How to stay safe during freshers’ week with The Drop: Drugs, alcohol and harm reduction

Lukas from the drop tells us how to stay safe during Freshers’ week if you are are consuming drugs and alcohol

3 months ago

Come freshers’ week it is no surprise that students may partake in recreational drug and alcohol consumption. With many people dubbing Bristol the “Ket capital of the country” it is vital that you stay informed and stay safe during freshers’ week and throughout the year. There are many ways you can reduce potential harm when taking drugs and alcohol. We spoke to Lukas from The Drop, a harm reduction charity with the Bristol Drug Project, for tips on how to stay safe during freshers’ week. Harm reduction aims to reduce alcohol and drug-related harm. It is an approach to drug use that focuses on advice to keep people safe if they choose to take them rather than a zero-tolerance approach. It accepts people people may choose to use drugs and provides support and advice rather than moralistic judgement.

#StartLowTakeitSlow

Starting low and taking it slow is one of the most important things to remember. Start with a low tester dose and wait an hour before having more. When it comes to pills – Size does matter. While not a fail-safe measure larger pill may mean a stronger dose so don’t have all of it to start. Some pills contain 4x an adult dose of MDMA so start with a quarter. Surveys have shown that many students often overestimate peer drug use meaning many people believe their peers are taking more drugs than they are in reality. Don’t feel pressured to keep up and always respect each other. Everyone has different relationships with drugs and alcohol so respect each other’s boundaries and do not feel ashamed to set your own. People will not care that you said no to a bump last night.

Get it tested

One of the best ways you can stay safe is to get your gear tested. University of Bristol students can get free Reagent testing kits from The Drop. You can order a test with this link. This gives you a more informed choice before taking the drug. This is particularly important for students moving into a new city. Drugs can vary regionally so it’s important to be aware that they may be different from what you are used to. You may have a different dealer and have no way of knowing what you are buying without getting it tested. The Drop will be handing out free at-home tests at the Welcome Fair on Friday 13th September. Alternatively, you can visit Wedinos where you can send a sample of your substance to get tested, and receive a breakdown of the major and minor components in the substance.

Look after each other

The people around you can be a huge asset to helping you stay safe. Always tell the people around you when you are taking drugs so they can be aware in case anything goes wrong and be there to support you. When going out always stick together, do not leave your drunk friends to fend for themselves.

Research

Researching harm reduction and advice on the drug you are choosing to take before taking it can prevent a bad or dangerous experience. This means you will have the knowledge to be able to help yourself before you get into a bad situation. Visit the Drop website here to see a detailed list of ways to stay safe when taking specific drugs, or visit @thedrop_bdp for more harm reduction advice.

Interactions

Combining different drugs can cause you to have a bad, dangerous or even lethal experience it is important to avoid mixing drugs or to research their interactions beforehand. The website Drugs and Me can be used to see what happens when drugs interact with one another. Mixing drugs can amplify the effects of each other, causing harmful reactions. Medications can also have serious interactions with recreational drugs. For example, SSRIs interact with a host of recreational drugs including alcohol. One dangerous situation is taking MDMA with SSRIs which can dull the effect of the drug increasing the risks associated with MDMA as people are inclined to take more.

Talk about it!

As a student at the University of Bristol, you will not get in trouble for talking about drugs. The university takes a harm reduction approach as does most of Bristol’s higher educational institutions. You are allowed to be open and communicate with your peers and university staff about any issues or concerns you may have. If you want support you can book an appointment with The Drops student-specific support services if you are worried about yourself or someone else’s drug use. You can also request a reagent drug test to test your drugs at home here.

Women’s safety

Drug and alcohol consumption can increase women’s vulnerability to sexual violence by men. So men: give women space, always call out your mates if they are acting up, respect boundaries and if you’re making someone uncomfortable walk away. Women’s bodies often metabolise drugs and alcohol differently so do not feel pressured to keep up. Everyone’s body is different and you must listen to yours.

Safe Sex

Lastly, Freshers’ week for many people includes having sex. You can order at-home STI kits here. There is no shame in it, you will probably find everyone and their mum has taken one. You can also pick up free condoms from any Unity sexual health clinic, the Student Health Service and at the Welcome Fair.