Drugs: a fact of student life

Recreational drugs are a fact of student life, and even if you don't intend to indulge, you're likely to come into contact with them during university. The best policy is to know what is available and its effects before either trying anything or meeting those who have.

Cannabis is easily the most popular recreational drug aside from alcohol. The latest figures show that 44 per cent of people between 16 and 29 have tried it, and numbers still appear to be rising.

Otherwise known as dope, weed, grass, hash, black and a myriad other tags, cannabis usually comes as solid resin - hash - or dried plant - grass. It can be smoked or eaten to achieve a high that lasts for a few hours. Different kinds have different strengths and flavours, and it costs £15 to £35 for an eighth of an ounce. Some varieties are laced with LSD and should be approached with caution.

The effects of cannabis vary widely depending on the user's constitution and state of mind. Some say it heightens their appreciation of music, others giggle uncontrollably, and a few just feel sick. But, it can harm your short-term memory and impair concentration - not helpful when you're trying to focus on exam revision.

Cannabis, along with the other drugs detailed here, is illegal, and looks set to remain so. However, the Government appears likely to reclassify the drug from Class B to Class C, which would make it a lower priority for the police and reduce the number of prosecutions.

Probably the next most common campus drug is ecstasy, or MDMA. Ecstasy has increased in popularity among students because it is relatively cheap - between £5 and £15 a tablet - and its effects can enhance the clubbing experience.

E usually comes in tablet form, but there is no guarantee of what the pill will actually contain. Tests have shown great variations in the amount of ecstasy present in tablets. Some contain none at all, but rather amphetamine or LSD.

Deaths from E, such as the tragic case of Leah Betts, have received a great deal of media attention, but ecstasy is responsible for only 0.6 per cent of deaths from drugs every year. However, as there is no way of checking the contents of each pill, taking ecstasy is always a risk.

Amphetamines present similar problems. The most common type of amphetamine, speed, is a rough white powder, which is either rubbed into the gums or snorted to produce a state of hyperactivity. However, again it is difficult to know what you are taking: dealers regularly cut speed with washing powder to increase their profits. Once the amphetamine is in your system the effects can also last far longer than desired. Many users find themselves still "rushing" and unable to sleep up to 24 hours later.

LSD can be bought as crystals or small tabs - pieces of blotting paper soaked in the drug. Each tab varies in strength, and effects depend on the environment in which it is taken. Often people hallucinate and lose track of time, and the "trip" can last for 12 hours - not ideal if you have a bad trip, which is like a waking nightmare.

Although you may find cocaine on campus, it tends not to be that popular with students because it is too expensive. At between £25 and £50 for a gram, few university dwellers have the resources to indulge. Heroin - a brown powder that is usually injected - is even more rare, although not unheard of. If you suspect anyone is using heroin, inform the university at once.