Drug and alcohol awareness
It’s important to be aware of the dangers around drug and alcohol misuse and where to find advice if you need help.
At the University, we believe in a harm reduction stance and strive to reduce barriers to accessing support and advice around drug and alcohol misuse.
Alcohol awareness
When drinking alcohol, it’s important to make sure you:
- pace yourself;
- understand the risks of drink spiking and never leave your drink out of sight;
- go out with a friend or someone you can trust and get each other home safely;
- stay away from rivers and canals – they can be dangerous and the risks of falling in are heightened after drinking.
For more information and advice on alcohol awareness, visit Drink Aware.
Drug awareness
It’s important to be aware of the dangers associated with taking drugs so that you can look after yourself.
Possession of most recreational drugs or psychoactive substances is illegal in the UK and therefore, any drugs or type of ‘legal high’ are also banned across campus, halls of residence and can come with disciplinary action.
However, disciplinary action will always be accompanied by an educational course and access to appropriate support.
Legal highs
Legal highs or New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) can be just as harmful as illegal drugs. They are poorly manufactured chemicals designed to be like illegal drugs but with a structural difference to avoid being controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
This means you cannot be sure what you're taking and doctors often struggle to treat people who fall ill after consuming NPS. These drugs haven’t been properly tested to see how toxic they are to humans, so their effects on health are unknown.
Staying safe tips
- don't be afraid to seek help and be honest about what you’ve taken;
- avoid mixing drugs, especially with alcohol;
- call for help if your friends are in danger;
- stay in a safe environment with people you trust.
Find out more information about staying safe on the Release website.
