Notification in Accordance With The Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act and Drug-Free Workplace Act
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Introduction
Northeastern University strives to maintain a working, living, and learning environment that is free from the harmful effects of alcohol and substance abuse. The University also complies with all local, State, and Federal laws and regulations pertaining to alcohol and illicit drugs. Accordingly, and in compliance with the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989 and the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988, Northeastern University has developed and maintains policies and programs to prevent the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by University students and employees. In short, the unauthorized purchase, manufacture, distribution, possession, sale, storage or use of alcohol, illegal drugs, or controlled substances while in or on premises or property owned or controlled by the University, or while on-duty as an employee of the University, is prohibited.
This document contains information about University standards of conduct; applicable disciplinary sanctions for violation of relevant University policies and legal sanctions for violation of relevant local, State, and Federal laws; health risks associated with the use of illicit drugs and the abuse of alcohol; and on- and off-campus counseling, support services, and other programs available to University students and staff.
Standards of Conduct
The University has standards of conduct that prohibit the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by students and employees on University property or as a part of University activities. These standards are reinforced by a variety of University policies, including:
- The University’s Policy on Drug-Free Workplace, which applies to all campuses and University-owned or leased property, and to University-sponsored events off campus. It does not apply to the use of alcohol and drugs in approved research studies. Under the Policy on Drug-Free Workplace, any employee engaged in performance of a grant or contract must notify their sponsor within 5 days of any criminal drug statute conviction for a violation occurring in the workplace.
- The University’s Code of Student Conduct, which applies both on- and off-campus, to all Northeastern University students, at all levels of study, in all colleges and programs locally or abroad, on-ground or online, as well as to all student groups and organizations.
- The University’s Policy on Tobacco and Smoke-Free Campus, which prohibits the use or possession of any tobacco, cannabis, or smoking-related products at Northeastern University, including all locations, campuses, buildings and outdoor areas owned and/or operated by the University.
Additionally, the use of alcohol while on Northeastern property is prohibited except where specifically authorized by the University. No student or employee may report to class or attend a University-sponsored student activity while under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs.
Disciplinary Sanctions
The University is committed to enforcing its standards of conduct relating to alcohol and other drug use and will impose disciplinary sanctions on students and employees for violations of those standards of conduct. Any University student or employee determined to have violated Northeastern’s policies on drugs and alcohol will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from the University, in accordance with applicable University policies and procedures. Sanctions may include brief intervention services with the Office of Prevention and Education at Northeastern (OPEN).
Students who violate University policies on drugs or alcohol will be disciplined in accordance with Northeastern’s Code of Student Conduct. The Code of Student Conduct contains sanctions guidelines for offenses involving the possession or consumption of alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs, and other
sanctions may be imposed by responsible offices or departments consistent with Northeastern policies and applicable law. Conviction for drug-related offenses may also affect a student’s eligibility for financial aid.
Employees who violate University policies on drugs and/or alcohol will be disciplined in accordance with applicable Northeastern policies, agreements, and laws. In addition to sanctions imposed by the University, violations by employees engaged in the performance of a Federal grant or contract can result in suspension of payments and/or termination of the contract as well as suspension or disbarment. To comply with federal law, the University requires that employees directly engaged in performance of a grant or contract must notify their employers of any criminal drug statute conviction for a violation occurring in the workplace no later than five days after the conviction. The University must notify any federal contracting agency within ten days of having received notice that an employee engaged in the performance of such contract has had a criminal drug statute conviction for a violation occurring in the workplace. The University will take appropriate action up to and including dismissal and/or require participation in an approved abuse assistance or rehabilitation.
Students and employees who violate laws concerning alcohol and drugs are also subject to criminal prosecution, and Northeastern will refer them for prosecution and cooperate with law-enforcement officials when necessary.
