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Drug and Alcohol Impact

Our wellbeing accreditation scheme for Universities and SUs
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About

Our student wellbeing programme Drug and Alcohol Impact embeds social norms of responsible drinking on our campuses, and refocuses the conversation on drugs to be about reducing harm, and building healthier, safer, more productive student communities.

The programme builds upon the success of Alcohol Impact, which since 2015 has supported 31 university and students' union partnerships to create lasting positive change around responsible alcohol consumption. Although progress has been made in improving drinking cultures on campus, there's still work to be done, and participating institutions are supported to build on and improve practices in this area.

Drug and Alcohol Impact recognises that despite most universities taking a zero tolerance approach to drug use, many students still choose to use drugs. The programme supports institutions to explore their own students drug use and design bespoke interventions to identify, educate and reduce harm.

This work is supported by a range of sector-leading organisations through our steering group, including Release UK, Student Minds and Universities UK.

Find more information on our website

How does it work?

Participating institutions and students' unions work are supported by SOS-UK to work through a framework of criteria ranging from shaping students' union policy, to working in partnership with local community groups and residents.

  • Our online toolkit provides resources and highlights areas of good practice.
  • Our drug and alcohol surveys help improve understanding of local students' use of drugs and alcohol
  • Partnerships are supported to undertake targeted interventions, such as training staff in identifying a drugs overdose, developing creative alcohol-free events, or working with sports teams.
  • Partnerships take an average of 2 years to complete the programme
  • When the partnership are ready, SOS-UK trains student auditors to conduct an audit of the work
  • If criteria have been completed to a satisfactory level, the institution is awarded with our accreditation mark.

Sign up for 2024/2025

For more information contact tracy.lumb@sos-uk.org