  • Pathways Alcohol & Drug Treatment & Recovery Services – Kiel 920-894-1374 
  • Phoenix Behavioral Health Services, LLC – Two Rivers 920-657-1780

Marinette County: 

Oconto County: 

Outagamie County: 

  • Alcoholics Anonymous Hotline for Outagamie County 920-997-0221
  •  Ascension – St. Elizabeth Campus in Appleton 920-730-4411 
  • Outagamie County Crisis Intervention Unit – Appleton 800-719-4418 
  • Outagamie County Dept of Human Services – Appleton 920-832-4741 
  • ThedaCare Behavioral Health – Menasha 920-720-2300 

Shawano County: 

State and National Resources:

  • Wisconsin Addiction Recovery Helpline, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 833-944-4673
    The Wisconsin Addiction Recovery Helpline is available to connect people with resources to overcome a dependence on opioids or other substances.
  • Narcotics Anonymous Support Hotline, Northeast Wisconsin Area of Narcotics Anonymous (NEWNA), 866-285-7830 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
  • National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

Consequences

NWTC has a zero-tolerance policy for alcohol  and/or drug use, sale and/or possession while on any NWTC owned property. Students, employees, or visitors could be subject to consequences if they are found responsible for violating NWTC’s policy. Those consequences could include reprimands, suspension, and expulsion. Alleged violations will be evaluated on a case by case basis.  

Local, State and Federal Consequences

Local:  Local ordinances include, but are not limited to, consumption of alcohol in public places and the possession, manufacturing, delivery, and advertising of drug paraphernalia. Sanctions could range from a civil infraction with attached fines to probation, rehabilitation, or even imprisonment.

State: Wisconsin Drug and Alcohol Laws. The Uniform Controlled Substances Act, Chapter 961 of the Wisconsin Statutes, prohibits certain conduct relating to controlled substances and provides substantial criminal penalties for offenders. Penalties vary according to the type of drug involved, the amount of drug confiscated, the number of previous convictions, and the presence of any aggravating factors. A first-time conviction for possession of a controlled substance can result in a sentence of up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $5,000; Sec. 961.41(3g), Wis. Stats. A person convicted of manufacturing a controlled substance, delivering a controlled substance, or possessing a controlled substance with intent to manufacture or deliver, can be imprisoned for up to 30 years and fined up to $1,000,000; Sec. 961.41(1) and (1m), Wis. Stats. The distribution of a controlled substance to a minor can lead to the increase of the applicable maximum term of imprisonment prescribed under 961.41(1) by not more than five years; Sec. 961.46, Wis. Stats. 

Wisconsin also has substantial criminal sanctions that restrict the use of alcohol in various situations. It is unlawful to procure for, sell, dispense or give alcohol to anyone who has not reached the legal drinking age of 21 years; Sec. 125.07(1) (a) (1), Wis. Stats. Every adult has a legal obligation to prevent the illegal consumption of alcohol on premises owned by the adult or under the adult’s control; Sec. 125.07(1) (a) (3), Wis. Stats. A first-time violator of either of the above subsections can be fined up to $500. 

It is against the law for an underage person to procure or attempt to procure an alcoholic beverage, to falsely represent his or her age for the purpose of obtaining alcohol, to enter premises licensed to sell alcohol, or to consume or possess alcohol on licensed premises; Sec. 125.07(4) (a), Wis. Stats. A first- time underage violator of Section 125.07(4) (bs), Wis. Stats., can be fined up to $500, ordered to participate in a supervised work program, and have their driver’s license suspended.

Federal: For federal consequences please view the Federal Trafficking Penalties table provided by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

NWTC Consequences

Any student  who engages in prohibited conduct may be: 

  • Referred to appropriate NWTC personnel for assistance. 
  • Required to successfully complete a drug or alcohol abuse treatment program as a condition of attendance.
  • Reported to authorities for criminal prosecution or other appropriate action. 
  • Subject to disciplinary penalties, up to and including expulsion or termination of employment.  
  • Subject to any other appropriate action by NWTC.

Learn more about NWTC's Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention program.

Questions? For more information contact:

Kelly Schumacher

Disability & Student CARE Case Manager
(920) 498-6390
kelly.schumacher@nwtc.edu

John Grant

Dean of Student Development
(920) 498-6984
john.grant@nwtc.edu