Staying Safe While Abroad: Alcohol & Drug Use

Alcohol Use

The College of Wooster does not encourage the use of alcohol or condone drinking patterns or behaviors that are detrimental to the health, safety, and welfare of the individual or the local community. Alcohol may be consumed, but not abused, by students who are of legal age in their host countries.

That said many accidents involving study abroad participants are related to the use and abuse of alcohol. Make sure that you always drink responsibly and remember that you remain responsible for your actions at all times. Also recognize that you are an ambassador for yourself, The College of Wooster, and your country, and behave accordingly.

The College of Wooster discourages the use of alcohol in any of its education abroad activities and prohibits the illegal use of alcohol in the host country. As in the United States, the distribution of alcohol to students who are not of legal drinking age in their host countries is prohibited. Any student who commits an alcohol infraction — including drunkenness or any abuse of alcohol during study abroad — may be subject to university disciplinary action.

Illegal Drug Use

It goes  without saying that the use of illegal drugs is a zero-tolerance policy. It is a serious criminal offense that will put the student and the entire group or program in jeopardy. Simply by virtue of enrolling in study abroad programs, all participants agree that they will refrain from using illegal drugs.

The consequences of illegal drug use during the program may include immediate expulsion from the program, total forfeiture of all fees paid to the program, and loss of all course credit.

In many countries the penalties for illegal drug use are stricter than those of the United States; some countries even administer the death penalty for illegal drug use. And, contrary to popular belief, diplomatic representatives and U.S. laws will be able to offer little or no help to students arrested and/or convicted of drug-related or other crimes.

The use of illegal drugs is no more acceptable in foreign cultures than in our own and is a serious criminal offense.

Assistance with Alcohol and Substance Abuse Problems

If a study abroad participant has alcohol or substance-abuse problems, they should seek assistance from their program.

On a Wooster TREK program, a student should request assistance from the Faculty Director. Also, if a student becomes incapacitated due to excessive alcohol consumption and/or illegal drug use, and needs medical attention, other participants are required to immediately seek medical treatment for that student and to contact the group leader in order to protect the health and well-being of the affected student.

After providing appropriate follow-up, the leader should contact the Global Engagement Office.

Medical Amnesty Policy

The College of Wooster is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all members of the campus community. There are times when a student may consume alcohol to a level of extreme intoxication, or a student may have a medical emergency following the use of drugs and/or alcohol. Signs of a medical emergency may include but are not limited to vomiting, loss of coordination or balance, loss of consciousness, and/or bouts of unresponsiveness. In those cases, the College considers the safety, health, and student well-being paramount to documenting students for violations of the code of student conduct.

To encourage students to seek help for students in need of medical assistance under those circumstances, the College will consider Medical Assistance Amnesty for both the student in need of medical assistance and the student(s) seeking help on behalf of that student.

 Students should familiarize themselves with this policy before traveling abroad with a group of students.