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We champion Harm Reduction - a supportive approach to substance use and addictive behaviours. UCL has approved a harm reduction approach to drugs and alcohol which has replaced the previous zero-tolerance approach.
UCL's Harm Reduction Policy
UCL and Students’ Union UCL are committed to the safety and wellbeing of our students.
The UCL Harm Reduction Policy offers resources, education, and support to help students make informed choices. The policy raises awareness of the risks associated with substance use and alcohol consumption, and with addictive behaviours such as gaming, gambling and pornography use. The policy includes the support we provide, our responsibilities and how concerns are handled.
Whilst we do not condone nor normalise the use of illegal drugs or the misuse of prescription drugs, we understand that dependency and addiction are complex health and social issues. UCL's Harm Reduction approach enables us to provide the resources, knowledge and support you need to stay informed and access relevant services.
If you want to read the policy in full, you can access a PDF version here.
Journey To Harm Reduction: What Has Happened So Far?
In September 2022, a student article was published with a critical stance on UCL’s approach to drugs. Responding to feedback from our students, UCL sought to gain further insight into the student perspective and experience with SSWS colleagues attending our Welfare and Community Zone to discuss a proposal committing to harm reduction. Following this, a campaign was initiated and launched.
In 2023, a working group was formed with various staff and student stakeholders. SSWS colleagues also wrote UCL’s Harm Reduction Strategy and Action Plan, with input from the Students' Union. The Harm Reduction Strategy and Action Plan gained final approval from the University Management Committee (UMC) in June 2024, and since then, we have begun the implementation stage of the campaign.
UCL and the Students’ Union have entered into partnership with Students Organising for Sustainability (SoS-UK) and become a participant in their Drug and Alcohol Impact Programme. This programme provides a framework of 51 criteria for us to work through together towards accreditation.
As one of the first steps in the process toward accreditation, we carried out a Drug and Alcohol Survey in November and December 2024, which was created and hosted by SOS-UK. This survey sought to gather valuable insights into drug and alcohol consumption and perceptions within the UCL student population. We received 581 responses.
If you want to read the UCL report in full, you can access a PDF version here. You can also access a text version here.
Types of Substance Misuse and Addictive Behaviours
- Alcohol
- Alcohol misuse refers to the potentially harmful consumption of alcohol. Drinking a level of alcohol that is damaging your physical and/or mental health, but continuing to drink despite the consequences, indicates alcohol dependency.
Unhealthy use can range from mild to severe and present in different types, such as problem drinking and binge drinking. The short-term and long-term risks of alcohol addiction include, but are not limited to:
~ Physical dependency.
~ Health conditions such as injuries or infections.
~ Psychological dependency.
~ Mental health issues.
~ Financial issues.
~ Increased risk of suicide. - Drugs and Substances
- Substance misuse and drug addiction all refer to the harmful consumption of substances and drugs. This includes addiction to both legal prescription drugs and illegal drugs.
Consuming a dosage of substances that damaging your physical and or mental health, but continuing usage despite the consequences, indicates drug dependency.
Unhealthy use can range from mild to severe, both physically and psychologically. The short-term and long-term risks of substance use disorder include, but are not limited to:
~ Physical dependency.
~ Health conditions such as injuries or infections.
~ Psychological dependency.
~ Mental health issues.
~ Financial issues.
~ Increased risk of suicide. - Eating Disorders
- An eating disorder is a mental health condition defined by abnormal eating behaviour. This disorder is an addictive behaviour which can cause serious impairment to your physical or mental health.
There are many types of eating disorders characterised by a range of compulsive behaviours, such as eating too little or too much food. The most common types of eating disorder are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder (BED), avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) and other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED).
Eating disorders can be comorbid with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), a condition defined by severe concerns about physical appearance and compulsions which disrupt your everyday life.
Overconsuming or restricting your consumption of food to cope with emotions, and feeling unable to stop this behaviour, indicates an eating disorder.