Legal Sanctions
Northeastern expects its students and employees to abide by all applicable Federal, State and local laws and regulations regarding drugs and alcohol. The following section summarizes sanctions for violations of various laws prohibiting the illegal possession, use, manufacture, distribution, and sale of illicit drugs and alcohol under relevant laws and ordinances. Sanctions may increase on subsequent convictions or if death or serious injury results from the use of the drug. In addition, a variety of other consequences may occur, including ineligibility for student grants and loans, and prevention of future entry into many fields of employment or professions. Northeastern students and employees who travel throughout Northeastern’s global network are reminded that drug and alcohol laws and regulations vary by jurisdiction and members of the Northeastern community are responsible for complying with all laws applicable in their jurisdictions.
Cannabis (marijuana) is illegal under Federal law, and because Northeastern receives Federal funds, the possession or use of cannabis remains prohibited on University property or at any University-sponsored or student-organization event or activity off-campus, even in jurisdictions where such possession or use. would otherwise be permitted under State law. Anyone who possesses or uses cannabis on University premises may be subject to State or Federal prosecution and University discipline.
Federal Drug Laws
| Drug/Schedule | Quantity | Penalty | Quantity | Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cocaine (Schedule II) | 500-4999g mixture |
First Offense: Not less than 5 years and not more than 40 years. If death or serious injury, not less than 20 or more than life. Fine of not more than $5 million if an indivdual, $25 million if not an individual. Second Offense: Not less than 10 years and not more than life. If death or serious injury, life imprisonment. Fine of not more than $8 million if an individual, $50 million if not an individual. |
5 kgs mixture or more |
First Offense: Not less than 10 years and not more than life. If death or serious injury, not less than 20 years or more than life. Fine of not more than $10 million if an individual, $50 million if not an individual. Second Offense: Not less than 20 years and not more than life. If death or serious injury, life imprisonment. Fine of not more than $20 million if an individual, $75 million if not an individual. 2 or more Prior Offenses: Life inprisonment. Fine of not more than $20 million if an individual, $65 million if not an individual. |
| Cocaine Base (Schedule II) | 28-279g mixture | 280g mixture or more | ||
| Fentanyl (Schedule II) | 40-399g mixture | 400g mixture or more | ||
| Fentanyl Analogue (Schedule I) | 10-99 mixture | 100g mixture or more | ||
| Heroin (Schedule I) | 100-999g mixture | 1kg mixture or more | ||
| LSD (Schedule I) | 1-9g mixture | 10g mixture or more | ||
| Methamphetetamine (Schedule II) | 5-49g pure or 50-499g mixture |
50g or more pure OR 500g or more mixture |
||
| PCP (Schedule II) | 10-99g pure or 100-999g mixture |
100g or more pure OR 1kg or more mixture |
||
| Other Schedule I and all II drugs (and any drug product containing Gamma Hydroxybutyric Acid) | Any amount |
First Offense: Not more than 20 years. If death or serious injury, not less than 20 years or more than life. $1 million if any individual, $5 million if not an individual. Second Offense: Not more than 30 years. If death or serious bodily injury, life imprisonment. Fine $2 million if an individual, $10 million if not an individual. |
||
| Flunitrazepam (Schedule IV) |
1 gram | First Offense: Not more than 20 years. If death or serious injury, not less than 20 years or more than life. Fine $1 million if an individual, $5 million if not an individual. Second Offense: Not more than 30 years. If death or serious bodily injury, life imprisonment. Fine $2 million if an individual, $10 million if not an individual. | Other than 1 gram or more | First Offense: Not more than 5 years. Fine not more than $250,000 if an individual, $1 million if not an individual. Second Offense: Not more than 10 years. Fine not more than $500,000 if an individual, $2 million if other than an individual. |
