Spaced

18/05/2022

Join our focus group discussing student drug and alcohol use!



The Students’ Union at UWE and UWE Bristol are seeking to achieve the NUS/SOS-UK Drugs and Alcohol Impact Accreditation.



As part of this project, SOS-UK are carrying out, we would like your help with an exciting research opportunity.



We’d like to hear more about your experiences of alcohol and drugs as a student at your university. You don’t have to drink alcohol or use drugs to take part. You will be in a focus group of up to 10 other students from your university and the groups will last 90 minutes. To thank you for your time, you’ll receive £20 gift voucher of your choice!*



You will never be personally identified in any outputs from the research though anonymised data will be shared with a project team working on alcohol and drug use at your university and students’ union. Quotes and information from the group may be used in reports but no names will be attributed to individuals. These groups will be run by SOS-UK, and follow the Market Research Society’s Code of Conduct.



The focus group will take place on Thursday 26 May, 13:00 – 14:30, at The Students’ Union at UWE, Frenchay, Union 1.


If you’re interested in taking part in the group please DM us and we will send you a link to the sign up form

09/05/2022

Mental Health Awareness Week 9 - 15 May 2022.
The official theme is ‘loneliness’ and, across the week, we encourage you to build meaningful connections with your friends, family, colleagues and communities.

Loneliness affects many of us at one time or another.
We know that loneliness can be both the driver for and a product of poor mental health.

DHI offer's group work programmes, whilst they are helpful to service users to learn new skills and tools to support recovery they are also an excellent way to meet new people with similar experiences and start to reduce the feel of isolation.

05/05/2022

We've been working with The Students' Union at UWE to improve the information and advice available to UWE Bristol students

Check out Becky & Rania's Let's Talk About Drugs: Ketamine Video!

03/05/2022

The Students’ Union at UWE and UWE Bristol are offering an opportunity for students to gain skills in project management, communications and leadership by volunteering as a Drug and Alcohol Impact auditor.

Drug and Alcohol Impact embeds social norms of responsible drinking on our campuses, and refocuses the conversation on drugs towards reducing harm, and building healthier, safer, more productive student communities.

To find out more DM us or visit https://www.thestudentsunion.co.uk/news/article/thesuatuwe/Drug-and-Alcohol-Impact-Auditor-Voluntary-Role-Description/

21/04/2022

Bristol Sober Spaces is a collaborative project that is bringing alcohol-free nightlife events to Bristol. We chat to Chris De Banks about the project.

20/04/2022

4/20 - The international cannabis holiday.

If you choose to celebrate 4/20 take care out there just because your see it as a holiday the police don't...
Some people will choose to use more cannabis than normal or try it for the first time today, keep an eye out for your mates.
Be kind to your body, its the only one you'll get

#420 **d

22/03/2022

Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a worldwide initiative that challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences. It aims to transform how neurodivergent individuals are perceived and supported by providing schools, universities, and organisations with the opportunity to recognise the many talents and advantages of being neurodivergent, while creating more inclusive and equitable cultures that celebrate differences and empower every individual.

As part of Neurodiversity Celebration Week staff at SPACED will be attend training and social events to ensure we are offering a service that is inclusive and supports the needs of all potential service users

10/03/2022

Social prescribing helps people to overcome both physical and mental health issues by making connections. This could be directing someone towards housing advice, helping someone tackle debt or linking them up with an art group. Issues like stress, loneliness and anxiety can cause severe health problems, but can often be minimised or eliminated with small changes
Developing Health & Independence - DHI

01/01/2022

Happy New Year!!!
Got on it last night?
Following these simple tips could be just what you need this morning/afternoon/evening!

14/12/2021

08/12/2021

Whether this is your first sober Christmas or boozy nights are the ghost of Christmas past, here are some things to consider.

1. Being around people who are supportive of your decision not to drink is essential, if you know going "home" for Christmas is going to be risky or triggering try and find alterative plans or limit the time spent with unhelpful people.
Asking others to support you with this is encouraged, if you think having alcohol in the house will increase the risk of relapse you can ask for it to not be there.

2. With the removal of alcohol from the Christmas season this leave plenty of space to discover and create new traditions - whether its baking a gingerbread house, getting out for a Christmas day hike or jumping into the sea on boxing day - this is an opportunity to bring in more of what you want in your life.