Eating disorders can begin as restrictive behaviour changes which lead to compulsions. The short-term and long-term risks of eating disorders include, but are not limited to:
~ Dehydration and starvation.
~ Chronic bowel issues and constipation.
~ Additional health issues such as menstrual problems, tooth decay, osteoporosis, stomach rupture, pancreatitis, diabetes and heart failure.
~ Extreme fatigue and reduced concentration.
~ Poor academic or work performance.
~ Depression and anxiety.
~ Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD).
~ Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
~ Increased mortality risk. - Gambling
- Problem gambling, gambling disorder and gambling addiction all refer to repetitive and compulsive gambling behaviour.
There are many types of in person and online gambling, such as gaming, EGMs (slot machines), lotteries, bingo, casino table games, poker and card games. Betting is also a type of gambling, with common bets including, but not limited to, sports events, elections, horse racing or greyhound racing.
Gambling despite the harm it is causing yourself or those around you, but feeling like you are not able to stop, indicates a gambling disorder.
Unhealthy engagement with gambling can range from casual gambling to compulsive gambling. The short-term and long-term risks of gambling disorder include, but are not limited to:
~ Financial issues such as debt or bankruptcy.
~ Poor academic or work performance.
~ Loss of education or employment.
~ Poor mental health.
~ Relationship problems and difficulties with friends and family.
~ Increased risk of developing a substance addiction, such as alcohol or drug abuse.
~ Legal problems and risk of imprisonment.
~ Increased risk of suicide. - Gaming
- Gaming disorder, video game addiction and internet gaming disorder all refer to the compulsive use of video games and lack of control over gaming. This disorder can be caused by different types of gaming, such as video games, console games or internet gaming online.
Gaming disorder is an addictive behaviour and characterised by regular overuse of games for hours at a time. Playing games to a level that is affecting your everyday life and relationships, but feeling unable to stop, indicates a gaming disorder.
Unhealthy gaming over an extensive period of time can cause damage to both your mental and physical health. The short-term and long-term risks of gaming disorder include, but are not limited to:
~ Psychological dependency on gaming.
~ Poor academic or work performance.
~ Sleep disorders or insomnia.
~ Anxiety and irritability.
~ Dopamine addiction.
~ Poor mental health.
~ Joint pain in wrists, elbows and neck.
~ Increased risk of obesity. - Internet and Social Media
- Internet addiction disorder is defined by a compulsive overuse of the internet and a lack of control over internet usage. This disorder encompasses use of social media platforms and websites.
Compulsions to use the internet can occur on any electronic device, such as a mobile phone, laptop, tablet or PC (computer). Using the internet to a degree that is negatively impacting your everyday life, but feeling unable to stop, indicates an internet addiction disorder.
Overuse of the internet and social media platforms can cause damage to both your mental and physical health. - Pornography
- Pornography addiction is an addictive behaviour defined by compulsive access and viewing of pornographic material. This includes both physical and internet pornography.
Problematic pornography viewing can involve excessive viewing or accessing pornography despite any negative consequences on your personal life. Viewing pornography to avoid negative emotions, but feeling unable to stop, may indicate a pornography addiction.
Overconsumption of pornography can result in psychological cravings and compulsions to access porn as a coping mechanism. The short-term and long-term risks of porn addiction disorder include, but are not limited to:
~ Depression and poor mental health.
~ Social isolation.
~ Dopamine addiction and weakened executive function.
~ Financial problems.
~ Procrastination and decreased productivity.
~ Poor academic or work performance.
~ Loss of career or education.
~ Desensitisation and dysphoria.
~ Sexual dysfunction. - Shopping
- Similar to compulsive buying disorder (oniomania), shopping addiction is an addictive behaviour defined by compulsive and excessive purchasing. This includes both in-person and online shopping.
Compulsive shopping is characterised by a lack of impulse control when viewing and buying products. Shopping excessively to avoid negative emotions, but feeling unable to stop, indicates a shopping addiction.
