Alcohol and drugs

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Alcohol and drugs

University culture can involve peer pressure to drink alcohol to excess and experiment with drugs. Know the facts and where to get help.

Moving to university may be the first time a student is independent of family. Experimenting with drugs and excessive drinking may seem socially acceptable. Others may be dealing with complex personal issues as well as their studies and turn to alcohol or drugs to help them cope.

It’s important to recognise that not every person fits into one pattern of symptoms. People are impacted in a variety of ways. The earlier the problem is addressed, the less likely that drugs or alcohol will cause serious consequences for you, some of which are outlined below.

Loss of concentration – you are more likely to miss classes, submit work late and achieve poor results for coursework and exams
Risk of dependence or addiction
Increased vulnerability and loss of control – you are more likely to be a victim of violence and sexual assault and have unprotected sex which can lead to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unplanned pregnancy
Changes in weight and overall worsening of health in the short term. In the long term, risk of liver disease, heart attack and various cancers
Increased anxiety and depression and, in extreme cases, drug-induced psychosis.

More information

Alcohol

Drinking alcohol in moderation is an enjoyable and usually harmless feature of student life. However, getting drunk regularly and binge drinking can have potentially serious physical, social and academic effects.

At BU we are committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of our students. We strongly believe that a healthy lifestyle offers the best opportunity of academic success. We encourage all our students to take their own welfare seriously by eating and sleeping well, taking regular exercise and, if they choose to drink alcohol, doing so in moderation.

The drinkaware website provides information about alcohol consumption, a calculator to show you how many units you are drinking and the effects this can have on you as well as recommended drinking guidelines and ways you can reduce the amount that you drink. You can download their free drinkaware app. For further information, help and advice, check out FRANK and Rehab 4 Addiction.

The Drinking & You website contains the government guidelines on how many units are in drinks and simple ways to cut down if you are drinking too much. The Alcohol Education Trust offers tips for staying safe while drinking.

Research has been published by BU academics around the subject of social norms and alcohol relating to students. Dr John McAlaney has looked at perceived behaviours, the overestimation of alcohol consumption and empowering students to make informed decisions about their own alcohol use.  Find out more.

Drugs

You may feel enticed or even pressured to experiment with drugs at university, but drugs are illegal for a reason. A small but significant proportion of regular drug users can become reliant on cannabis or even addicted to stronger drugs like heroin or cocaine.

Visit the DrugWise website for detailed, evidence-based information. The Priory Group have put together an interactive webpage which gives information about the long term effects of taking drugs. For further information, help and advice, check out Frank, Know the Score and Rehab 4 Addiction.

Be aware that disciplinary procedures for misconduct can result if a student uses and/or supplies drugs on university or SUBU premises or any associated third-party premises such as student accommodation. Depending on the class of drug, possession can carry a prison sentence and ultimately affect your place at BU.

Smoking

As with alcohol, there can be a lot of social pressure for students to smoke. 

Smoking increases your risk of lung cancer and heart disease. It prematurely ages the skin, increases the risk of cellulite and triples your chance of getting wrinkles around your eyes and mouth. It also causes impotence and reduced sperm count in men and reduces fertility in women. It can lead to gum disease, makes the body store fat around internal organs and put you at greater risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

Don’t assume that smoking will help you through the stress of exams. Medical evidence shows that smoking doesn’t actually calm you down. It’s simply that nicotine cravings between cigarettes make you feel stressed and anxious, so when you have one you feel temporarily calm. You’ll feel less stressed once you quit and no longer have cravings.

If you’re already a smoker, becoming a student could be the ideal time to quit. Going to university can be a fresh start, providing the opportunity for a more positive and healthier lifestyle. Find out how the NHS can help you stop smoking or contact QUIT for support to stop smoking.

Legal Highs (NPS)

Legal, or herbal, highs are untested and unregulated, are often stronger than other illegal drugs and cannot legally be sold for human consumption. They are also known as New Psychoactive Substances or NPS. The UK Psychoactive Substances Act came into effect on 26 May 2016, which banned NPS.

This legislation makes it an offence to produce, supply, offer to supply, possess with intent to supply, import or export (including over the internet) any psychoactive substances.

It’s important to know they are not safe to take and neither are they guaranteed to be legal. So-called legal highs can cause serious side effects and have been linked to emergency hospital admissions, where the consequences can be fatal. Mixing NPS with alcohol or other drugs can also be harmful.

For more information visit the FRANK or Know the Score websites.

Support from BU

The [email protected] team can be your first point of contact. They offer confidential discussions and can signpost you to the services that will most benefit you.

Support is available on campus from Student Wellbeing, which offers free confidential support, counselling, practical advice around your wellbeing and information about drug and alcohol services that can be accessed in the community. You can also talk to Faith & Reflection, the Student Medical Centre or your own GP. SUBU Advice can also provide help and support.

If you wish to improve your lifestyle, our SportBU facilities include a gym, fitness classes and a variety of sporting activities. Discover new social groups through the many clubs and societies run by the Students’ Union.

If you're in BU accommodation, our ResLifeBU team are there to support your wellbeing and run regular alcohol-free events.

If alcohol or drug issues are starting to affect your academic work, you can talk to your Personal Tutor, Programme Leader (PL) or Programme Support Officer (PSO). Depending on your circumstances, you may be entitled to an extension or postponement. Find out more about Exceptional Circumstances.

External support

If you want to go elsewhere for support, have a look at the wellbeing resources page for details of local and national services that provide education, counselling and one-to-one support.

We Are With You is a charity providing free, confidential support to people experiencing issues with drugs, alcohol or mental health. LiveWell Dorset can support with lifestyle changes including reducing alcohol use and and smoking.

FRANK, Know the Score and Rehab 4 Addiction have lots of useful information on their websites and you can also contact their helplines if you or someone you know has been affected by substance misuse. They can help signpost you to the most effective treatments, including alcohol rehab, drug rehab, detox services, intervention, aftercare and outpatient counselling.

Wellbeing resources

No matter your concern, we are here to help you. Check our comprehensive list of BU support services, as well as local and national agencies and charities to help find the right support for you.

SUBU Advice

Free independent and confidential advice on housing, money and personal matters offered by BU Students' Union.

Student Wellbeing service

Run in partnership with Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust, our Student Wellbeing service is a free, confidential, specialist service designed to help students who need specific support.