(For EVMS Students only, not residents or fellows)

It is the policy of EVMS to maintain an alcohol and drug free work and learning environment. Drugs are those controlled substances identified in the Federal Controlled Substances Act (a copy of the Act is available in EVMS Human Resources Department 757-446–6043). The use of drugs and/or alcohol results in increased absenteeism, a lowered educational performance, an increased risk to patients, and decreased productivity. In addition, there are serious health risks associated with the illicit use of drugs and alcohol and as a medical school it is vitally important that we maintain a healthy educational environment.

Procedures

1. All student incidents of possession, use, or distribution of alcohol (on campus or in clinical training facilities) and illegal drugs will be reported to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. The student may be counseled, required to seek treatment, dismissed from the institution or subject to other disciplinary action depending on the circumstances.
    
2. If a member of the faculty, staff, or student body has reasonable suspicion through direct observation that a student appears to be under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs in an academic setting which includes clinical rotation facilities, the student will be referred to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, who will then determine if testing is warranted and if the student should be removed from class and/or clinical activities. Refusal to be tested may be grounds for immediate dismissal from the institution. Students who test positive will be referred to the Phoenix Committee. Refusal to seek treatment or failure to follow the treatment/rehabilitation program as outlined by the Phoenix Committee may result in immediate dismissal from the institution.
    
3. Students convicted of a drug offense must notify the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs within five days. Such conviction may be grounds for disciplinary action, including immediate dismissal from the institution. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs must notify the appropriate federal agency within ten (10) days if the student is receiving federal loans, along with:
   1. the Associate Dean for Planning and Health Professions and appropriate program director for health professions students, or
   2. the Associate Dean for Education for medical students. EVMS will adhere to procedures outlined in the institutional Criminal Background Check policy.
       
4. Some clinical training sites may require students to have a drug screening test before beginning a rotation at their facility. All EVMS students are expected to comply with the requirements of the training facility. If a student refuses a test, the student will be referred to Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. The academic program will be responsible for the cost of a test. If a student agrees to the test, they must sign a release form authorizing an appropriate site official to convey positive test results to the applicable program director for health professions students. The program director will report positive test results to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, who in turn will follow the procedures outlined above in Section 1).
    
5. Additional information regarding Alcohol and Drug policies applicable for EVMS students is found in the EASTERN VIRGINIA MEDICAL SCHOOL, HUMAN RESOURCES POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, EMPLOYEE RELATIONS, ALCOHOL AND DRUGS POLICY 4.53 (EVMS network account required).

Relevant Sections applicable to EVMS Students are the following: GENERAL STATEMENT OF PURPOSE, Page 1; PROCEDURES D. EDUCATION, Page 6; PROCEDURES E. VIOLATION AND PENALTIES, Page 9.

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