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Despite the fact that many universities refuse to admit it, there is a strong drug culture across the UK. Research from the National Union of Students (NUS) and the charity Release found two in five students are regular drug users, with 56% of the 2,810 students they surveyed having used drugs at least once.
Drugs students report using and why
The NUS and Release ‘Taking the Hit’ report said 39% of respondents to their survey reported current drug use.
Cannabis was the drug reported as most commonly used and was the drug reported to be used commonly rather than on rare occasions.
Ecstasy and MDMA were the second most commonly used drug with two thirds (67%) of respondents who reported using drugs saying they had taken those substances.
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.
House parties were a popular location for drug use, with 86% saying they had used substances in those settings. But the same percentage said they’d used drugs either at home or in student accommodation.
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.
Reported impacts of student drug use
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.
Two thirds of respondents to the survey who had taken drugs felt it had positively impacted on a mental health issue but one third felt their mental health was worse as a result of drug use.
Changes in your behaviour
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 in 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 reasons – 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 you have an addiction is the first step to reaching recovery, asking for help is the second.
Asking for help
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 was 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.
Explaining why you started taking drugs to your family and friends, while difficult, could help you to better understand the situation and help you to find the best support possible.
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.
Treatments available
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.
Drug rehab
Proven to be the most effective treatment for drug addiction, it's a course of residential rehab treatment which allows you to solely concentrate on getting well. Rehab typically lasts for 28 days.
It's likely to include aspects of group therapy, talking therapy and detox, where appropriate.
Talking therapies
This works by giving you the opportunity to look at your problems in a different way. Trained clinicians use various methods to support you including cognitive behaviour therapy and psychoanalysis.
Detox
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 dependent on drugs, it could be extremely harmful to detox unaided. You should have medical oversight to keep you safe. Seek professional support for a managed detox process.
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 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.
NEXT:
- Wellbeing at uni: how time with family and friends can benefit you
- How to support uni friends struggling with their mental health
