Colleges need to offer their students more information about drugs in order to keep them safe, a new report suggests.

In its Taking the Hit report, the NUS students’ union and drugs charity Release have published the results of the first-ever survey of student drug use.

The report’s authors say that drug use patterns between students in FE and HE are broadly similar, but FE student drug use is slightly lower than in HE. FE respondents to the survey were also generally more likely to say that they have taken a particular drug in the past, but no longer do, in comparison to their peers at university.

The NUS says its vision for the research is to keep students safe and challenge the stereotypes around drug use, but at present institutions are failing to protect students from the potential harms of drugs.

Students ‘do not get right support’

Jess Bradley, NUS trans officer and a former leader at the Students for Sensible Drug Policy UK organisation, said: “We welcome the findings of the survey and having a more holistic understanding of student drug use. The overwhelming narrative is one of students not getting the right support from educational institutions, and of being harmed by punitive drug policies where they are in place.

“National drug policy is frequently criticised for its moralistic approach which lacks a basis in evidence and focuses on punishment rather than support. Our research takes into account the contexts, motivations and impacts of student drug use and has highlighted areas of best practice in evidence-based approaches which champion harm reduction and human rights.

“It’s clear that our educational institutions must engage in meaningful work to minimise any harms associated with both the criminalisation of students who use drugs and of drug use itself.”

Record number of drug deaths

Zoe Carre, policy researcher at Release, said the charity is deeply concerned about the punitive approach taken towards student drug use.

“The fact that at least 21 students were permanently excluded from their studies for simply possessing a drug, and one in four students caught with drugs for their own personal use was reported to the police, is archaic and harmful - this type of approach prevents people from seeking support if they need it.

“The reality is that students take drugs and educational institutions must have policies and procedures in place that protect the student population, this can only be done by providing vital harm reduction information so that they can make more informed choices and be as safe as possible.

“We are witnessing record high deaths involving cocaine and MDMA/ecstasy, and it is incumbent on institutions to take steps to protect the health and wellbeing of students who use drugs.”

The report includes the results of a survey of 2,810 UK-based students, a fifth being FE students or apprentices.

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