We have published a report covering the work of our taskforce into tackling supply and demand for drugs in the context of student health and wellbeing.
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Enabling student health and success
Universities UK Drug Taskforce
Our taskforce was convened in 2022 to build a stronger evidence base to help universities understand and address student drug use. Previous research has shown a rise in drug use in the population as a whole but has not focused on students in particular.
The issue
This is a very challenging issue beyond universities and beyond the UK; it is a global societal issue with no single solution. As such, this report is not a blueprint for tackling the issue but aims to inform future thinking in this area. With student safety and wellbeing as its starting point, the report approaches the issue as a public health matter, looking at how to minimise harm by tackling supply, reducing demand and improving support.
Involving experts in health, justice, accommodation and education, the work was informed by a comprehensive literature and evidence review, a student survey and research with higher education providers which included both survey and roundtable discussions.
The report highlights successful and innovative case studies and outlines approaches for universities to consider adopting. Amongst these are working with partners – including the NHS and police – the training of staff, and the development and communication of clear and transparent drug policies.
Next steps
As a next step, the taskforce will be seeking to establish a small number of pilot study groups, led by a group of individual universities but working with local partners, to test and evaluate the broad approach set out in this report. Findings from these pilots will add important practical experience to this field and further support universities’ responses.
Professor Nic Beech, Vice Chancellor of the University of Salford and Chair of the Taskforce, said:
As educators, our priority is to see students succeed and we know that drug use can work against this, impacting students’ health, wellbeing, education, and future careers.
“Around one in eight of those we surveyed said they had used drugs in the past twelve months, and almost half of those wanted to reduce their use – but the evidence also shows fear can be a big deterrent in students seeking help to change their drug behaviour.
“Universities need to take a proactive role in showing students the risks of using drugs, but also in providing support to both users and non-users.
Professor Nic Beech
Vice Chancellor of the University of Salford and Chair of the Taskforce
Sandra Larmour is a campaigner on drug harms, having lost her daughter Jeni in October 2020. A coroner ruled that Jeni died after being given ketamine, while her judgement was impaired by alcohol.
Leaders in health and education alike must ensure work continues to understand and tackle this matter. The report rightly reads in favour of this being a wellbeing issue with a focus on reducing harms, and while I agree with this, it is also right to stress that this does not mean condoning drug use. The work that is being done, and which needs to be furthered to ensure the health and safety of our young people, is critical and further funding must be provided to address this.
Sandra Larmour
Contributors
Universities UK Drugs Taskforce
- Chair – Nic Beech, University of Salford
- Angela Halston, Independent HE
- Carmel Clancy, Middlesex University (Chair, Research Advisory Panel)
- Chris Laity, Universities Wales
- Chris Warrington, University of Leeds & AMOSSHE
- Dame Carol Black, Special Advisor
- Ed Day, Special Advisor
- Graham Towl, Durham University
- Hanna Head, University of Birmingham (Chair, Student Advisory Panel)
- Helen Galbraith, University of Chester & AHUA
- Jacqui Boddington, Cardiff Metropolitan University
- Jenny Shaw, Unite Students
- John de Pury, Universities UK
- Kate Wicklow, GuildHE
- Lauren Knight, Universities Scotland
- Mark Lay, National Police Chiefs’ Council
- Nicole Fung, RC Psych
- Owen Bowden-Jones, Special Advisor
- Richard Smith, Unite Students
- Robert Wolstenholme, Joint Combating Drugs Unit
- Sarah Purdy, University of Bristol
- Tracy Lumb, SOS-UK
- Viv Evans, AdFam