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Newcastle University softens zero tolerance stance on drugs

The change makes the university one of only a handful of institutions in the country to favour welfare over pure deterrence

Monday 30 November 2015 12:37 GMT

Newcastle University (Google Street View )

Newcastle University has changed its zero tolerance take on drugs and other illegal substances within its student accommodation.

Under the new rules, students found with illegal substances in their possession for the first time will no longer be immediately evicted from their university student accommodation.

Instead, first-time offenders will have their eviction suspended on the condition that no further offences are committed.

Students found with drugss will be interviewed; with a suspended eviction on the terms that the student agrees to refrain from further substance abuse in Newcastle University-owned or managed accommodation.

As well as softening the rules, more help has been put in place. For those students that may need it, there will also be a system of support offered by the university.

However, if there is a second instance where the same student is caught with illegal drugs in university accommodation, then they will be evicted from their accommodation and have to pay the usual termination charge.

The other major change to the policy is the medical amnesty clause. This protects those seeking medical help that has resulted from illegal actions. In this case, if someone has overdosed from taking drugs.

The new rules were brought it after the group, Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) petitioned for the existing rules to be changed.

The university's change of policy on drug possession makes it one of just a few other universities in the country to favour welfare over deterrence.

The university has said it does not condone its students to possess, take or supply drugs. Those who may be found supplying will still lead to an accommodation contract termination.

World's 10 deadliest street drugs

Show all 10

1/10World's 10 deadliest street drugs

World's 10 deadliest street drugs

Whoonga

Whoonga is a combination of antiretroviral drugs, used to treat HIV, and various cutting agents such as detergents and poisons. The drug is widely available in South Africa due to South Africa’s high rate of HIV sufferers, and is believed to be popular due to how cheap it is when compared to prescribed antiretrovirals. The drug is highly addictive and can cause major health issues such as internal bleeding, stomach ulcers and ultimately death

Getty

World's 10 deadliest street drugs

Scopolamine

Scopolamine is a derivative from the nightshade plant found in the Northern Indian region of South America (Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela). It is generally found in a refined powder form, but can also be found as a tea. The drug is more often used by criminals due its high toxicity level (one gram is believed to be able to kill up to 20 people) making it a strong poison. However, it is also believed that the drug is blown into the faces of unexpecting victims, later causing them to lose all sense of self-control and becoming incapable of forming memories during the time they are under the influence of the drug. This tactic has reportedly been used by gangs in Colombia where there have been reports of people using scopolamine as way to convince victims to rob their own homes

World's 10 deadliest street drugs

Heroin

Founded in 1874 by C. R. Alder Wright, heroin is one of the world’s oldest drugs. Originally it was prescribed as a strong painkiller used to treat chronic pain and physical trauma. However in 1971 it was made illegal under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Since then it has become one of the most destructive substances in the world, tearing apart communities and destroying families. The side effects of heroin include inflammation of the gums, cold sweats, a weak immune system, muscular weakness and insomnia. It can also damage blood vessels which can later cause gangrene if left untreated

World's 10 deadliest street drugs

Crack cocaine

Crack cocaine first came about in the 1980’s when cocaine became a widespread commodity within the drug trafficking world. Originally cocaine would have attracted a high price tag due to its rarity and difficulty to produce, but once it became more widespread the price dropped significantly. This resulted in drug dealers forming their cocaine into rock like shapes by using baking soda as a way of distilling the powder down into rock form. People were doing this because it allowed for them to sell cocaine at a lower quantity and to a higher number of people. The side effects of crack cocaine include liver, kidney and lung damage, as well as permanent damage to blood vessels, which can often lead to heart attacks, strokes, and ultimately death

World's 10 deadliest street drugs

Crystal meth

Not just famous because of a certain Walter H White, but also because it is one of the most destructive drugs in the world. First developed in 1887, it became widely used during the Second World War when both sides would give it to their troops to keep them awake. It is also believed that the Japanese gave it to their Kamikaze pilots before their suicide missions. After the war crystal meth was prescribed as a diet aid and remained legal until the 1970s. Since then it has fallen into the hands of Mexican gangs and has become a worldwide phenomenon, spreading throughout Europe and Asia. The effects of crystal meth are devastating. In the short-term users will become sleep depraved and anxious, and in the long-term it will cause their flesh to sink, as well as brain damage and damage of the blood vessels

