We want everyone to enjoy themselves but also stay safe. Having a few drinks may be a fun part of socialising, but it’s important to know your limits. Before arriving in Winchester you may not have been exposed to alcohol or drugs, or maybe you came with concerns about your own or someone else’s drinking or drug use.

The NHS advises that you should not drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week on a regular basis – roughly 6 pints, and recommend that you have several consecutive drink-free days each week. If you’re worried about your drinking getting out of hand, there are tools available to help you keep track so you can make the decision to cut down if you notice your intake increasing. You could keep track using an app. Alcohol Change UK have an app called Try Dry, which you can use to track your intake with charts and graphs, plus see your units, calories and money saved when you cut down.  Alternatively, you could check your drinking risk score to get a better idea of whether it would be a good idea to cut back.

Your GP is your first port of call for advice on how to cut down. Gradually cutting down on the amount you drink over a period of time is much better and easier to stick to than suddenly stopping drinking, especially if you feel you are dependent on alcohol. If you are trying to cut down, remember the importance of being kind to yourself when you slip up or when things don't go to plan. Many of us will drink at some point when we planned not to, and there's nothing to be gained by beating ourselves up about it. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and revisit those goals that you want to achieve.

At no point should you feel pressured to drink and get involved in what others are doing, for example to join in with drinking games, if you don’t want to. If you are part of a Sports Team or Society it is completely your choice whether or not you attend a social event. Sports and Societies are prohibited from carrying out initiation ceremonies either on or off campus. If you ever feel pressured to take part in social activities as part of a Sports Team or Society, we would strongly encourage you to contact SU_Activities@winchester.ac.uk

 

Further support is available from the following services:

• The Alcoholics Anonymous helpline is free to call on 0800 9177 650.
• We Are With You offers a free confidential online chat service.
• CALM support those who feel isolated, anxious, alone or suicidal. Call the CALM helpline on 0800 58 58 58 (open 5pm – midnight, 365 days a year).

 

Here at Winchester Student Union, we don’t encourage the use of recreational drugs. However, we want to ensure that you are safe while you’re with us.

We understand that the University experience is exciting, a time to come into your own, and to try new things. For some, this may include trying recreational drugs for the first time. Whilst we have a zero-tolerance approach to drug use and possession in any of our Student Union activities or on our premises, your safety and wellbeing is our priority. Therefore, we have put together the following information to help keep you safe and reduce harm if you are taking illicit drugs.

Below are some key points to consider if you, or someone you know, is taking drugs (whether for the first time or not). They include:

Being in the know – It’s important to know what drug you’ve been offered or will be taking. If you take any prescribed medication or have been drinking alcohol, the drug might affect you differently. You can search which drugs are which, and the potential affects on you, through the website FRANK. It’s also important to consider the potential consequences of possessing and/or consuming illicit drugs. These may include University, and Police, disciplinary action. You can read the full details on the University’s, and Student Union’s, Drug and Alcohol Policy.

Planning – Where possible, try to plan what drug you’ll be taking and how much. You should try and stick to your pre-planned dosage to keep yourself safe. Work out how you’ll be getting home, if you’re not in a safe space, by asking a friend for a lift, or pre-booking an Uber or taxi before taking drugs.

Testing – Take a small dose first to test the strength of the drug (whether it’s a drug you’ve taken before or a new one). Try and wait one to two hours before taking any more. This will help you understand the strength and effects of the drug before you go any further and will make the experience more enjoyable by not overdoing it. Some venues outside of the University and Student Union’s premises may offer drug testing facilities. These tend to be at large events, like festivals, and can test the strength of the drugs you’ve been given before you take it. If you are able to test the drugs before taking them, still consider taking a test dose as each person will have a different tolerance level.  

Having a Sober Buddy – Having a friend with you who is not participating, means that you have someone else to watch for any warning signs of an overdose and keep you safe. If it’s not possible to have a sober buddy with you, make sure the people you are with are responsible, can look out for each other, and can respond in an emergency. It’s also a good idea to let someone else know where you’re going, and what your plans are. This way, if anything bad happens, someone else will know where to find you. If you have a friend who is willing to be your sober buddy, take care not to take advantage of them.

Not Mixing – Mixing drugs is one of the main causes of an overdose. It’s important to stick to one drug, especially if you’re trying a new drug for the first time. Or use less of each drug, but make sure you understand how one can affect the other. This chart shows the potential risks of using more than one drug at the same time. You should also consider the effect on any prescribed medication you’re taking.

Having Access to Food and Water – It’s important to eat well before taking drugs. In most cases it’s also recommended to keep up your water intake in between doses. However, drinking too much water whilst taking certain types of drugs, mainly stimulants, can lead to hyponatremia. This is when the sodium in our blood becomes watered down, by drinking too much water, and it can be fatal.  

Knowing Your Limits – When you’ve had enough, STOP! When it stops feeling fun, or you begin to feel unwell, don’t take any more. You shouldn’t feel pressured to continue by the people you’re with if you feel you’re at your limit. If you do, it might be time to call that friend or taxi for a lift home. FRANK has some useful information on how to deal with peer pressure when taking drugs.

 

At no point should you feel pressured to drink, or take drugs, and get involved in what others are doing, for example to join in with drinking games, if you don’t want to. If you are part of an activity group (sports team, society or representational network), it is completely your choice whether or not you attend a social event. Activity groups are prohibited from carrying out initiation ceremonies either on or off campus. If you ever feel pressured to take part in social activities as part of a Sports Team or Society, we would strongly encourage you to make a report by visiting www.winchesterstudents.co.uk/report (there are also links via this page to anonymous reporting)

 

Remember, your safety is our priority. If you are concerned about your own, or a friend’s, drug use, you can seek support from Inclusion or Catch22 – these are both local substance misuse services.

 

Or you can seek advice from the following services:

Student Union Advice Centre – our Student Union Advisor can help signpost you to appropriate support if you are struggling with alcohol misuse, drug misuse, or peer pressure. Please complete the Advice Enquiry Form to get in contact with them.

University of Winchester Student Wellbeing – the Wellbeing Team within the University can offer a range of services, including signposting, ongoing support, and referrals for drug and alcohol misuse.

Your GP – can offer in depth support, referrals and treatment programmes for drug and alcohol misuse or addiction.

FRANK – offers useful information, including an A-Z of drugs and the effects they may have on you. They also have a helpline, 0300 123 6600, text, email, and live chat support.

 

If you, or someone around you, is showing symptoms of an overdose, go to A&E or call 999 immediately. If you think someone is having and overdose and is unconscious, after phoning 999, you should initially try to wake them and place them in the recovery position with their head pointing down. Do not put your hands in their mouth or try to make them sick.