| Other Schedule III drugs | Any amount |
First Offense: Not more than 10 years. If death or serious injury, not more than 15 years. Fine not more than $500,000 if an individual, $2.5 million if not an individual. Second Offense: Not more than 20 years. If death or serious injury, not more than 30 years. Fine not more than $1 million if an individual, $5 million if not an individual. |
||
| All other Schedule IV drugs | Any amount |
First Offense: Not more than 5 years. Fine not more than $250,000 if an individual, $1 million if not an individual. Second Offense: Not more than 10 years. Fine not more than $500,000 if an individual, $2 million if other than an individual. |
||
| All Schedule V drugs | Any amount |
First Offense: Not more than 1 year. Fine not more than $100,000 if an individual, $250,000 if not an individual. Second Offense: Not more than 4 years. Fine not more than $200,000 if an individual, $500,000 if not an individual. |
||
| Marijuana (Schedule I) | 1,000 kg or more marijuana mixture; or 1,000 or more marijuana plants |
Not less than 10 years or more than life. If death or serious bodily injury, not less than 20 years or more than life. Fine not more than $10 million if an individual, $50 million if other than an individual. |
Not less than 20 years or more than life. If death or serious bodily injury, life imprisonment. Fine not more than $20 million if an individual, $75 million if other than an individual. | |
| Marijuana (Schedule I) |
100 kg to 999 kg marijuana mixture; or 100 to 999 marijuana plants |
Not less than 5 years or more than 40 years. If death or serious bodily injury, not less than 20 years or more than life. Fine not more than $5 million if an individual, $25 million if other than an individual. |
Not less than 10 years or more than life. If death or serious bodily injury, life imprisonment. Fine not more than $20 million if an individual, $75 million if other than an individual. | |
| Marijuana (Schedule I) |
More than 10 kgs hashish; 50 to 99 kg marijuana mixture More than 1 kg of hashish oil; 50 to 99 marijuana plants |
Not more than 20 years If death or serious bodily injury, not less than 20 years. or more than life. Fine $1 million if an individual, $5 million if other than an individual. |
Not more than 30 years. If death or serious bodily injury, life imprisonment. Fine $2 million if an individual, $10 million if other than an individual. | |
| Marijuana (Schedule I) |
Less than 50 kilograms marijuana (but does not include 50 or more marijuana plants regardless of weight) 1 to 49 marijuana plants |
Not more than 5 years. Fine not more than $250,000 if an individual, $1 million if other than an individual. |
Not more than 10 years. Fine $500,000 if an individual, $2 million if other than individual. | |
| Hashish (Schedule I) | 10 kg or less |
Not more than 5 years. Fine not more than $250,000 if an individual, $1 million if other than an individual. |
Not more than 10 years. Fine $500,000 if an individual, $2 million if other than individual. | |
| Hashish Oil (Schedule I) | 1 kg or less |
Not more than 5 years. Fine not more than $250,000, $1 million if other than an individual. |
Not more than 10 years. Fine $500,000 if an individual, $2 million if other than individual. | |
Relevant State Drug Laws
California
| Drug | Offense | Penalty | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alcohol | Public Possession by a minor (person under 21 years of age) | $250 fine or 24-32 hours of community service. | |
| Selling or furnishing to a minor | If the minor’s drinking proximately causes great bodily injury or death to any person, imprisonment for 6 months to 1 year, and/or $1,000 in fines; otherwise, $1,000 in fines and at least 24 hours of community service. | ||
| Minor purchasing or consuming on the premises | Fine of up to $250 and/or 24-32 hours of community service. | ||
| Methamphetamine | Possession | Imprisonment for up to one year and/or fine of up to $1,000. | |
| Possession with intent to sell | Imprisonment for 16 months to three years and/or fine of up to $10,000 | ||
| Cocaine | Possession | Imprisonment for up to one year and/or fine of up to $1,000. | |
