A university wants students to sign a contract saying they won't take drugs

The University of Buckingham (UB) is asking students to sign forms in which they promise to not take drugs onsite.

It wants to become the UK's first drug-free uni and the announcement comes shortly after the National Union of Students (NUS) called on higher education establishments to stop reporting students caught in possession of drugs to police.

The Uni of Buckingham vice-chancellor Sir Anthony Seldons said UB was making the move in an attempt to stop drug-related deaths and students putting themselves at risk.

“A completely new approach is needed. Student lives are needlessly being lost and imperilled. Universities need to shake themselves up and take more responsibility for students in their care.

“Information about the harm that drugs could do should be everywhere – as ubiquitous as the warnings on cigarette packets.

Seldons added: “The University of Buckingham is working towards becoming Britain’s first ‘drug-free’ university.”

He added: “We plan to ask our students to sign a contract that makes it clear that they will not take drugs on university property, nor be under their influence when on university business.

From 2016 to 2017, 21 people were excluded from university for drug possession. 531 were reported to police, according to the Taking The Hit report by NUS and drug charity Release.

The report called for universities to use drug testing services such as The Loop, a not-for-profit organisation that's worked with The Warehouse Project and Secret Garden Party in the past.

Read our interview with The Loop founder Fiona Measham here.

Dave Turner is Mixmag's Digital News Editor, follow him on Twitter