Drugged Up Students Regret Drunken Sex

EXCLUSIVE

SIXTY NINE percent of Manchester students have taken illegal drugs, and a large proportion of them have taken Class A substances.

Of the students that have taken illegal drugs, 52 percent have taken club favourite ecstasy and 44 percent have taken cocaine, a survey by Student Direct has revealed.

While the vast majority of students had taken cannabis, the survey showed a high level of hard drug use among The University of Manchester's student population.

Recently upgraded 'magic' mushrooms are also popular amongst students, with over a third of drug using students trying them.

If you want to avoid stoned students, then don't venture into university halls. Student Direct can report that over half of drug users reported taking illegal substances in university accommodation.

With halls being the most popular site for drug use, the results suggest that the students most likely to be risking expulsion are the first years who reside in them.

This revelation comes in the wake of a report by Exeter University's student paper that showed cocaine traces at numerous of their university halls.

The University of Manchester is very much part of binge drinking Britain, with two thirds of students surveyed considered themselves to be binge drinkers.

However, less than ten percent of them knew the recommended weekly allowance of alcohol. Many of those surveyed highlighted how little they cared about limiting their alcohol intake.

Despite health campaigns, only nine percent of Manchester students knew that women are only supposed to drink fourteen units of alcohol a week and men 21.

Shockingly, one of the few students who knew the recommended weekly allowance for alcohol noted having her stomach pumped as a result of binge drinking.

As a result of the binge drinking culture, drunken fights and arguments are rife amongst Manchester students, with many admitting to being violent or drunk and disorderly.  

Of all the students surveyed, only seven percent said they did not regret anything they had done whilst under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This included students who did not claim to be binge drinkers.

Bev Craig, UMSU Welfare Officer, said: "I am surprised at how high the levels of drug taking are, however the amount of binge drinking is to be expected.

"While people are given all the facts so that they can make a balanced decision, I think its also important to know your limits."

The majority of students admitted to being prone to drunk dialling, and a staggering 42 percent of students at university in the 'Chlamydia Capital of Europe' regret having sex while drunk or high.

The Welfare Officer added: "People really shouldn't be putting themselves in a position where they are regretting having sex afterwards. Its these situations that show how important it is that people know their limits and make informed choices about their actions."

However, some stereotypes are unwarranted when it comes to female drinkers. The common media message that female students are worst for binge drinking is not the case at Manchester.

Student Direct can report that men spend more on alcohol, with three times as many men than women spending over £20 a week on booze.

Men at The University of Manchester also binge drink and take illegal drugs more than their female counterparts.

Student Direct questioned 138 Manchester students over the course of a week.