Drug Poisoning Deaths Reach 30-Year High: University of Leeds and LUU Introduce New Harm Reduction Drug Policies

New statistics by the Office for National Statistics in England and Wales have shown a rise in drug poisoning deaths, reaching the highest level in 30 years.

Whilst the rise is primarily among men aged 40 to 49, a significant finding of the ONS was the increase in cocaine deaths, with cocaine related deaths are reported to be 10 times higher in 2023 than in 2011.

Amongst the population, and students, cocaine has remained the second most-used drug in England and Wales throughout the last decade (behind cannabis).

The reasons behind the rise in drug poisoning deaths have been cited as driven by the rise in synthetic opioids and higher purity cocaine, resulting in fatal overdoses. 

Instead of a zero-tolerance stance, The University of Leeds and Leeds University Union have adopted a “harm reduction” approach to drug use, with the University website stating: 

“We’re a harm reduction University. We don’t condone the use of illegal drugs or the misuse of prescription drugs or alcohol at the University of Leeds. But we understand that some students may choose to take drugs or drink alcohol during their time at Leeds.”

“Our harm reduction stance means we’re committed to reducing harm by offering the support, resources and education students need to feel safe, make informed choices, and succeed – at Leeds and in their futures.” 

This September, University of Leeds and Leeds University Union obtained the SOS-UK (Students Organising for Sustainability) Drug and Alcohol Impact accreditation for the second time, based on the university commitment to harm reduction. 

After a long campaign, LUU took steps to facilitate this harm reduction stance through the introduction of reagent drug testing kits in 2023 that detects and differentiates between different drugs and substances. The campaign was launched in an LUU referendum in 2019 following a survey conducted by LUU found of students who take drugs, 89% would test them if they were provided. 

LUU have since made the decision to change these reagent kits to Fentanyl testing kits, in response to student feedback and concerns shared by the Leeds drug and alcohol agency Forward Leeds, showing LUU’s continuing commitment to harm reduction. 

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid and is often mixed with drugs such as cocaine or ketamine, increasing the risk of lethal overdose, risk factors picked up by the ONS report. 

Fentanyl testing kits can be picked up from the Help and Support Team in the Advice Office at LUU. 

LUU has also introduced Forward Leeds on Campus, a new service created to support university students and staff in recovery, offering a drop in service on campus every Tuesday from 9am to 4pm in Room 5 inside LUU. Through a range of events such as sober socials, recovery meetings and seminars, they aim to foster a supportive community for students and staff to access on campus. 

Measures such as these are in line with calls made by charities in the wake of the new ONS statistics. However, charities such as The Loop, a national drug testing service, continue to emphasise the significance of drug testing within harm reduction strategies. 

The LUU advice team told The Gryphon they hope to offer both reagent and fentanyl drug testing kits in the future.

Words By: Sadie Kendall