"On the night TJ McGee overdosed from a mixture of drugs and alcohol in his freshman year at UC Berkeley, his friends found him passed out in the hallway by their shared dorm room. The roommates tried to help, but when McGee stopped breathing, they called 911. McGee survived and, racked with guilt over what happened that night, committed to confronting his substance-use problem."
"The letter said the administration would be placing McGee on academic probation for violating Berkeley's residential conduct rules against drug and alcohol possession, use and distribution - possibly jeopardizing his academic career. "They made me feel as if I was a villain for the choices I made," said McGee, 20, now a junior. "I felt shameful enough already.""
TJ McGee overdosed on a mixture of drugs and alcohol during his freshman year at UC Berkeley and was found passed out in his dorm hallway. Roommates called 911 after he stopped breathing and McGee survived. Campus officials placed him on academic probation for violating residential conduct rules on drug and alcohol possession, use, and distribution, which compounded his guilt. McGee now supports California Assembly Bill 602, which would bar public colleges and universities from punishing students who seek emergency medical assistance for overdoses and require rehabilitation options while mandating treatment participation for those who call for help. The bill passed both legislative houses and awaits the governor's signature. Overdose remains the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 44, according to CDC data.
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