Drug use is quite normal among Groningen students, according to a survey by the municipality of Groningen. Students aren’t particularly concerned with the fact that most drugs come from criminal activity.
The survey, conducted by UG students on behalf of the municipality, was completed by 577 ressearch university and university of applied sciences students in Groningen. The municipality’s public order and safety team hopes to use the information to develop more effective drug policies.
Crime
Some 61 percent of respondents indicated that drug use is openly discussed. 41 percent also see drug use around them. Only 30 percent say the criminality behind drug production and distribution affects their use.
‘The emphasis in many campaigns is on the healthy use of drugs, but not on the criminal world behind it’, says Martijn Thom Weening, one of the students who worked on the report. ‘Students are more likely to think about the medical risks associated with drugs.’ It could well be that some do not really know the origins behind the pills they’re taking, he suspects.
Curious
Many of the students surveyed say they use drugs because they are curious about the effects. This is true for some 30 percent of users of amphetamine, ketamine and nitrous oxide. Students also use drugs because of the social bonding it brings. This factor weighs most heavily when using cocaine, 3MMC and MDMA.
According to the students who set up the survey, the municipality’s drug policy, which now focuses mainly on prevention, can be improved. For instance, there could be better communication with the hospitality industry and the house rules of clubs and pubs could be made clearer. ‘And they would like to cooperate on this, because dealers cause a lot of nuisance’, says Weening.
Next week, UKrant will publish a background article on the results of the survey.