Condoms and lube handed out to freshers by Bristol Students Union

Bristol Students’ Union (SU) is distributing condoms, lube, and drug information leaflets to first-year students.

Harm Reduction packages have been left in kitchens in every Bristol University hall of residence.

The aim of the boxes is to ensure that students know they are practicing positive sexual health, as well as to give information from drug harm reduction organisations.

READ MORE: Police update after armed man sent Bristol schools into lockdown

Information from Project Talk (a mental health group), Bristol Drugs Project and the Addiction Recover agency are all included so that students can access free drug re-agent testing and information on staying safe.

One of the leaflets included in the boxes (Ruth Day)

There is also information on the All About Drugs campaign, which hosts talks for students “currently using or thinking about using drugs, including alcohol; anyone who is concerned about a friend’s use of drugs or anyone who just wants to know more”.

According to Bristol SU, sessions include discussion around the identification and categorisation of many common drugs; potential risks associated with drugs, including alcohol; the effects of mixing drugs; explores why people use drugs and the different types of use, from recreational to addiction.

Ruth Day, Student Living Officer at Bristol SU, is spearheading the projects (Ben Bloch)

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Bristol SU’s Student Living Officer, Ruth Day, is spearheading this campaign.

They told Bristol Live : “We know our students haven’t been out very much with Covid, so we’re hoping that when they open this box, they’ll see the advice and know what services are available in the city.

“The box aims to break down barriers to support that students might need to access and continue the harm reduction work we started last year.”

Students returned en masse to Bristol University’s campus this week for the first time since March 2020.

Welcome Week is taking place this week, with the annual Welcome Fair due to take place tomorrow and Saturday on Clifton Downs.

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