Students and Drugs: recreational fun or time for a tough crackdown?

The debate surrounding drugs never fails to rear its head- whether in politics or the media.Last week the mayor of Amsterdam decided that foreigners would not be banned from using the citys cannabis cafes after months of discussion surrounding new drug laws (a move that was heavily influenced by the effect that a ban would have on Amsterdams economy). Drug policy in the USA has also recently seen a shift as Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalise recreational marijuana use following a majority vote.

With drugs such a hot topic at the moment, we need to look at the issue closer to home and ask ourselves the question: are drugs seen as part and parcel of the University lifestyle?

Whether you have never taken an illegal substance before, or use drugs for recreational purposes, it is safe to say that most of you will be thinking that many of your peers use drugs on a regular basis particularly in social situations.

But this may not be true. According to a recent survey by studentbeans.com, drug-use at University is not as widespread as students perceive it to be. The research shows that 90% of students think that a large portion of their peers have tried illegal substances at University, whilst the reality shows that just under half of the sample have never taken any form of illegal drug.

The research also suggests that students are less likely to start experimenting with drugs whilst at University, with 79 % of the respondents claiming to have tried an illegal substance before their Uni experience.

Unsurprisingly, of those who admit to have taken drugs whilst at University, 77% have taken cannabis- the perceived soft drug that is currently classified as a Class B. This is followed by ecstasy (39%) and cocaine (24%). Perhaps the most worrying statistic to emerge from the report is that of the 66% of respondents who had been offered drugs at University, 27% had been approached on campus.

Responding to the results, Oliver Brann, editor of studentbeans.com said:

The worry here is the perception rather than reality. Young people are very peer-led and if they think that all their friends are experimenting with drugs, they may be more likely to try it for themselves. In reality the number of students who are taking drugs is much lower than they think.

So is it time to re-think our blas attitude towards drugs in favour of a tougher crackdown or are students given a bad name?

Although the survey purports to show that drug taking at Uni is not as prevalent as students think, 55% is a large portion of the student community to have dabbled in drugs. What the survey failed to ask was whether students are fully aware of the effects of drug taking on their health and ability to study.

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Students and Drugs: recreational fun or time for a tough crackdown?