Addiction: What BPP Students Need to Know
Addiction can affect anyone, regardless of age, background, programme of study, or how well someone appears to be managing. Many students juggle academic deadlines, professional training, employment, and personal commitments. These competing responsibilities can sometimes lead to unhealthy coping strategies that may gradually become difficult to control.
Addiction is not always linked to alcohol or drugs. It can also involve behaviours or habits that become difficult to control and begin to affect your wellbeing, studies, finances, relationships or daily life.
Addiction Can Take Many Forms
While substance misuse is one form of addiction, students can also become dependent on:
Gambling
Gaming
Social Media and Harmful Online Behaviours
Shopping and Spending Behaviours
Prescription or Performance Enhancing Medication
Vaping or Nicotine Products
When these behaviours begin to take priority over your studies, wellbeing, finances or relationships, they may be crossing into harmful territory.
Recognising Early Signs
Addiction does not always look the same. You may notice some of the following signs:
Relying on something to cope with stress or pressure.
Feeling unable to reduce or stop the behaviour.
Hiding your habits from others.
Experiencing financial strain because of your behaviour.
Changes in mood, sleep, concentration or academic performance.
Withdrawal from friends, classes or responsibilities.
Recognising these signs early can help you access support before the behaviour begins to have a greater impact on your wellbeing, relationships, finances or studies.
Support Available at BPP
If you're struggling with addiction or feel worried about somebody else, it's important to reach out. Support is available and we're here to help.
Safeguarding Team
The Safeguarding Team can help signpost you to specialist addiction, recovery and external support services. They can also provide guidance if you are worried about your own behaviour or concerned about somebody else.
Contact:
Email Safeguarding Contact Form
Mental Health and Wellbeing Team
The Mental Health and Wellbeing Team can support you if addiction or addictive behaviours are affecting your wellbeing, studies, mood, relationships or daily life.
Contact:
Email Wellbeing Contact Form
If you are unsure which team is most appropriate, you can complete the Student Support Form and your enquiry will be directed to the relevant team.
External Support Services
If you or someone you know is affected by addiction, there are many trusted organisations offering confidential help, guidance and treatment. Select a category below to explore available support.
Gambling
Support for people experiencing gambling-related harm, financial difficulties, or concerns about gambling behaviours.
GambleAware
Provides advice, self-help tools, treatment information and access to specialist support services for people affected by gambling harm.
Visit GambleAware
GamCare
Provides a 24/7 helpline, live chat, counselling, treatment programmes and practical support for anyone affected by gambling.
Visit GamCare
NHS Problem Gambling Information
Information on recognising gambling addiction and accessing professional support services.
Visit NHS Problem Gambling Information
Gaming
Support for people who feel gaming is negatively affecting their wellbeing, relationships, studies or daily life.
National Centre for Gaming Disorders
An NHS service providing assessment, treatment and support for people experiencing difficulties controlling gaming behaviour and the impact it is having on their lives.
Visit the National Centre for Gaming Disorders
Social Media and Harmful Online Behaviours
Support and guidance for managing screen time, social media use and developing healthier online habits.
Internet Matters
Provides information, practical guidance and resources to support healthy and balanced online activity.
Visit Internet Matters
Mental Health UK
Provides information about the relationship between social media use and mental wellbeing, including practical steps to develop healthier online habits.
Visit Mental Health UK
Shopping and Spending Behaviours
Support for people experiencing compulsive spending, debt, money worries or financial difficulties related to shopping behaviours.
MoneyHelper
Provides free guidance on budgeting, debt management, spending habits and financial wellbeing.
Visit MoneyHelper
Citizens Advice
Provides practical support and advice relating to debt, money concerns and financial difficulties.
Visit Citizens Advice
Prescription or Performance Enhancing Medication
Support and guidance relating to prescription medication misuse, performance-enhancing substances and drug-related concerns.
Talk to Frank
Provides confidential advice and information about drugs, medication misuse and specialist support services.
Visit Talk to Frank
NHS Addiction Support
Provides information on addiction, treatment options and accessing professional services.
Visit NHS Addiction Support
Vaping or Nicotine Products
Support for reducing nicotine dependence, managing cravings and stopping vaping or smoking.
NHS Better Health: How to Quit Vaping
Provides practical advice on reducing nicotine dependence, managing withdrawal symptoms and stopping vaping safely.
Visit NHS Better Health
NHS Quit Smoking Support
Provides stop-smoking support, tools and access to local services to help people quit nicotine products.
https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/ Visit NHS Quit Smoking Support
Eating Difficulties
Support for people affected by eating disorders, disordered eating or compulsive eating behaviours.
Beat Eating Disorders
Provides helplines, online support groups, self-help resources and information for anyone affected by eating disorders.
Visit Beat Eating Disorders
Recovery and Treatment
Support for people seeking professional treatment, rehabilitation services or peer support as part of recovery.
Recovery.org.uk
Provides a directory of UK treatment centres and information about rehabilitation and recovery pathways.
Visit Recovery.org.uk
Narcotics Anonymous UK
Provides peer support meetings and recovery communities for people recovering from addiction.
Visit Narcotics Anonymous UK
Sources and References
This page has been adapted for BPP students using information from recognised healthcare, addiction, recovery, mental health and wellbeing organisations. It provides information about recognising the signs of addiction, understanding behavioural and substance-related addictions, accessing specialist support services, and seeking help for yourself or someone else.
Addiction can affect individuals in different ways and support needs may vary. The information provided on this page is intended as guidance and does not replace professional medical, psychological or therapeutic advice.
`