3. Feeling left out or not part of it all can be a big trigger for the old "I'll just have one" chat... consider buying alcohol free beers, making mocktails, or having some chilled sparkling water and lemon available for when a toast is being made. If you think attending a party will put you in danger of relapse - politely declined the invite and make safer plans with the host

4. It can feel like your the only sober Santa around Christmas, so attending a AA/CA/NA meeting on Christmas day or around that time can be a helpful reminder your not doing this alone.

5. Make your self-care the priority!
This could be booking yourself a holistic treatment, ensuring your usual routine doesn't get neglected or simply taking some time out for yourself - this season can be overwhelming and exhausting - pay close attention to relapse triggers: H.A.L.T: Hungry. Angry. Lonely. Tired.

07/12/2021

Join us for DHI’s 2021 Annual Event this Thursday 9 December live on Facebook from 4:30pm.

Register now
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScKCvpX1ilTrZ6jNToffUlmsziIncy9oKCW3yJZxv-0ca0PEA/viewform

or visit DHI page to find link to register

02/12/2021

UWE Student??? Fancy winning £250? 🤑 Complete the alcohol survey run by SOS-UK link in bio! It's completely anonymous and independent of UWE. It asks you about your experiences and thoughts on alcohol and drug use (you don't have to use either to take part)
it provides us with super useful information on how to provide better support, advice, and activities

https://online1.snapsurveys.com/interview/71eb4d4f-8b50-490f-9a8f-9c61b7945b12

01/12/2021

Christmas, for some it the most wonderful time of the year and for others its something they dread!

However you feel about Christmas it's likely you'll get invited to at least one booze filled Christmas event, if you choose to go and want to drink here are some boundaries you could try and put in place to curb excessive alcohol use this season 🎄

Drink more because you are feeling socially anxious?
Here are things you can try...

1. Treat your social anxiety as you would any other anxiety - use Headspace mediations, go for walk, do exercise on the day of an event to try and reduce you anxiety levels before you start drinking.

2. Make sure you eat before you start drinking. Feeling anxious suppresses the appetite so baring that in mind, make a conscious decision to eat well on the day of a event.

3. Feeling anxious can mean we drink quicker - if you know you drink quickly, drink weaker drink - have a top of lemonade or shandy, have a single shot in a pint glass topped up with mixer, have a spritzer instead of a glass of wine - and if its safe to do so try to put your glass down in-between sips.

19/11/2021

For we are exploring the relationship between & other ...

Today's focus is Alcohol + SSRI's (Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors)
Such as & more

Although using SSRI's and drinking alcohol in moderation may not be considered dangerous there are somethings to consider.

Using alcohol can make your feel low and can exacerbate how you are feeling already.
If your struggling to with low mood alcohol could make this feel worse, especially the next day.

Using SSRI's & Alcohol could increase the feeling of drowsiness and increase the risk of accident.

Use alcohol with caution if you are new to SSRI's and are unsure of how you will react.

Never suddenly stop using SSRI's because your planning on drinking.

Stopping antidepressants suddenly can cause withdrawal effects, such as flu-like symptoms, sensations in the body that feel like electric shocks, and seizures.

18/11/2021

For we are exploring the relationship between & other ...

Today's focus is Alcohol + Co***ne

Using alcohol whilst on stimulants like co***ne will reduce the sedative effect of the alcohol, this can lead to people drinking excessively as the effects of the alcohol are reduced.

Using alcohol & co***ne produces a 3rd substance in the liver called this is far more dangerous to the major organs than just co***ne or alcohol used alone.

17/11/2021

For we are exploring the relationship between & other ...

Today's focus is Alcohol + .

Alcohol + Ketamine used together can increase the effects of both substances, even in smaller doses your coordination can be impaired which could result in accidents.

Using alcohol + ketamine together the risk of falling unconscious is increased. Alcohol will increase the risk of vomiting when unconscious and unless you are in the this could be fatal.

16/11/2021

For we are exploring the relationship between & other ...

Today's focus is Alcohol + Benzodiazepines (Such as )

Using alcohol & benzos together will increase the effects of both substances.
Both are CNS Depressants - by using the two together the risk of falling unconscious is increased. Alcohol will increase the risk of vomiting when unconscious and unless you are in the this could be fatal.

Common side effects of using Alcohol + Benzo's together is blacking out and memory loss.

Rebound anxiety can happen from drinking high levels of alcohol, as well as prolonged benzo use. If you are using benzodiazepines to manage symptoms of anxiety then avoid alcohol completely would be recommended to prevent the potential for "hangxiety" the following day.