Drugs and alcohol

UWE Bristol does not endorse the use of alcohol and other drugs but recognises that students may choose to do so.

To prioritise the welfare and wellbeing of our community we apply the principles of harm reduction. This is to enable students to have choices and information about their drug use. 

We do this by offering UWE Bristol’s Drugs and Alcohol Service to students who would like to discuss their substance use with a professional.

Drugs and Alcohol Service

Our Drugs and Alcohol Service can provide advice, information and support to students who use drugs including alcohol. We offer three support options. 

Harm reduction intervention    

One 1-to-1 appointment. These sessions are educational and focus on how to reduce harm associated with substance use. They are an opportunity to ask questions and explore evidence-based advice and information. These conversations can be about your own or someone else's substance use.

Goal setting   

Six 1-to-1 appointments. These sessions can be used to help you change your relationship with substances. We can support you to take control by reducing, taking a break or stopping completely.

Relapse prevention 

Three 1-to-1 appointments. Some students will have decided they no longer want a relationship with drugs or alcohol. For some people stopping is the easy bit but having the tools to maintain this whilst at university can require extra support.

How to book

To book an appointment, you can complete a self-referral form.

Complete self-referral form

Which session is right for me? 

These options will be discussed with you at your first appointment. You don’t need to decide what kind of support you need before speaking to the practitioner, you will explore this together.

There may be circumstances where UWE Bristol’s drug and alcohol support isn't appropriate and we will support you to access community drug and alcohol services such as Bristol Drugs Project or Developing Health and Independence.

Research the risk, reduce the harm

We also aim to reduce the harm of alcohol and drug use by providing students with the knowledge resources to inform their decisions, stay safe and access additional support.

UWE Bristol Policies

• Drugs including alcohol policy (PDF) 
• Drug and Alcohol Referral Service Privacy Notice (PDF)
• Fitness to study policy (PDF) 
• Professional suitability policy and procedure (PDF)
• Student conduct policy (PDF)

Resources

• UWE Students Union: Harm reduction
• Drugs + Me
• Drug science
• Drugs Meter
• Alcohol Change
• Drink Aware

External support

• Bristol Drugs Project
• Developing Health & Independence
• SMART Recovery Online Meetings

Dangerous drug alerts

• Know Drugs App
• Wedinos