UF creates policy to ensure students seek help during emergencies

April 25, 2011

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — To help ensure all students call for medical help for themselves or their friends during alcohol, drug or other health emergencies, the University of Florida has adopted a policy waiving student disciplinary action under certain conditions.

UF’s new Medical Amnesty Policy, known as MAP, aims to remove unnecessary concerns about disciplinary action for students seeking assistance in response to serious or life-threatening incidents related to alcohol or drugs. The policy also can mitigate the potential consequences for student organizations in these serious circumstances.

The new policy was announced at today’s meeting of the Community Alcohol Coalition, which works to help identify strategies to decrease the harms associated with excessive high-risk drinking and to reduce underage drinking. Formed in 2005 in response to the alcohol-related deaths of a number of UF students, the coalition is made up of representatives of UF, the city of Gainesville, Alachua County, Santa Fe College, Alachua County School Board, local law enforcement agencies and the UF student body.

“We want our students to pick up the phone immediately when confronted with a medical emergency without having second thoughts,” Interim Vice President for Student Affairs Dave Kratzer said. “A delayed reaction could mean the difference between the life and death of one of our students.”

Alcohol poisoning and drug overdoses can be fatal. Nationally, more than 1,800 college-aged students die each year from alcohol-related incidents, including car accidents. Additionally, the number of students ages 18 to 24 suffering injuries related to alcohol each year approaches 600,000.

UF’s Medical Amnesty Policy formalizes an alternative process for all students regardless of age who initiate and seek assistance and/or medical treatment for themselves or another person. Those eligible for the Medical Amnesty Policy as determined by the Dean of Students Office will be referred to the GatorWell Health Promotion Services office for assessment, counseling and possible treatment without Student Code of Conduct charges.

For student organizations hosting an event where an alcohol or drug-related medical emergency occurs, utilization of the policy may mitigate consequences. Actions taken to seek medical assistance would be considered favorably during any potential sanction hearings, the policy states.

The Medical Amnesty Policy does not apply to students engaging in criminal activity including the illegal distribution of illicit substances, harassment or assault.

Student safety is the university’s No. 1 priority and this policy builds upon the Emergency Room Policy announced in early 2009. The Emergency Room Policy addressed students’ concerns about the university being contacted by the hospital when treating students for alcohol and drug issues. As a result of this misperception, students were hesitant to call for help in serious or life-threatening situations relating to alcohol and/or drug issues.

The Emergency Room Policy highlighted the fact that hospitals including Shands at UF and North Florida Regional Medical Center do not notify police or UF when a student is seen in the emergency room for an alcohol or drug-related incident.

The effectiveness of both policies depends on the responsible and quick actions of students, said Maureen Miller, UF’s coordinator for Alcohol & Other Drug Prevention in GatorWell Health Promotion Services.

“If students find themselves in a situation where alcohol and/or drug consumption has occurred and they are unsure if medical assistance is needed, err on the side of caution and call for help,” Miller said. “This is the most important thing they can do.”

Both policies can be found on the Student Affairs website at: http://www.ufsa.ufl.edu/committe/ade/ade.shtml.