Drugs

We all know that drugs tend to be illegal in the eyes of the law. During your first few days at Imperial you will be made aware of this a copious number of times. You will also be told that anyone caught doing any drug whatsoever on College grounds will be put through a strict disciplinary procedure that could end in your expulsion as well as referral to enforcement authorities. The sneaky joint out of your hall window is very unlikely to go unnoticed and you will be chucked out by one of the wardens and at least fined.

With all this out of the way, it is very probable that given the amount of personal freedom you are given at university, at least a few of you will choose to ignore decades of relatively sound advice, research and personal experience that should put you off doing drugs no matter how ‘light’. If you do intend to go down this path, you should at least be somewhat clever about it. Make sure you know where your drugs came from and that you trust the people you are taking them with. Keep in mind however, that drugs affect people differently, and just because your friend is having a wild time, nothing guarantees that you will not end up in hospital with a bad case of tachycardia. There are a few simple steps you can take to minimise the risks involved.

Tell a friend what you are taking so that they can help if an incident occurs and don’t be tempted to take more of anything just because you’re not experiencing the effects straight away. Keep hydrated but don’t drink more than one pint per hour or you can do more harm than good. Eating something before taking a drug may also help, as food provides energy and also lines the stomach. Like booze, drugs can affect your degree and social life dramatically. The downs experienced can be pretty extreme making you not want to get out of bed to do anything, let alone a 9 o’clock lecture. It is also likely that you will not want to engage in sports or any extra-curricular activities that actually benefit your life. If you think you might have a problem, speak to the Union Adviser confidentially or Imperial College Health Centre.

Nigel Cooke
(020) 7594 8067
IC Extension 48067

The Law

Drugs are no longer taboo. Though still illegal they have been integrated into everyday life. Drugs come in three classes: A, B and C. Class A drugs include Heroin, Crack, Speed (prepared for injection), Ecstasy and LSD. Speed is Class B. Cannabis resin, herbal cannabis, prescribed drugs and tranquillizers come under Class C.

The Union does not condone the use of illegal drugs, and if you are found in possession of them we will have to inform the police and College. The whole of College operates a zero-tolerance approach, particularly in Halls of Residence.

If you take illegal drugs, the offence you are most likely to get done for is possession of a controlled drug. This includes joint possession of a common pool of drugs and past possession. More serious are supply and intention to supply, which includes giving and selling drugs to a friend. People who say the drugs found on them are for a friend, are not helping themselves by admitting to supply!

If you feel that you or someone you know has a problem with drugs or you want legal advice regarding drugs Talk to Frank is a great government service.

If you find yourself needing help due to previous drug use, or simply want to talk advice from someone in college we offer a confidential advice service and can find the right source of support for you. Contact the Advice Centre to get help.

Nigel Cooke
(020) 7594 8067
IC Extension 48067