Arkansas Administrative Code
Agency 165 - Arkansas Rehabilitation Services
Rule 165.00.02-001 - Substance Free Policy
Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 2, February 2024
PURPOSE
ARS desires to create an environment that protects the public health and safety of ARS customers and staff as it relates to substance use. The purpose of this policy is to assure ARS customers with disabilities have available vocational rehabilitation services to assist them in becoming employed without the risk of being affected by others utilizing drugs, alcohol or other substances. The potential for violence in the school or workplace is very real. This is exacerbated by the prevalence of illegal substances among our customers. It is our obligation to employees and other customers that the ARS experience is provided in the safest and most positive settings possible.
SCOPE
This policy is applicable to all customers seeking, applying for or receiving assistance from ARS.
POLICY
Unlawful manufacturing, distributing, dispensing, possession of, or the use of a controlled substance, illegal use of substances (drugs, alcohol, inhalants and steroids) while on any statewide agency premises or actively participating in an ARS program is prohibited. Any ARS customer violating this policy will be subject to disciplinary action.
The specifics of this policy are:
1. Transfer, sale, manufacture or use of a controlled substance, illegal use of substances and/or alcohol to minors by an ARS customer can be grounds for disciplinary action.
2. Use of prescription drugs other than prescribed by a licensed health care professional is not permitted, and abuse of prescribed drugs other than the prescribed amount.
3. Abuse of other substances, such as abuse of inhalants and steroids is not permitted.
4. The use of alcohol is not permitted on state premises or during the delivery of services away from state premises.
ARS CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITY
1. ARS customers seeking, applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation services or pre-employment related services may receive a request from ARS to submit to a drug test, alcohol test or reasonable-suspicion testing.
2. ARS customers refusing to submit to testing may be subject to disciplinary action.
3. ARS customers with alcohol breath test confirmation of a breath alcohol content .08 percent or more will be subject to disciplinary action.
4. ARS customers residing at HSRC may be required to return to their field counselor for assistance with counseling and/or treatment.
5. ARS customers who reside at HSRC may randomly have their premises searched by a drug dog or designated personnel as deemed necessary by the HSRC Administrator. The customer will be asked to be present at the time of the search.
6. ARS customers are required to inform the agency within (5) days after a conviction related to substance use, where the violation occurred on the statewide agency premises or while in a program being funded by ARS. A conviction means a pleading or finding of guilt (including a plea of nolo contendere) or a sentence by a court of competent jurisdiction.
7. ARS customers may be required, as part of resuming services under their Individual Plan of Employment, to successfully finish a substance abuse rehabilitation program sponsored by an approved private or governmental institution or 12-Step Recovery Program. ARS may, with agreement between the customer and counselor, provide assistance with such a program.
8. ARS customers entering a training/internship/apprenticeship or employment related program, requiring drug or alcohol screening as part of the process that do not pass the screening are subject to disciplinary action.
9. ARS customers who are high school students fall under both their school policies and this policy while actively participating in an ARS program.
SCREENINGS
ARS designated staff will be required to assure these tests are performed by a certified laboratory and reviewed by an official health professional for interpretation. ARS will provide payment for the required testing procedures under the arrangement of the counselor. For students at Hot Springs Rehabilitation Center (HSRC), samples will be collected by the HSRC Hospital Laboratory during working hours or by a certified laboratory after hours and the testing will be completed by a non-agency laboratory.
Types of Test
Drug Test(s) includes urine and/or blood specimen*
Alcohol Test(s) includes breath analysis, urine and/or blood specimen*
Confirmation Test
Reasonable -suspicion testing
*Specimens will be collected in conformance with Hospital Licensing Regulations.
DISCIPLINARY ACTION
An ARS customer who violates this policy may be disciplined in one or more of the following ways:
* a behavioral contract
* referral for substance abuse counseling
* referral to a substance abuse rehabilitation program
* referral to a 12-Step Program of Recovery
* Suspension or termination of services, in accordance with 29 USC § 705 Sec. 102 (c) (7) Impact on Provision of Services
ARKANSAS REHABILITATION SERVICES SUBSTANCE FREE POLICY
As a customer of Arkansas Rehabilitation Services (ARS), I hereby certify, from my signature below, that I have received a copy of the agency's policy regarding the Substance Free Policy. (This has been provided in the appropriate format.) I understand that unlawful manufacturing, distributing, dispensing, possession of, or the use of a controlled substance, illegal use of substances while on any statewide agency premises or actively participating in an ARS program is prohibited. I understand a violation of this policy will subject me to disciplinary action.
