Drug, alcohol, and weapon policies

Our regulations state that the use, possession, or distribution of narcotics or dangerous drugs is prohibited, except as expressly permitted by the laws of the State of Indiana. Purdue Fort Wayne regulations prohibit the possession or use of alcoholic beverages in or on university property, regardless of the person’s age. 

Any student suspected of being in violation of these regulations may be subject to disciplinary proceedings conducted by the Office of Conduct and Care. Students who are found guilty may be subject to the following disciplinary sanctions: reprimand and warning, disciplinary probation, restitution, participation in a certain program, provision of a certain service, suspension, and expulsion. 

Note: When appropriate, referral for prosecution under local, state, and federal law may occur. Indiana state law allows Purdue Fort Wayne to investigate and act on any suspicion of violation of local, state, or federal law. The university may also investigate and take action in incidents occurring in states other than Indiana.

Alcohol and other drug use is fundamentally an issue of individual student choice. Purdue Fort Wayne has a substance abuse council whose members are working to address the issues of alcohol and other drugs. In addition, staff members have represented the university on community councils examining these concerns. Services to assist students are available in the Office of Conduct and Care.

• Alcohol is a drug. 
• Alcohol is the most commonly used intoxicating substance in the United States. 
• Generally, adults who drink alcoholic beverages do so without experiencing significant problems. However, alcohol abuse is a major problem for 10 to 15 percent of those who drink. Reduced levels of health and life expectancy are common among alcohol abusers. In addition, an issue of growing concern on college campuses is the relationship of alcohol to violence, especially sexual assault. 
• A recent study at a Big Ten university found that approximately 80 percent of the men and 70 percent of the women involved in incidents of sexual assault had been drinking when the assault occurred. 
• A conviction from an alcohol-related offense may affect future employment opportunities. 
• In the past several years, convictions for alcohol-related offenses, especially driving offenses, have had a serious, negative impact on the ability of recent graduates to get the jobs they want. Many students convicted of driving while intoxicated have been forced to settle for lower salaries at less prestigious companies. Conviction records for misdemeanors and infractions also may influence one’s ability to be bonded or to enter a licensed profession. Admission to graduate or professional school may also be affected. It is common for credit and other reporting agencies to record such information in their files. In addition, once convicted of driving while intoxicated (DWI, with a 0.08 percent or higher blood-alcohol concentration), a person must file proof of financial responsibility (usually insurance) with the state for a period of three years. This means the insurance company must be notified of a conviction before the driver’s license is returned. It is not unusual for insurance rates to triple after a DWI conviction. (Alcohol-Drug Information Center, Indiana University, 1990)

Class C Infraction (up to $500 fine and loss of minor’s driver’s license) 

It includes

• misrepresentation of age for the purpose of purchasing alcoholic beverages and
• a person 21 or older who encourages, aids, or induces a minor to possess or use an alcoholic beverage.

Class C Misdemeanors (imprisonment for up to 60 days and fine of up to $500) 

They include

• illegal possession of alcohol by a person younger than 21 years of age who knowingly (1) possesses an alcoholic beverage, (2) consumes it, or (3) transports it on a public highway when not accompanied by a parent or legal guardian;
• to sell, barter, exchange, provide, or furnish an alcoholic beverage to a minor; and
• a person younger than 21 years of age present in a tavern, bar, or other public place where alcoholic beverages are available. (In addition to the misdemeanor, a minor’s license may be revoked for up to one year even if ID was not used.)

Under certain circumstances, local prosecutors have used the criminal code rather than the alcoholic-beverage code to prosecute users of fake IDs. Misdemeanor charges of deception and felony charges of forgery have been filed. Also, under federal law, possession or use of fake or altered driver’s licenses, or state or federal ID cards, can be punishable by a fine of up to $25,000 and/or a five-year jail term.

It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle while impaired—even at blood-alcohol levels below 0.10 percent. Anyone operating a motor vehicle within the state gives implied consent to submit to a chemical test of intoxication (breath, blood, or urine). Failure to submit to the test may be used as evidence in court and will result in a longer driver’s-license suspension than if the test were administered and failed. Criminal sanctions for alcohol- and other drug-impaired driving include fines, imprisonment, and license suspensions, and can include mandatory education or treatment programs.

The operator of a motor vehicle who has at least 0.04 percent by weight of alcohol in the blood, and who, while the motor vehicle is in operation, knowingly allows a container to be in the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle that (1) has been opened, that (2) has a broken seal, or (3) from which some of the contents have been removed commits a Class B infraction. If a person is found to have a previous unrelated judgment under this section or a previous unrelated conviction or judgment under IC 9-30-5 within 12 months before a violation that results in a judgment under this chapter, the court may recommend the person’s driving privileges be suspended for not more than one year.

The operator of a motor vehicle who knowingly consumes an alcoholic beverage while the motor vehicle is being operated on a public highway commits a Class B infraction.

Drugs other than alcohol can also create legal risks for college students. The Controlled Substance Act regulates drugs that have been declared by the attorney general to have abuse potential. Such drugs include marijuana, hashish or hash oil, cocaine, LSD and other hallucinogens, barbiturates and other sedative-hypnotics, amphetamines and other prescription stimulants, MDMA (ecstasy), and PCP and similar drugs. 

It is illegal under both state and federal law (Controlled Substances Act) to commit the following acts: 

• Deal (sell), manufacture, distribute, dispense, possess, or use an illegal drug or controlled substance 
• Encourage, aid, or induce another person to deal, manufacture, distribute, dispense, possess, or use an illegal drug or controlled substance 

Penalties for the violations cited above vary depending upon the substance (drug), the quantity of the substance, the number of violations related to the offense, and the schedule of the controlled substance.

The following agencies offer a variety of help: 

Al-Anon: 260-471-6262 
Alcohol/Drug Helpline (24-hour assistance): 800-234-0420 
Alcoholics Anonymous: 260-471-6262 
Alternatives: 260-424-3838 
Associated Psychiatric Services: 260-490-8110 
Center for Behavioral Health: 260-420-6010 
Charter Beacon Behavioral Health System: 260-423-3651 
Choicemakers Counseling Services: 260-485-0568 
CleanSlate Addiction Treatment Centers: 260-267-9498 
Family and Children's Services: 260-744-4326 
Fort Wayne Recovery (24-hour assistance): 833-762-3739 
Lucina Treatment Center: 260-267-5159 
Lutheran Health Network Behavioral Health: 260-425-3606 or 800-694-9034 
Mental Health America of Northeast Indiana: 260-422-6441 
Narcotics Abuse Helpline/Treatment: 800-234-0420 
Narcotics Anonymous: 260-460-4626 
Park Center Inc.: 260-481-2700 
Parkview Behavioral Health Helpline (24-hour assistance): 260-373-7500 or 800-284-8439 
Shepherd’s House: 260-424-2500 
Psychodrama Training / Counseling Center: 260-749-7744 
Switchboard Crisis Hotline: 260-456-4561 
Washington House: 260-432-8684 
Wise Choices: 260-482-2586 

Purdue Fort Wayne recognizes that the ultimate responsibility for conduct remains with the individual student. The goal of the university is to facilitate responsibility through the prevention policy presented in this document and to impose the described sanctions upon those who choose to violate the regulations.