| Possession with intent to sell | Imprisonment for two to four years and/or fine of up to $20,000. | ||
| Heroin | Possession | Imprisonment for up to one year and/or fine of up to $1,000. | |
| Possession with intent to sell | Imprisonment for two to four years and/or fine of up to $20,000. | ||
| Cannabis | Possession of 28.5 grams or less | By persons under 18 | Drug counseling and community service |
| By persons at least 18 but less than 21 years old. | Fine of up to $100 | ||
| Possession of more than 28.5 grams | By persons under 18 | Drug counseling and community service | |
| By persons 18 years of age or older. | Imprisonment for up to six months and/or fine of up to $500 | ||
| Possession with intent to sell | By persons under 18 | Drug counseling and community service | |
| By persons 18 years of age or older. | Imprisonment for up to six months and/or fine of up to $500 | ||
Florida
| Drug | Offense | Penalty | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alcohol | Public Possession by a minor (person under 21 years of age) | Imprisonment for up to 60 days and/or fine of up to $500 | |
| Selling or furnishing to a minor | Imprisonment for up to 60 days and/or fine of up to $500 | ||
| Methamphetamine | Possession | Imprisonment for up to five years and/or fine of up to $5,000 | |
| Possession with intent to sell or deliver | Imprisonment for up to 15 years and/or fine of up to $10,000 | ||
| Cocaine | Possession | Imprisonment for up to 5 years and/or fine of up to $5,000 | |
| Possession with intent to sell or deliver | Imprisonment for up to 15 years and/or fine of up to $10,000 | ||
| Heroin | Possession | Imprisonment for up to 5 years and/or fine of up to $5,000 | |
| Possession with intent to sell or deliver | Imprisonment for up to 15 years and/or fine of up to $10,000 | ||
| Cannabis | Possession of 20 grams or less | Imprisonment for up to 1 year and/or fine of up to $1,000 | |
| Possession of more than 20 grams and up to 25 pounds | Imprisonment for up to 15 years and/or fine of up to $25,000 | ||
| Possession with intent to sell or deliver | Imprisonment for up to 15 years and/or fine of up to $25,000 | ||
Maine
| Drug | Offense | Penalty | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alcohol | Possession or consumption by a person under 21 years of age (minor) | Fine of up to $400 | |
| Furnishing to a minor | Imprisonment for up to 364 days and/or fine of up to $2,000 | ||
| Misrepresentation of one’s age or forgery or alteration of identification for purpose of obtaining | Fine of up to $400 | ||
| Methamphetamine | Possession | Imprisonment for up to 364 days and/or fine of $400-$2,000 | |
| Furnishing | Imprisonment for up to 10 years and/or fine of $400-$20,000 | ||
| Cocaine | Possession | Imprisonment for up to 364 days and/or fine of $400-$2,000 | |
| Furnishing | Imprisonment for up to 5 years and/or fine of $400-$5,000 | ||
| Heroin | Furnishing | Imprisonment for up to 364 days and/or fine of $400-$2,000 | |
| Possession with intent to sell or deliver | Imprisonment for up to 5 years and/or fine of $400-$5,000 | ||
| Cannabis | Possession of 2.5-8 ounces | Imprisonment for up to 6 months and/or fine of up to $1,000 | |
| Possession of over 8 ounces to 16 ounces | Imprisonment for up to 364 days and/or fine of up to $2,000 | ||
| Possession of over 1 pound to 20 pounds | Imprisonment for up to 5 years and/or fine of up to $5,000 | ||
| Possession of more than 20 pounds | Imprisonment for up to 10 years and/or fine of up to $20,000 | ||
Massachusetts
| Drug | Offense | Penalty | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alcohol | Possession by a person under 21 years of age (minor) | Fine of up to $50 and driver’s license suspension for 90 days | |
| Furnishing to a minor | Imprisonment for up to 1 year and/or fine of up to $2,000 | ||
| Purchase or attempted purchase of by a minor | $300 fine | ||
| Methamphetamine | Possession | Imprisonment for up to 1 year and/or fine of up to $1,000 | |
| Possession with intent to distribute | Imprisonment for up to 10 years and/or fine of $1,000-$10,000 | ||
| Cocaine | Possession | Imprisonment for up to 1 year and/or fine of up to $1,000 | |
| Possession with intent to distribute | Imprisonment for up to 10 years and/or fine of $1,000-$10,000 | ||