Spending significant time and money on shopping can be detrimental to your emotional wellbeing and personal relationships. The short-term and long-term risks of shopping addiction include, but are not limited to:
~ Depression and anxiety.
~ Financial issues such as debt and bankruptcy.
~ Poor academic or work performance.
~ Legal issues.
~ Neglecting personal responsibilities and self-care.
~ Feeling isolated from friends and family.
~ Increased risk of suicide. - Smoking and Vaping
- Addiction to smoking or vaping refers to the compulsive desire to smoke cigarettes or use vape pens and e-cigarettes.
Nicotine, a chemical derived from tobacco, is used in cigarettes, vapes and e-cigarettes. This highly addictive substance can cause nicotine dependency, meaning users can become addicted to smoking and vaping very quickly.
Experiencing the need to smoke or vape to feel calmer and happier, but feeling like you can’t stop, indicates a smoking and vaping addiction.
Smoking addiction can have a serious impact on both your physical and psychological wellbeing. The short-term and long-term risks of smoking addiction include, but are not limited to:
~ Mood disorders such as depression and anxiety.
~ Dental problems.
~ Vision and hearing loss.
~ Fertility issues,
~ Lung diseases such as asthma, and COPD.
~ Increased risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer and type 2 diabetes.
~ Increased mortality risk.
Whilst the long-term physical effects of vaping are not yet known, addiction to nicotine can cause:
~ Nicotine cravings.
~ Fatigue and insomnia.
~ Constipation or diarrhoea.
~ Irritability and restlessness.
~ Memory and attention problems.
~ Mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. - Sexual Behaviour
- Compulsive sexual behaviour disorder (CSBD), sometimes called sex addiction, is an impulse control disorder defined by intense preoccupation with sexual urges, behaviours or fantasies.
These urges can take up a lot of time and preoccupy your thoughts. Engaging in behaviours which cause harm to yourself or others, but feeling unable to stop, may indicate a sex addiction.
Sex addiction can range from obsessive thoughts of sexual acts, to a high level of participation or engagement in sexual activity. This applies to both online and in-person activity. The short-term and long-term risks of sex addiction disorder include, but are not limited to:
~ Health issues such as sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and injuries.
~ Depression and/or anxiety.
~ Family and/or relationship difficulties.
~ Alcohol misuse and substance abuse.
~ Feelings of guilt and shame.
~ Lack of focus or concentration.
~ Sleep issues or insomnia.
~ Sexual dysfunction.
~ Financial problems.
~ Criminal or legal problems if a sexual offence has occurred.
Support Available
- UCL's Student Support and Wellbeing Services
- The Student Support and Wellbeing Services team are always available to help you throughout your time at UCL. Whether through counselling or at a drop-in session or appointment, UCL's professional staff can provide you with advice and support on a wide range of mental health and wellbeing subjects to help you get the most out of student life.
SSWS Website - UCL's Counselling Team
- UCL's Counselling Services team is dedicated to helping students with personal, emotional and psychological concerns. They provide free short-term counselling, single session therapy, psychiatric support and group workshops.
Counselling Team Website - UCL 24/7 Student Support Line
- UCL's 24/7 Student Support Line offers free, confidential wellbeing support 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Support line advisers can help you with issues including but not limited to feelings of anxiety and stress, money worries, bereavement, addiction and bullying, harassment and/or sexual harassment.
24/7 Student Support Line - NHS
- NHS England have a wealth of information on looking after your body and mind. You can also talk to your GP or call an NHS urgent mental health helpline if you are in need of support.
NHS Healthy Living Website - CUBE Clinic
- The Changing Unwanted BEhaviour (CUBE) Clinic is a specialist NHS mental health service within the UCL University Clinic. The CUBE Clinic offers assessment and treatment for students with problems related to their use of alcohol, drugs and other addictive behaviours such as gaming, gambling and pornography. The team consists of a consultant psychiatrist and psychologists.
CUBE Clinic Website
There are also a number of external services and websites that can offer specialist support.
You can find more information here.