Drug use within universities is a common issue, which is experienced at most universities. Some universities, usually in major cities, have more students using drugs and struggle with dealing with it, compared to other universities across the country. The reason for this is that it is so highly populated that it is easier to distribute drugs and make money.
Many areas have issues with county lines drug trafficking, which is where drugs are trafficked into small towns and rural areas from major cities. This causes spike in drug use in smaller areas as easy to get the drugs in. Universities are seeing an issue becoming involved with county lines, with some students being involved and even have students enrol to university to use it as a cover for drug trafficking.
It is believed there is over a thousand drug trafficking lines operating in the uk; The top lines in the Uk are making more than £800,000 per year.
In January 2020, a major police force launched an investigation to prevent county drug lines dealers setting up on their campuses to sell cannabis and cocaine, after increasing reports that universities may be possible markets for drugs, especially class a, across England and Wales.
A year later, in January 2021, a student from Sunderland university was arrested after being found with a bag containing 1 gram of cocaine and 68 grams of cannabis. When they searched his flat, they then found a further 30 grams of cannabis, more than 800 pounds in cash and four phones. All of this suggested that he was dealing drugs, and he eventually pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply. He had a previous conviction for drugs and was sentenced to 2 years and 9 months behind bars.
Cambridge is a hotspot for exploitation, with those trafficking the drugs being the most vulnerable individuals within society, including children, especially those with little or no family. They get recruited with promises being made by dealers for things such as money, then controlled by them for the same reason. The dealers manage to succeed as they control these individuals by using violence, whether it be sexual or physical.
There is believed to be at least 25 county lines being investigated by the police.
We do not realise the extent of how dangerous it is, until it is too late, and we see statistics or when someone dies.
In January 2019, the police ended up detaining a 13-year-old boy who was placed with a large amount of drug addicts and was working for the county lines. Then in February 2019, the police raided a woman’s house and found crack pipes and empty drug wrapping within the woman’s nine-year-old son’s toys in his bedroom.
There is a definite link between the mental health crisis universities are facing currently as drug use can create mental health issues and drug use seems to have been normalised within universities. The issue with drugs within universities is that many students don’t consider the impact it can have to themselves and others. For many students, it is the first time they have had freedom from parents and for some the first time they have experienced going out. This causes students to not be fully educated on what could happen, with them taking them just to fit in or to try it. The issue with just trying it is that if you enjoy how it makes you feel and the freedom, you are more likely to do it again. The side effects of the drugs can have a major impact and can be a dark spiral.
As said previously, different universities have different levels of drugs use, with universities such as Leeds, Manchester and Bristol having heavy drug cultures and universities such as Southampton and Warwick having low drug cultures. This could be due to the area that they are in, the events and the music that is played. For example, Bristol is known for having heavy drum and bass nights, which are common during fresher’s week to allow students to get to know each other. There is a belief that drugs are needed to enjoy drum and bass, as students report they would not enjoy it without. Therefore, drugs become a very important part of nights out and then students do not enjoy nights as much without them as they feel like they are missing out.
So, next time you go to take drugs, think about what this blog has taught you and hopefully you can make an informed decision about whether you want to take drugs or not and if so, what drugs you want to take. Remember to be sensible and stay safe!
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