Rutgers University Students are expected to demonstrate respect and regard for the rights and property of all individuals; to take responsibility for and be conscious of the consequences of their actions; and to act to reduce the risks of damage and harm to themselves and others. We expect all members of the Rutgers community to protect one another from harmful behavior, including harmful activity resulting from the use or abuse of alcohol and other drugs, and urge students to take seriously the laws governing the use of alcohol and other drugs. Students are expected to abide by federal, state, and local laws, and are provided no special protection by Rutgers University if they are caught using, possessing, or distributing illegal drugs. Students are expected to be sensitive to the fact that many of their peers cannot or choose not to drink because of personal reasons or legal provisions. University standards of conduct related to drug and alcohol possession are more specifically set forth in the University Code of Student Conduct.

Health Risks
• Alcohol is a depressant drug that slows down the activity of the central nervous system (which controls the functions of the brain), impairing coordination, speech, body temperature, pulse, and breathing.
• Consumed in small amounts, alcohol reduces inhibitions, and provides the false sense of acting as a stimulant.
• Excessive drinking is to consume 4 or more drinks on any drinking occasion.
• Continued and excessive drinking over a short period of time will raise the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to and above the . 08 % level, which is considered legally drunk in the state of New Jersey .
• Drinking-related risks include (but are not limited to) accidents, violence, vandalism, personal injury, aggressive behavior, blackouts, hangovers, vomiting, and sexual assault.
Health risks vary from drug to drug. Below is a list of some commonly used drugs and their effects:
• Tobacco products kill more than 430,000 U.S. citizens each year; more than alcohol, cocaine, heroin, homicide, suicide, car accidents, and fire combined. Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in the U.S. Tobacco use can cause heart disease, stroke, heart attack, vascular disease and aneurysm.
• Marijuana can distort perception, lead to loss of coordination, increase heart rate, cause anxiety/panic attacks, and impair memory/learning. Long term effects include daily cough, symptoms of chronic bronchitis, difficulty sustaining attention and problems in registering, processing and using information.
• Cocaine can cause heart rhythm disturbances, heart attacks, chest pains, respiratory failure, strokes, seizures, headaches, abdominal pain, and nausea.
• LSD can cause dilated pupils, increased body temperature/heart rate, sweating, loss of appetite, sleeplessness, dry mouth, tremors, and long-lasting psychosis.
• GHB can cause nausea, vomiting, decreased heart rate, breathlessness, amnesia, coma and death.
• Ecstasy (MDMA) can cause confusion, depression, sleep problems, drug craving, severe anxiety, paranoia, muscle tension, involuntary teeth-clenching, nausea, blurred vision, rapid eye movement, fainting spells, chills/sweating, increased heart rate, and death.
• Inhalants can cause severe damage to the brain and central nervous system. This can lead to impaired perception and reasoning, memory loss, defective muscular coordination and dementia.
• Heroin is considered highly addictive and can cause liver disease, kidney failure, neurochemical changes in the brain and heart valve damage.
• Methamphetamine can cause increased heart rate, irregular heartbeat, irreversible damage to blood vessels in brain (producing stroke), respiratory problems, anorexia, cardiovascular collapse, and death. It can also affect your central nervous system by causing irritability, confusion, paranoia, convulsion, hypothermia, insomnia, tremors, aggressiveness, anxiety and convulsions.

Federal, State and Local Laws
Students, like any other citizens, are personally responsible for knowing the law. We have selected some of the key laws that we feel are most applicable to students. Campus police and other local authorities have arrested students for violating these (as well as other) laws. This listing is culled from federal, state, and municipal ordinances. It is not meant to be exhaustive. Complete listings of the laws, and information about them, are available at the university libraries.

Alcohol Related Laws in New Jersey

Drug-Related Laws in the State of New Jersey

University and College Sanctions