World's 10 deadliest street drugs

AH-7921

AH-7921 is a synthetic opioid that was previously available to legally purchase online from vendors until it became a Class A in January 2015. The drug is believed to have 80% of the potency of morphine, and became known as the ‘legal heroin’. While there has only been one death related to AH-7921 in the UK, it is believed to be highly dangerous and capable of causing respiratory arrest and gangrene

World's 10 deadliest street drugs

Flakka

Flakka is a stimulant with a similar chemical make-up to the amphetamine-like drug found in bath salts. While the drug was originally marketed as a legal high alternative to ecstasy, the effects are significantly different. The user will feel an elevated heart rate, enhanced emotions, and, if enough is digested, strong hallucinations. The drug can cause permanent psychological damage due to it affecting the mood regulating neurons that keep the mind’s serotonin and dopamine in check, as well as possibly causing heart failure

World's 10 deadliest street drugs

Bath salts

Bath salts are a synthetic crystalline drug that is prevalent in the US. While they may sound harmless, they certainly aren’t the sort of salts you drop into a warm bath when having a relaxing night in, they are most similar to mephedrone, and have recently been featured throughout social media due to the ‘zombification’ of its. The name comes from the fact that the drug was originally sold online, and widely disguised as bath salts. The side effects include unusual psychiatric behaviour, psychosis, panic attacks and violent behaviour, as well as the possibility of a heart attack and an elevated body temperature

World's 10 deadliest street drugs

Purple Drank

One of the more unusual drugs around at the moment, purple drank was popularised in 90s hip hop culture, with the likes of Jay Z and Big Moe all mentioning it in their songs. It is a concoction of soda water, sweets and cold medicine, and is drunk due to cold medicines high codeine content, which gives the user a woozy feeling. However it can also cause respiratory issues and heart failure

World's 10 deadliest street drugs

Krokodil

Krokodil is Russia’s secret addiction. It is believed that over one million Russians are addicted to the drug. Users of krokodil are attracted to the drug due to its low price; it is sold at £20 a gram while heroin is sold for £60. However, krokodil is considered more dangerous than heroin because it is often homemade, with ingredients including painkillers, iodine, lighter fluid and industrial cleaning agents. This chemical make-up makes the drug highly dangerous and likely to cause gangrene, and eventually rotting of the flesh

It does say the policy has been altered to offer more support to those who struggle with drugs.

The policy was amended in May but the university has been slow to publicise it.

On the university's website, under student pages, it still reads “’The University has an Owned and Managed Accommodation Illegal Drugs (Zero Tolerance) Policy’ and unfortunately a number of students have breached this resulting in exclusion from their accommodation: even the use and/or possession of small amounts of cannabis usually leads to exclusion.”

The official document , issued in 2011, says at the bottom it will be reviewed in May 2014. But it has not been updated.

Zoe Carrer, founder of the Newcastle chapter of SSDP, said the policy change was the tight step towards better drug policies.

Speaking to the Chronicle Live, she said: "The zero tolerance policy actually made things worse for students. It was a blanket ban on substance so it could be anything… even steroid use would be perceived as reason to kick people out of halls.

"The intention was to help students in terms of substance use but it actually made things worse. If they’re kicked out of accommodation it can actually put vulnerable people at more risk of harm."

A spokesperson for the university said: "We review internal policies on a regular basis. We worked with the Student’s Union and the student group SSDP in our review of the Illegal Substances (Zero Tolerance) Policy.

"We don’t condone illegal activity and take our duty of care towards our students very seriously. This includes encouraging restraint from using illegal substances and why we have a ‘zero tolerance’ of illegal substances within our residence.

"Our revised policy seeks to reinforce the university’s position of a zero tolerance stance, while at the same time providing guidance and support to all residents.

"New posters have been commissioned which will reflect the emphasis on education and welfare in relation to illegal substances."

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