| Heroin | Possession | Imprisonment for up to 2 years and/or fine of up to $2,000 | |
| Possession with intent to distribute | Imprisonment for up to 10 years and/or fine of $1,000-$10,000 | ||
| Cannabis | Possession of more than 1 ounce | Imprisonment for up to 6 months and/or fine of $500 | |
| Possession with intent to distribute | Imprisonment for up to 2 years and/or fine of $500-$5,000 | ||
North Carolina
| Drug | Offense | Penalty | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alcohol | Possession, purchase, or consumption by a person under 21 years of age (minor) | Imprisonment for up to 120 days and/or fine of up to $1,000 and/or community service | |
| Person 21 years of age or older who aids and abets possession, purchase, or consumption by a minor | Imprisonment for up to 120 days and/or fine of up to $1,000 and/or community service | ||
| Person under 21 years of age who aids and abets possession, purchase, or consumption by a minor | Imprisonment for up to 60 days and/or community service and fines | ||
| Methamphetamine | Possession | Imprisonment for up to 1 year and/or discretionary fine | |
| Possession with intent to sell or deliver | Imprisonment for 44-182 months and/or discretionary fine | ||
| Cocaine | Possession | Imprisonment for up to 2 years and/or fine of up to $2,000 | |
| Possession with intent to distribute | Imprisonment for up to 10 years and/or discretionary fine | ||
| Heroin | Possession | Imprisonment for up to 5 years and/or discretionary fine | |
| Possession with intent to sell or deliver | Imprisonment for up to 10 years and/or discretionary fine | ||
| Cannabis | Possession of less than .5 ounce | Imprisonment for 20 days and/or fine of up to $200 | |
| Possession of .5 – 1.5 ounces | Imprisonment for 120 days and/or fine of up to $500 | ||
| Possession of more than 1.5 ounces but less than 10 pounds | Imprisonment for up to 1 year and/or discretionary fine | ||
Virginia
| Drug | Offense | Penalty | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alcohol | Possession, purchase, or consumption (or attempt) by a person under 21 years of age (minor) | Mandatory minimum fine of $500 or mandatory minimum of 50 hours of community service, and suspension of driver’s license for 6 months | |
| Furnishing to a minor | Imprisonment for up to 1 year and/or fine of up to $2,500 | ||
| Methamphetamine | Possession | Imprisonment for 1-10 years or up to 12 months in jail and/or a fine up to $2,500 | |
| Possession with intent to sell or deliver | Imprisonment for up to 40 years and/or fine of up to $500,000 | ||
| Cocaine | Possession | Imprisonment for 1-10 years or up to 12 months in jail and/or a fine up to $2,500 | |
| Possession with intent to sell or deliver | Imprisonment for up to 40 years and/or fine of up to $500,000 | ||
| Heroin | Possession | Imprisonment for 1-10 years or up to 12 months in jail and/or a fine up to $2,500 | |
| Possession with intent to sell or deliver | Imprisonment for up to 40 years and/or fine of up to $500,000 | ||
| Cannabis | Possession of 1-4 ounces | Fine of $25 (Va. Code § 4.1-1100) | |
| Possession of more than 4 ounces but less than 1 pound | Fine of up to $500 (Va. Code § 4.1-1100) | ||
| Possession of more than 1 pound | Imprisonment for up to 10 years and/or fine of up to $250,000 | ||
Washington
| Drug | Offense | Penalty | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alcohol | Possession, consumption, or acquisition by a person under 21 years of age (minor) | Imprisonment for up to 364 days and/or fine of up to $5,000 | |
| Furnishing to a minor | Imprisonment for up to 364 days and/or fine of up to $5,000 | ||
| Purchase or attempt to purchase by a minor | Imprisonment for up to 90 days and/or fine of up to $1,000 | ||
| Methamphetamine | Possession | Imprisonment for up to 364 days and/or fine of up to $5,000 | |
| Possession with intent to manufacture or deliver | Imprisonment for up to 10 years and/or fine of up to $100,000 plus $50 for each gram over 2 kilograms | ||
| Cocaine | Possession | Imprisonment for up to 364 days and/or fine of up to $5,000 | |
| Possession with intent to manufacture or deliver | Imprisonment for up to 10 years and/or fine of up to $100,000 plus $50 for each gram over 2 kilograms | ||
