Most people (and that includes students) don’t use illegal drugs.
Of those who do, the vast majority will not experience serious harm or develop dependence (just like with alcohol).
Drug use peaks between the ages of 16-24. This overlaps with the age of onset of most common mental health conditions.
It also coincides with a period of transition for many young people as they leave familiar environments, structures and supports to start university.
Higher education providers have a responsibility to engage, educate and empower students to navigate these years with the knowledge and skills to reduce the risks related to substance use.
Reducing harm
Until recently the options available to them to address this have been limited. Responses are often reactive, sometimes punitive, with interventions prompted by a crisis.
This approach mirrors that seen more widely in society. Little attention is paid to the hidden masses within a population who might use substances but never come to the attention of the police or health services.
As an addiction psychiatrist I know all too well the harm drugs can cause people and their communities. Addiction very rarely sits in isolation of other psychiatric conditions, adverse childhood events and life traumas.
People are often unaware of developing problems or their personal vulnerabilities. For most people there is a10-year period between first use and seeking treatment.
Delays in accessing treatment can lead to more severe problems. There is a window of opportunity that we ignore at our peril.
That’s not for me
Those who use drugs often dismiss government crafted messaging as not being personally relevant. Addressing the harms that substance use cause will require fundamental changes in societal structures, policy and attitudes.
In the meantime, we can do something useful to reduce demand and the risks related to drug use. We can be honest and provide young people with information that is personally relevant, practical and timely, that raises awareness of personal vulnerabilities and allows them to make informed behavioural choices to optimise their heath, well-being and future.
At Staying Safe we want to help universities achieve these goals and keep their students safe.
Addressing drug issues in a diverse university community is complex. Universities must balance acknowledging and responding to drug use with potential reputational risks. Ignoring the issue or adopting ineffective harm reduction policies leaves students without the necessary knowledge and support during a high-risk period. Informed, engaged students are likely to be happier and more academically successful.
The Staying Safe Programme (SSP) is an online course designed to reduce demand and the risks related to the use of alcohol and other drugs, while supporting non-users to maintain abstinence.
SSP was developed through a collaboration between students and experts in psychiatry, public health, drugs, policy, and criminology. The first version (V1) consisting of 24 modules, was launched in October 2022 with NIHR Part 1 innovation funding and support from the University of Manchester and the University of South Wales.
Praised by students and university staff for its engaging, non-judgmental approach, the program significantly improved students’ knowledge, with correct responses on assessments increasing from 14% to 85%.
The SSP is also featured as one of four case studies in the recently released Universities UK Framework on addressing student drug use. SSP provides universities with a resource that enhances their health and well-being initiatives, reducing the risk of harm and promoting student health and success.
Honesty and information
Consistent with the UUK framework, the SSP ensures students have access to high-quality, evidence-based information about drug use, associated risks and behaviours. SSP has specifically avoided historical strategies often utilised within the drugs field such as authoritarian messaging, and fear mongering.
Honest, evidence-based harm reduction advice is essential to engage students and support informed decision-making, whether they use drugs or not.
In September 2023, SSP V2 was launched, expanding to 32 modules. SSP places substance use education within the broader context of university life. V2 addresses not only drugs, their effects and potential harms, but emphasises the link between substance use and mental health and other personal vulnerabilities.
There are modules on policing, civic responsibility, drugs and studying, drink-spiking, sexual assault, and consent. SSP guides students on how to support friends who might be struggling with substance use and how to manage drug-related emergencies. Students can choose which modules to complete.
The Staying Safe Programme aligns with current drug legislation and the UK’s new drug policy goals of reducing demand and diversion from the criminal justice system. SSP tackles stigma, the overlap between mental health and substance use, and the impact of drug use on risk behaviours, cognitive function and academic success.
The course can easily be adopted by any university, through integration into their existing learning management platform. SSP is GDPR compliant and adheres to the 2018 UK Data Protection Act. All data is anonymous and confidential, and access does not require email collection. An optional mandated course with certification is available as an alternative to punitive responses for students found using drugs.
V3, launching in September 2024, includes 10 new modules on neurodiversity, women and drugs, LGBTQI populations, sexual assault, grooming, domestic-violence, prescription medication use, vaping, and the risks of online drug/medication purchasing.
To learn more about the programme and to be part of the September 2024 roll-out, visit www.stayingsafe.university or contact adam@stayingsafer.com
