North-east students are being offered free drug-testing kits to check whether they have been sold dangerous ecstasy pills.
Aberdeen University Students’ Association has stressed that its message remains that the “only way to avoid any risk is not to use drugs”.
But it has acknowledged that students are among the groups most likely to experiment with substances like ecstasy, and the scheme has been launched to ensure that any tablets they take have not been laced with harmful material.
The group has a “limited stock” of the kits, which can be used anonymously and for free.
Members were yesterday unable to confirm whether the scheme, which was launched last month, had proven successful in deterring students from taking dangerous pills.
But a spokeswoman added: “Safety on our campus and the wellbeing of our students is central to everything that we do here, and if the kits even inform one student about harm reduction around drug use, then we will consider them to be a success.”
Shadow justice secretary Liam Kerr believes the group should take a tougher stance by instructing students to avoid drugs altogether.
Mr Kerr said: “I think there is a real danger here of sending a message that it is acceptable to take illegal drugs.
“While it may be the case that drug use is common among some students, that doesn’t mean we simply wave the white flag.
“Young people must be made aware of the risks of using drugs. It would be far better to say they should stay away from these substances altogether.”
