RID is partnering with SSDP (Students for a Sensible Drug Policy) as a CHEAR (Coalition for Higher Education Act Reform) member. SSDP is working to reform the Higher Education Act to eliminate the financial penalties for college students with drug convictions. RID also supports SSDP efforts with the Good Samaritan Bill which grants immunity to those who assist getting an intoxicated person medical attention. For more information on these two initiatives, please read our descriptions and go check out their website at www.ssdp.org.
In 1998, Congress added a provision to the Higher Education Act that strips financial aid from college students convicted of drug offenses. Since then, more than 200,000 students have been punished by the aid elimination penalty. Education and addiction recovery advocates overwhelmingly oppose the penalty since it actually causes more - not less - drug abuse by blocking access to education. Read more about the Higher Education Act at ssdp.org
Good Samaritan Policies (also known as Medical Amnesty Policies) are life-saving measures that enable people to make responsible decisions by shielding them from punishment when they call for medical help during an emergency relating to alcohol or other drugs. Since the threat of punitive policies can often cause hesitation during confusing and stressful party situations, the existence of a Good Samaritan Policy is essential to ensuring that people are able to stay alive and receive help when they are in trouble.
According to SSDP's research, there are more than 90 schools with Good Samaritan Policies on the books. More than half of these policies cover situations involving all substances, while just under half cover only those involving alcohol. Read more about the Good Samaritan Bill at ssdp.org