If you have experimented with drugs at university and feel like it's having a negative impact on your life or studies, here's where to go for help...
Updated: 04 Jun 2026
Despite the fact that many universities may not openly discuss it, drug use is part of some students’ university experience. A 2018 survey by the National Union of Students (NUS) and Release found that 56% of the 2,810 students surveyed had used drugs at least once.
The NUS and Release ‘Taking the Hit’ 2018 report said 39% of respondents to their survey reported current drug use.
In that survey, cannabis was the most commonly reported drug, while ecstasy and MDMA were the second most commonly reported among respondents who used drugs.
A total of 6% of students who reported having used drugs, said they’d used ‘study drugs’ – substances taken to improve concentration and stamina – at least once a month. One in ten respondents said they had taken study drugs at least once.
Among survey respondents who used drugs, house parties, homes and student accommodation were commonly reported settings for drug use.
A majority of the students who had taken drugs said they’d done so due to the impact on social experience and it helped with making friends and feeling closer to people.
The Take the Hit report said 210 respondents who have used drugs reported having come into contact with the criminal justice system as a result of doing so.
For most this meant they had been searched for drugs, with 26% saying they had received a caution, 10% had been arrested, 8% fined and 7% charged with possession.
The report also found mixed self-reported effects on mental health: some respondents felt drug use had a positive impact, while others felt it made their mental health worse.
University life brings student new found freedom and independence. It also brings a wide range of emotions: excitement, nervousness, anxiety and even stress.
Because of this, many students decide to experiment with drugs of some kind at university: whether it's recreational drugs to have a good time on a night out, or drugs to help them study longer and harder. For many, drug use is very occasional and doesn't impact them, but for others it can start to negatively affect their health, relationships, and studies. If you have taken drugs – for whatever reason – and have started to experience any of the following, perhaps it's time to take action:
Sudden changes in behaviour or mood swings
Withdrawal from family and friends
Loss of interest in hobbies and activities
Trouble sleeping or sleeping more than usual
Neglect of responsibilities
If noticing these changes is difficult, ask yourself ‘has my performance at uni suffered as a result of my drug use?’ If the answer is yes, you know that there is a problem and should begin to seek help. Recognising that drug use may be becoming a problem is an important first step, and asking for help can be the next one.
Not everyone who chooses to use substances sees it as a negative thing or feels they need to access help. There are online forums and advice services available to those who just want to understand more about other people’s experiences, the impacts and legalities of substances.
Frank is one place to look for this – priding itself on providing ‘honest information about drugs’.
Asking for help, especially when you are concerned about your substance use or that of someone else, isn’t an easy thing to do – but it’s important to state that it doesn’t make you weak. Don’t let pride or fear stand in the way of getting help.
The research from NUS found that, as well as recreational use, there were also a number of users of "study drugs" – those taken to help with concentration. A third of users also said that they were using drugs to reduce stress.
Talking to family or friends can help, but you can also speak to your GP or contact a local drug treatment service directly if you want advice, support, or help cutting down or stopping. More information about this can be found online.
It’s important to consider that both the academic and social sides of university life can contribute to issues with addiction, be that through stress-related pressure or social pressure. If you understand this, you may well be able to seek support before turning to drugs.
If substance use has slipped into addiction, it's not easy to stop on your own – and may not be medically advisable. There are a range of support and treatments available:
Your university support team, your GP, or local and national advice lines may be able to signpost you to treatment providers. You may well be able to access treatment for free, with paid options also potentially available.
Residential rehab may be an option for some people, particularly if their needs are more severe or complicated, or if other forms of support have not worked. It gives you time away from everyday pressures to focus on treatment and recovery.
This works by giving you the opportunity to look at your problems in a different way. Trained professionals may use approaches such as counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy to help you understand patterns in your substance use and develop ways to manage them.
The body can react in many different ways to having its drug supply cut off – and this can depend on how long you have been using drugs for and what type of drug it was. This will also play a factor in how long the detox lasts for. If you are dependent on drugs, it can be dangerous to stop suddenly without medical advice, so seek professional support before trying to detox.
Clinicians can advise whether you are a good candidate for a managed community-based detox or whether you should do this in a residential, hospital or clinic environment.
If you are worried that you may be becoming addicted to drugs, knowing when to ask for help is the first step to getting support. Professional support does exist – you don’t have to suffer in silence.
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