Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention
Learn about available resources to prevent drug and alcohol abuse at PNW and the penalties for abuse including how financial aid funds are affected.
Purdue Northwest has resources to help those with a drug or alcohol problem
Penalties
A federal or state drug conviction may disqualify a student for Federal Student Aid (FSA) funds. Convictions will count against a student for aid eligibility purposes if the offense occurred while the student was enrolled and receiving federal student aid. The chart below illustrates the period of ineligibility for FSA funds.
| OFFENSE | POSSESSION OF ILLEGAL DRUGS | SALE OF ILLEGAL DRUGS |
|---|---|---|
| Ineligibility for Federal Student Aid Funds | ||
| 1st offense | 1 year from date of conviction | 2 years from date of conviction |
| 2nd offense | 2 years from date of conviction | Indefinite period |
| 3rd offense | Indefinite period | Indefinite period |
If a student was convicted of both possessing and selling illegal drugs, and the periods of ineligibility are different, the student will be ineligible for the longer period.
A student regains eligibility the day after the period of ineligibility ends or when he or she successfully completes a qualified drug rehabilitation program that includes passing two unannounced drug tests given by such a program. Further drug convictions will result in ineligibility for FSA funds.
Students denied eligibility for an indefinite period can regain eligibility after completing any of the following three options:
- Successfully completing a rehabilitation program which includes passing two unannounced drug tests from such a program;
- Having the conviction reversed, set aside, or removed from the student’s record so that fewer than two convictions for sale or three convictions for possession remain on the record; or
- Successfully completing two unannounced drug tests which are part of a rehab program.
In such cases, the nature and dates of the remaining convictions will determine when the student regains eligibility. It is the student’s responsibility to certify to the Financial Aid Office when a rehabilitation program has been successfully completed.
Standards for a qualified drug rehabilitation program
A qualified drug rehabilitation program must include at least two unannounced drug tests and satisfy at least one of the following requirements:
- Be qualified to receive funds directly or indirectly from a federal, state or local government program.
- Be qualified to receive payment directly or indirectly from a federally or state-licensed insurance company.
- Be administered or recognized by a federal, state, or local government agency or court.
- Be administered or recognized by a federally or state-licensed hospital, health clinic, or medical doctor.