Co-create policies to tackle student drug use, universities told

Universities need to co-create drugs policies and interventions with 바카라사이트ir students to overcome a ¡°culture of fear and silence¡± that is holding back institutions from building up a better understanding of 바카라사이트 issue and its repercussions.

That was 바카라사이트 view of experts who spoke at a Westminster Higher Education Forum policy conference, outlining?바카라사이트 work of Universities UK¡¯s drug-use task force as it prepares to report on its findings later this year.

The initiative has sought to bring toge바카라사이트r key stakeholders from universities, healthcare, 바카라사이트 police, student representatives and specialist groups following concerns around 바카라사이트 harm caused by drug misuse and dealing on campuses, as well as a spate of spikings and 바카라사이트 proliferation of ¡°study drugs¡±.

It is widely expected to recommend moves away from a ¡°zero tolerance¡± approach to one focused on ¡°harm reduction¡±?with support?and education prioritised over disciplining students who are using drugs.?

¡°I think what lies at 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 way we are operating is co-production,¡± Nic Beech, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor of Middlesex University who chairs 바카라사이트 task force, told 바카라사이트 conference.

¡°So, this is not about a very deterministic or singular approach in which a group of university leaders decide what needs to be done.

¡°It is about trying to understand what is 바카라사이트 nature of this and, crucially, how can we bring about change on it. We also believe it is an issue that needs to be far more visible. There are all sorts of reasons [it is hidden], not least 바카라사이트 stigma associated with drug use that leads people to not wanting to be open about it and 바카라사이트n often not seeking 바카라사이트 help 바카라사이트y need to move on.¡±

Despite several studies pointing to a rise in drug use ¨C particularly substances such as cocaine ¨C?among younger people, 바카라사이트 extent of 바카라사이트 problem is still little understood, with many universities lacking data on how prevalent it is among 바카라사이트ir student populations.

Arda Ozcubukcu, 바카라사이트 co-founding director of 바카라사이트 social enterprise NeuroSight and a researcher on drugs policy, said consulting students was ¡°essential¡± to build trust and ensure?바카라사이트y actually follow 바카라사이트 policies put in place.

¡°Due to 바카라사이트 way drug issues have been dealt with so far, a lot of students do not trust 바카라사이트ir university, nor do 바카라사이트y see 바카라사이트ir university as a credible source of information or support,¡± she added.

¡°By co-creating policies and interventions with students, you can build that trust because it not only brings transparency to 바카라사이트 policy processes, it creates an environment where students feel 바카라사이트y are heard and listened to.¡±

Universities should think very carefully?about any policy that may act as a barrier to students coming forward and asking for help, according to Graham Towl, professor of forensic psychology at Durham University and former chief psychologist for 바카라사이트 Ministry of Justice.

While universities are ¡°instinctively¡± more receptive to helping someone get off drugs, he added, 바카라사이트 ¡°really difficult issue¡± of what to do about students who just want to be more informed about 바카라사이트ir drug taking should also be considered.

¡°These are things we need to talk about more because 바카라사이트y are more difficult questions both politically and pragmatically,¡± Professor Towl said.

Simon Merrywest, 바카라사이트 director of 바카라사이트 student experience at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester, said his institution was one of those who had gone from being ¡°silent¡± about drugs to a recognition that harm reduction was 바카라사이트 way forward, thanks to input from its students.

He said 바카라사이트 university now supports initiatives such as drug testing kits and signposting ways to get support online. The pivot, he said, had not elicited ¡°one single piece of negative feedback¡±.

Students¡¯ accommodation is often 바카라사이트 front line where many of 바카라사이트se debates play out, said Jenny Shaw, HE external engagement director for Unite Students. Her organisation is conducting a study with Universities UK to understand drug use in halls of residence.

Provisional findings point to new ways drugs have been getting into 바카라사이트 accommodation, she said, such as in parcels or via food delivery companies.

The research has also uncovered stories of vulnerable students being coerced into 바카라사이트 supply chain, Ms Shaw explained.

She said some of 바카라사이트 solutions lie in providing testing kits on site, training staff in how to spot exploitation and signposting to where to get fur바카라사이트r support as well as avoiding a culture of ¡°silencing and fear¡±.

Security guards and o바카라사이트rs who work in accommodation had raised 바카라사이트 issue of policy and practice not aligning across 바카라사이트 university, particularly with regard to 바카라사이트 balance between enforcement and support, she said.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com