Thanks to SOS-UK for their guest blog

Taking drugs always carries a risk and can potentially be harmful. If you choose to take drugs please bear in mind the following points

1. Start low, go slow

Start with a small dose & wait until you’ve been feeling the effects for at least 2 hours before redosing. Remember drugs are becoming more and more potent & are not instantaneous, so resist the urge to re-dose too quickly.

1. Avoid Mixing Drugs

Avoid mixing different drugs, especially with alcohol. Drugs could react together in a bad way & produce long-term health consequences. This is also a way to overdose without realising. Drugs + Me offers an interactive guide around drug combinations.

1. Stay hydrated with non-alcoholic drinks

Remember to sip non-alcohol drinks throughout the evening, and don’t drink more than a pint of water an hour

1. There are no set doses

Age, weight, gender, ethnic background & even how tired you are, all play a part in drug metabolism. Your friend’s dose may not be the right one for you.

1. Avoid using drugs when depressed or anxious

Taking drugs can make these feelings worse, either during the drug taking itself or as an effect of the comedown.

1. Don't be afraid to seek help

Do seek help from staff or emergency services and be honest about what drugs you have taken. If your friend is unwell, stay with them until help comes.

• Contact UWE Security: https://www.uwe.ac.uk/about/contact-us/campus-security
• Contact the Out of Hours Team: https://www.uwe.ac.uk/life/health-and-wellbeing/get-wellbeing-support/out-of-hours-team

More support needed?

If you feel that you are no longer happy with your use or if the negative impacts are outweighing the positives, you can get support to make changes.

If you need support with specific drugs we have more information here:

• Cocaine
• Ketamine
• Nitrous Oxide

• Drugs Meter offers personalised anonymous feedback on your current drug use.
• Read harm reduction advice from Bristol Drugs Project
• WEDINOS is a harm reduction project which provides an anonymous and free postal drug testing service and publishes sample results on their website. 
• Combining different drugs creates new compounds, some are more risky than others – Drugs + Me offers an interactive guide around drug combinations.

If you’d like to speak to someone about reducing the risks and the harms of drug and alcohol use, you can self-refer to UWE drug and alcohol service or contact the Out Of Hours Team.