How to embrace harm reduction on campus

In July 2024, Universities UK (UUK) published its much-anticipated guidance, Enabling Student Health and Success, recommending that universities adopt a harm reduction approach to drugs.

The message was clear:

“A harm reduction approach does not involve condoning or seeking to normalise the use of drugs. Instead, it aims to minimise the harms which may occur if students take drugs.

As institutions up and down the country reflect on how to bring this framework to life, at Cardiff Met University and Cardiff Met SU, we are already looking back at our progress and sharing what we’ve learned from embracing harm reduction long before the guidance landed.

For Cardiff Met, the decision to develop a harm reduction policy wasn’t sparked by external pressure; it came from a growing awareness that universities have a responsibility to help students make safe, informed choices about drugs and alcohol.

With increasing evidence of the risks students face, our university’s leadership team decided to take a bold step forward, demonstrating real commitment to student wellbeing.

With the policy written, we wanted to go further, making it meaningful, actionable, and deeply rooted in campus life.

Get with the programme

In 2022, we joined SOS-UK’s Drug and Alcohol Impact Programme, a move that proved to be the catalyst for turning our policy into practice. The programme gave us the tools and structure to operationalise our vision, ensuring the policy wasn’t just words on paper but an active part of campus life.

What made the programme work so well? Collaboration. From day one, the university and SU worked hand in hand, a key recommendation now echoed in UUK’s guidance.

Over the past two years, Cardiff Met has made harm reduction a core part of campus culture. Here’s how:

• Listening to students: Research into student drug and alcohol use on campus was our starting point. Initial findings led to conversations with groups like the Disabled Students Society and Neurodivergent Students Society to better understand diverse experiences and needs.
• Training: Recognising rising risks like nitazenes, we delivered naloxone training to staff in accommodation, security, and the SU, ensuring the campus was ready to intervene in an emergency.
• Tackling stigma: We’ve worked hard to reduce the fear of seeking support by changing how we talk about drug use, for both students and staff.
• Awareness events: With support from local service CAVDAS, we hosted drug and alcohol awareness events throughout the year, creating a visible, approachable space for education.
• Stronger community partnerships: Our relationship with CAVDAS has deepened, providing better referral pathways, staff training, and educational resources for students.
• Educating students: From e-learning modules during induction to targeted campaigns like raising awareness about performance-enhancing drugs, we’ve ensured students have access to relevant, practical information.

This commitment paid off. In 2023, we became Wales’ first SU-university partnership to receive the Drug and Alcohol Impact accreditation, something we’re incredibly proud of!

Our harm reduction work also earned us recognition in the “Outstanding Impact in Education” category at the Mental Health and Wellbeing Awards Wales, proof that the importance of harm reduction is being noticed far beyond the higher education sector.

Our experience, and the UUK guidance, has made one thing crystal clear, harm reduction isn’t just about reducing risk; it’s about creating a healthier, more supportive campus environment. Harm reduction isn’t just nice to have, it’s a must-have for every university that takes student wellbeing seriously.

Our top tips

Listening to students is essential—research and open conversations provide invaluable insights into the challenges they face. By actively engaging with their perspectives, you can identify their needs and develop more effective solutions.

Collaboration across campus is equally important. Building strong partnerships between your university, the students’ union, and external services ensures a unified and comprehensive approach to support. These alliances strengthen the safety net available to students.

Training your teams is another critical step. Equipping staff with the right knowledge and tools, whether it’s through training or crafting stigma-free communication, enables them to respond effectively and compassionately in moments of need.

And clear communication is key. Students must know where to turn for support and, just as importantly, feel reassured that they will be met with understanding, not judgment. A transparent and welcoming approach can make all the difference.

At Cardiff Met, we’ve seen first-hand how adopting a harm reduction approach transforms not just policies, but campus life.