| Heroin | Possession | Imprisonment for up to 364 days and/or fine of up to $5,000 | |
| Possession with intent to sell or deliver | Imprisonment for up to 5 years and/or fine of up to $10,000 | ||
| Cannabis | Possession of 1 ounce to 40 grams | Misdemeanor | |
| Possession of more than 40 grams | Imprisonment for up to 5 years and/or fine of up to $10,000, plus additional mandatory fine | ||
| Possession with intent to distribute | Imprisonment for up to 5 years and/or fine of up to $10,000, plus additional mandatory fine | ||
Health Risks
Illegal drugs and alcohol pose serious health risks to those who use them. More detailed information for a selected list of substances follows:
Alcohol (adapted from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism’s Resource on Alcohol’s Effects on Health)
The effects of alcohol on one’s behavior and the body vary by the individual and amount consumed. Alcohol is a central nervous depressant that slows brain activity and causes impairment to memory, vision, speech, reaction time, judgment, and gross motor skills. The effects of alcohol use can have both short-term and long-term health risks:
Cognitive and behavioral effects: Alcohol use, even at lower levels, can lead to changes in perception, impulse control, and decision-making. Individuals experiencing these impacts may act impulsively and/or aggressively and make risky decisions they wouldn’t otherwise make if they were sober. Alcohol can cause changes in neurotransmitter balances, leading to depressive symptoms and/or agitation. When high levels of alcohol are consumed, individuals can experience periods of memory loss called “blackouts.” Alcohol-induced blackouts can be dangerous as the intoxicated person is more likely to experience negative consequences that could potentially be life-threatening.
Physical effects: The consumption of even low doses of alcohol can greatly increase the risk of a driver being involved in a motor vehicle accident due to the significant impacts of alcohol on their coordination and judgment. Alcohol use can impact one’s control over their own body, which can result in physical injuries. When someone’s blood alcohol concentration reaches dangerous levels, the risk of alcohol poisoning and death increases. Physical effects of alcohol toxicity can include gross disorientation, vomiting, shallow breathing, slow and irregular heartbeat, and loss of consciousness. The simultaneous use of alcohol with other substances can greatly increase the risk of adverse consequences.
Long-term considerations: Frequent and/or high quantity alcohol use over time can lead to dependence, alcohol use disorder, as well as brain and liver damage. Alcohol use disorder has been linked to an increased risk of major depression, and high-quantity use can exacerbate the symptoms of individuals with an existing depression diagnosis. For chronic and/or high quantity drinkers, sudden cessation of alcohol intake is likely to produce withdrawal symptoms, which can include severe anxiety, tremors, hallucinations, and convulsions. Alcohol withdrawal can be life-threatening. Alcohol use during pregnancy increases the risk of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, characterized by physical problems as well as behavioral and learning differences for the child exposed to alcohol in utero.
Cannabis (Marijuana)
Cannabis use can lead to an array of short-term and long-term health effects. Cognitively, cannabis use has been found to impact mood, motivation, concentration, memory, and perception, and use of higher doses of THC (the psychoactive compound in cannabis) can increase the risk of paranoia, panic, hallucinations, and temporary acute psychosis symptoms. Physically, cannabis use impairs motor skills and coordination as well as raises blood pressure and heart rate, which can be a trigger for anxiety. Greater risk of adverse health outcomes are linked to frequent use, high quantity use, use of products containing a high potency of THC, and individual factors like initiating cannabis use at age 16 or earlier, history of mental health diagnoses, and genetic pre-disposition to schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.