The policy has been explained to me clearly, I understand my responsibilities, and I agree to abide by the terms of this policy. I confirm that my guardian(s) or I have been provided a copy.
Customer's Signature: __________________
Parent/Guardian _______________________
Customer's Printed Name:
SSN: _______________________
Date: _______________________
DEAF OUTREACH CENTER (DOC)
I have received a copy of the policy concerning drug and alcohol use of people who go to Deaf Outreach Center (DOC). If I am illegally using drugs, alcohol or other substances, I understand to come to DOC, I must want to stop using. I must demonstrate that I am trying to stop using.
If I want to go or continue to go to DOC, I must follow the DOC rules about drug and illegal use of alcohol. If I am arrested or convicted of a substance abuse offense, I must tell DOC within in five (5) days of this conviction.
Customer's Signature
Parent/Guardian ___________________________________
Customer's Printed Name
SSN: ________________________
Date: ________________________
Substance Free Policy Definitions:
1. ARS refers to Arkansas Rehabilitation Services.
2. Customers refer to ARS customers with disabilities, which includes referrals, applicants and those receiving VR services.
3. Drug and illegal use of drugs as described by the Rehabilitation Act as amended -
4. Right and advocacy provisions as described by the Rehabilitation Act as amended -
Nothing in clause (i) shall be construed to exclude as an individual with a disability, an individual whom-
Notwithstanding clause (i), for purposes of programs and activities providing health services and services provided under titles I, II, and III, an individual shall not be excluded from the benefits of such programs or activities on the basis of his or her current illegal use of drugs if he or she is otherwise entitled to such services.
5. Drug Test means any chemical, biological or physical instrument analysis administered by a laboratory authorized to do so pursuant to this policy for the purpose of determining the presence or absence of a drug or its metabolites pursuant to regulations governing drug testing adopted by the Department of Transportation or such other recognized authority approved by rule by the Commissioner.
6. Alcohol Test means an analysis of breath, urine or blood or any other analysis, which determines level or absence of alcohol as authorized by the Department of Transportation in it rules and guidelines concerning alcohol and drug testing. A breath test will consist of using an Evidential Breath Test Device approved by the National Highway Traffic Safety (NHTSA) for evidential testing of breath of alcohol content. ( 49 C.F.R. 40 Part 40.3)
7. Confirmation Test- In drug testing, a second analytical procedure to identify the presence of a specific drug or metabolite. This test is independent of the previous screening test and uses a different technique and chemical principle from that of the screening test in order to ensure reliability and accuracy. (Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) is the only authorized confirmation method for cocaine, marijuana, opiates, amphetamines, and phencyclidine.) In alcohol testing, a second test, following a screening test with a result of 0.02 or greater that provides quantitative data of alcohol concentration. ( 49 C.F.R. 40 Part 40.3)
8. Prescribed medication means medication prescribed by licensed health care professional.
9. Reasonable-suspicion testing means drugs, alcohol or other substance testing. This testing is based on a belief that an ARS customer is using or has used drugs, alcohol or other substances in violation of the covered policy drawn from specific objective, articuable facts, and reasonable inferences drawn from those facts in light of experience. Among other things, such facts and inferences may be based upon:
10. Specimen means tissue, fluid, or a human product of the human body capable of revealing the presence of substance used or their metabolite levels.
11. Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Program means a service provider that provides confidential, timely and expert identification, assessment, and resolution to the ARS customers substance abuse. This program will be an approved private or governmental institution for the treatment of substance abuse.
12. Other Designated Staff refers to ARS staff approved by the Commissioner, which are responsible to assure a Substance Free ARS environment. These staff will be responsible for maintaining control and accountability from the initial collection of information to the final disposition of the situation. Also, accountable for each stage of handling, testing and storing specimens and reporting test result.
13. Other Substances means inhalants and steroids.
14. Inhalants means a product that-
15. Legal Steroids, which may be misused, are:
Anabolic steroid is the familiar name for synthetic substances related to the male sex hormones (androgens). They promote the growth of skeletal muscle (anabolic effects) and the development of male sexual characteristics (androgenic effects), and also have some other effects. Steroid Supplements, such as dehydroepian-drosterone (DHEA) and androstenedione (street name Andro) can be purchased legally without a prescription through many commercial sources including health food stores. They are often referred to as dietary supplements, although they are not food products.