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The College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State
University has established the following on the Impaired Veterinary Student, in response
to the following attitudes and concerns:
Having humanitarian concern for all students,
including those impaired by alcohol and/or drug dependence.
Recognizing that substance abuse is a treatable
condition.
Acknowledging that, as an institution dedicated to
the healing arts, we should accept the responsibility and facilities the treatment and/or
rehabilitation of future veterinarians.
Encouraging all impaired veterinary students to seek
help and to cooperate in treatment.
Favoring the earliest possible intervention in cases
of veterinary student impairment, when personal, financial, and physical resources are
least affected.
Assuring that all actions on behalf of the impaired
student will be taken in such a manner as to preserve the student's right to continue
his/her veterinary education without restrictions or stigma on recovery or remission. The
student's right to confidentiality will be respected at all times.
The program is composed of eight parts.
Prevention- The goal will be to increase the level of
awareness in the student population of the problems facing the veterinary profession
relating to substance abuse and the measure being taken to address those problems.
Identifying the impaired individual- Referral to the
Dean's Office or the Student-Faculty committee will be done in absolute confidence
and may be done by anyone who has reason to suspect a problem exists including the
individual himself/herself.
Fact finding and verification- confidential
information gathering will be undertaken to accumulate facts pertaining to the situation
from those having pertinent information to contribute.
All measures will be taken to encourage the
individual to seek help.
Intervention- If all else fails, contact will be made
with a team of at least two persons who are trained members of an intervention team; one
of the members should be a recovering substance abuse individual. A check list of steps to
follow in this critical stage will be careful reviewed and followed to avoid, in so far as
possible, certain predictable consequences of such a confrontation. This check list is
detailed in the AVMA Directory under Guidelines.
Treatment-In most instances therapy at an approved
alcohol and drug treatment program or rehabilitation center is recommended.
Termination of active treatment-A long term follow-up
will be in place to lend support to those who have completed the treatment program.
Preventing recurrence- a strong support program will
be available as long as the student remains enrolled at Kansas State University, College
of Veterinary Medicine. Impaired students will be encouraged to seek support groups at the
state level once the degree work is completed.
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