Cocaine
Even a first-time user of cocaine may experience severe adverse health consequences, such as seizures, cardiac arrest, and strokes that can result in death. Users also experience irritability, paranoia, panic attacks, hallucinations, and psychosis. Other physiological effects of use include increased blood pressure and heart rate, dilated pupils, and loss of appetite.
Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine, or meth, is a highly addictive stimulant drug. High doses may result in death from stroke, heart attack, or multiple organ problems, and chronic meth users may experience anxiety, confusion, insomnia, violent behavior, visual and auditory hallucinations, mood disturbances, paranoia, and delusions. Meth use may also result in convulsions, weight loss, memory loss, and severe dental problems.
Opioids
Misuse of prescription opioids (including oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, morphine, and others) and/or use of heroin and synthetic opioids like fentanyl can increase the risk of the user developing a substance use disorder due to the highly addictive nature of these substances. Opioid use also comes with an increased risk of overdose, and opioids are the leading cause of overdose death in the United States. Naloxone, a medication that can be used to reverse an opioid overdose, should be administered to any person showing signs of opioid overdose. Short-term effects of opioid use can include drowsiness, pain relief, slowed breathing and heart rate, nausea, and risk of overdose. Long-term use can lead to a higher risk of multiple health outcomes depending on the specific substance used and method of use.
Cigarettes, Tobacco Products and Vaping Devices
Nicotine is an addictive substance found in tobacco products and vaping devices. Continued nicotine use can lead to nicotine use disorder, where an individual may experience withdrawal symptoms when trying to cut back or quit including irritability, cravings, trouble sleeping, and difficulty paying attention. Long-term health effects have been linked to both nicotine and other chemical compounds found in tobacco and vaping products. Tobacco use can lead to lung and mouth cancer, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and an increased risk of stroke or heart attack. Vaping and e-cigarette devices also present health risks including the development of nicotine addiction. The short-term risks, long-term risks, and overall safety of e-cigarette products have not been thoroughly evaluated by the research community at this time, and there is not sufficient research to compare the health risks of vaping devices to cigarettes. Vaping Vitamin E acetate, a chemical found in some e-cigarettes, has been linked by the Food and Drug Administration to serious lung injuries and illness associated with vaping.
Other Drugs
The National Institute on Drug Abuse maintains a list of other commonly used drugs and the most up-to-date research on health risks.
Resources
Northeastern University fosters a community that reinforces healthy choices and encourages responsible decision-making regarding the use of alcohol and other drugs. The University supports this philosophy by providing educational programs, resources for treatment, and referrals for students, faculty, and staff who may experience problems related to substance use.
A variety of resources exist for students related to alcohol and other drug prevention, education, counseling, and referral. The Office of Prevention and Education at Northeastern (OPEN) provides confidential alcohol, cannabis, and other drug check-in services. Students can schedule a meeting by filling out this form. OPEN facilitates educational programs and events designed to encourage informed decision-making regarding substance use. Northeastern’s University Health and Counseling Services (UHCS) and OPEN provide resources for treatment and referral for students around alcohol and other drug use.
Employees may learn about substance abuse and obtain information about treatment and counseling options available to the Northeastern community through Northeastern’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Outside Resources for Faculty, Staff, and Students
Contact Information
Employees with questions about the information contained in this Notice should consult the HR Service Center
Students with questions regarding university standards of conduct should consult the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution at (617) 373-4390 or email osccr@northeastern.edu.
Students with questions about resources or education should contact the Office of Prevention and Education at Northeastern (OPEN) at (617) 373-4459 or email open@northeastern.edu.