Drugs Advice and Support

Each time a person chooses to use illegal drugs, they are taking a big gamble with their health and safety. You can never be sure what each drug contains. It could be a mixture of different substances (some of which can be harmful and toxic). Each batch could be a different strength, and one might not know the likely effect it will have on each individual user.

Drugs also react differently when taken with alcohol. You are unable to predict how the drug will affect you.
Taking drugs at University is also likely to harm your chance of success during your degree course. It can lead to an increase in the chance of anti-social behaviour, lack of attendance, mental health problems and financial worries.

Wedinos is a Welsh service, which offers free, anonymous substance testing as well as up to date and relevant harm reduction information. 

Sample Testing - 'Legal highs, club drugs, designer drugs, new psychoactives...'Drug markets are changing. It can be hard to get accurate information and stay safe. WEDINOS tests substances to give individual users and others rapid and accurate information to reduce harms.

Harm Reduction - Harm reduction may be seen as an integral part of recovery. In Wales, recovery from problematic drug or alcohol use is defined as a process that enables an individual to make changes which improve their quality of life. The harm reduction approach is designed to be relevant to all psychoactive drugs including controlled and licit drugs, alcohol, tobacco and pharmaceutical drugs.

The Loop is an organisation that provides harm reduction advice and information, welfare support, drug safety testing and training. They provide this service on site at clubs, bars and festivals across Europe. They believe that knowledge is the best weapon against the harm from drugs, and information can mean the difference between life and death.

Club-Drug Information – they provide information and harm reduction advice on the most common drugs available in the nightlife scene in Europe.

If you are worried about your own drug habits or those of a friend, you can get confidential advice and support from the following website and organisations directly, without needing to be referred by the University.

Barod

At Barod, our friendly, trained workers operate across most of South and West Wales, providing support to individuals affected by alcohol and drugs, and their friends and family. The support and information we provide is free, confidential and non-judgmental. Barod specialises in substance misuse support for both adults and young people. 

Students can refer themselves to Barod for advice and support for themselves or if they are concerned for others drug use. Their webpage includes a live chat service to find out more information and how to access the service.

http://barod.cymru/contact/

73-74 Mansel Street
Swansea
SA1 5TR

Phone: 01792 472002

NHS

You can access support from your GP if you are concerned about your drug use. More information about how to get help for drug addiction from the NHS can be found here.

You can also review the extensive information about drugs and their effects from the NHS website.

GP

As a student you should register with a GP as soon as you can, that way you can receive emergency care if you need it and access health services quickly and easily while you're at University. This is especially important if you have an ongoing health condition.

 If you wish to register for GP services whilst studying at Swansea University, surgeries are now using an online facility, ‘Ask My GP’. You will be able to access the registrations forms online. 

There are an array of GP surgery options available to students in Swansea but we work closely with the following given their close proximity to our campuses. 

Singleton Campus – http://www.universityhealthcentre.co.uk/ 

Bay Campus - http://www.harbourside.wales.nhs.uk/home 

                        https://www.sa1medicalcentre.wales.nhs.uk/

Samaritans

If you need information or you are worried about something, feel upset or confused, or you just want to talk to someone, the SAMARITANS provide confidential emotional support, 24 hours a day. Contact the Samaritans by email or at www.samaritans.org  or phone (from the UK) 08457 90 90 90 or 116 123 from a mobile.

Students can access the following University support services who can provide advice and support as well as facilitating referrals to external support services such as Barod.

Welfare@campuslife:

Welfare are a team within Campuslife whose aim is to improve the student experience in Swansea University. We work closely with staff in colleges, other support services within the university and external partners such as the Police and Public Health Wales to ensure that students receive the best support when they are experiencing welfare issues whilst studying. For further support from Welfare email: welfare.campuslife@swansea.ac.uk 

The Students Union Advice Centre 

The Students Union Advice and Support Centre gives free, independent, and confidential advice and representation to Swansea University students. Their service is run by experienced, friendly advisors who are available for private appointments during weekdays. You can contact them by emailing advice@swansea-union.co.uk

Wellbeing

Wellbeing - Swansea University’s Wellbeing Service can offer students support such as, access to stress control course, self-help resources, group programmes, one off support sessions and counselling. You can contact Wellbeing by emailing wellbeingdisability@swansea.ac.uk

You can request support by filling out  their request form here.