The latest student behaviors and perspectives of alcohol and drugs in higher education

We're excited to announce the release of our most recent Students. Alcohol and Drugs survey, and remind you about our Drug and Alcohol Impact Programme!

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SOS-UK’s Drug and Alcohol Impact programme supports and enables campuses to take a holistic approach to creating healthy, inclusive cultures around drugs and alcohol. The fundamental aim of the programme is to protect and foster student wellbeing.

Since the Students, Alcohol and Drugs Survey began in 2021, we’ve been collecting data on students’ behaviours, knowledge and perceptions of student drug use and alcohol. This ensures that the Drug and Alcohol Impact programme is data-driven, student-focussed and truly reflective of their needs and views.  

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In November and December 2024, 11,894 students in higher education participated in the Students, Alcohol and Drugs Survey nationally. The report covers the following areas:

• Changes since the 2023-24 research

• Patterns and practices of alcohol consumption/student drug use

• Perceptions of alcohol consumption/student drug use on campus

• Non-drinkers/drug users

• Impacts of alcohol consumption/drug use

• Reducing impact through responsible consumption/drug advice, support and university drug policy

• Significant demographic differences in the above topics

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Read the report to learn more about our findings.

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With the release of our most recent Students, Alcohol and Drugs survey findings, we want to highlight our Drug and Alcohol Impact programme, along with the outcomes and experiences of it.  

The Drug and Alcohol Impact programme aims to:

• Recognise and reward institutions that demonstrate good practice in addressing student drug and alcohol use and who make student wellbeing a university-wide priority.

• Provide the opportunity to be part of a supportive cohort of universities working towards a shared aim. You can exchange best practices, share experiences, and learn from one another's successes and challenges.

• Give you access to resources, best practice and support, whether you are at the start of your journey focusing on student drug and alcohol use or have already introduced a harm reduction policy on campus.

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The programme is recommended as a next step in the Universities UK sector-wide guidance, ‘enabling student health and success’, which was released July 2024.

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“We highly recommend that universities and students’ unions participate in the program to effectively implement the UUK national guidance. It benefits students' health and wellbeing and promotes a collaborative working culture to make sustained change happen.” (John De Pury, Health and Education Advisor) 

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Key findings from our 2024-25 Students, Alcohol and Drugs Survey include:  

• Over three quarters (79%) do not currently use drugs.  

• A quarter (26%) do not currently drink alcohol.

• The majority (82%) of respondents say that they have never felt pressure to take drugs while socialising with friends at university.  

• Most respondents (77%) agree that students drink to fit in with their peers.  

• Some respondents report impacts on their relationships and studies during or after taking drugs. Nearly half (49%) report that they have made new friends or became closer to existing friends or family, while 1 in 5 (23%) report missing a university seminar, lecture or class.  

• Nearly half of respondents (46%) say they have experienced not being able to remember what happened the night before because of consuming alcohol.  

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Check out the Drug and Alcohol Impact website for more information about the programme and read the full research report.

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