Help for substance abuse and addiction problems

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Where to get help
Student substance abuse policy
How to bring up your concerns
 

Where to get help

If you are worried about your own substance use, you should contact Finnish Student Health Services (FSHS) in the first place. FSHS can make the assessment on the level of substance abuse and direct the student to the sphere of right help. You can also seek support to change your substance use habits from the substance abuse services of the The Wellbeing Services County of Pirkanmaa (Pirha) or your own municipality. If you are concerned about your student friend's substance use, you can discuss your concerns confidentially with with your friend. For advice on how to raise the issue, please contact the substance abuse contact person, Liisa Ikkala-Toiviainen (tel. 050 596 9578), paihdeyhdyshenkilo.tau [at] tuni.fi (paihdeyhdyshenkilo.tau@tuni).

• FSHS: Contact the assessment of the need for treatment team - FSHS
• Mental health and help with substance abuse problems - Pirha in English - pirha.fi
• Welfare centres in Tampere: The welfare centres offer an abundance of counselling, guidance and services related to well-being, health, and different life situations.

You can also find information about intoxicants and addictions, tests, and contact information for parties providing help from the following websites:

• Substance abuse helpline: phone +358 800 900 45, Help and support for individuals concerned about their own or a family member’s substance abuse anonymously provided by EHYT – Finnish Association for Substance Abuse Prevention
• AddictionLink: Self-help tools for monitoring, cutting down on and stopping substance use as well as information about various intoxicants
• Peluuri: Information, tools and support for managing gambling problems
• Limitless gaming: Information, peer support and support for gaming problems
• Mieli Crisis Helpline, phone 09 2525 0116

Student substance abuse policy

The purpose of the Student Substance Abuse Policy is to support students' well-being and a safe study environment. The policy aims to prevent substance abuse problems, identify substance abuse and provide early intervention.  

The substance abuse policy describes guidelines on how to act when we face issues related to substance abuse. If problematic substance use has clearly affected a student’s academic performance, compromised campus safety, had severe consequences on a student's health or if a student appears to be addicted to substances, the substance abuse contact person will make arrangements to discuss referral to treatment. The substance abuse policy also describes the consequences that intoxication or inappropriate behaviour in studies or training can lead to.

The substance abuse programme has been prepared in cooperation with university experts, the Student Union of Tampere University (TREY) and the Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS).

How to bring up your concerns

If you have concerns about a fellow student's substance use, it is important to raise the issue with him or her. The following points should be taken into account in the discussion (adapted from EHYT materials):

• Trust your instincts and feelings about the concern.  It is better to raise the concern than not to raise it.
• Consider the appropriate time and place for discussion. It may be easier to talk, for example on a walk or in the middle of some other activity. However, the discussion should always be one-to-one, even in the case that several students or, for example, the board of a student association has noticed signs of the student's problematic substance use. The private matters of a student may not be openly discussed within a student association.
• Think ahead to how you might start a conversation: 'Haven't seen you for a while, how are?', 'You seem a bit tired, how are you doing?', 'How are your studies going?'
• Make it clear what you're worried about, but don't blame.
• It's important that you listen.  You can think together about a solution and think about where to get help.
• It may also happen that the other person refuses to talk. However, you can feel good about yourself for raising the issue and expressing your concern for the other person.