Anonymous drug dealers who study at Kingston have told The River that their products are most likely to be bought by white middle-class males.
The students, who find time between lectures to sell their illegal substances, also highlighted that their sales are high with an increasing demand for ketamine and crack.
One of the students, who is in their last year of studies, said: “The number of people who will take drugs in Kingston is actually pretty high. If it wasn’t, I wouldn’t be wasting my time selling to them.
“More people take drugs at Kingston, and in general, than you realise, whether it’s a bump of cocaine or they’re just chilling and want to smoke.
“I don’t want to categorise those who buy drugs off of me and others, but a high number of those who get them at university are white males, probably from a middle-class background who are experiencing freedom for the first time away from home.
“A lot of people probably go to university and want to try things like drugs once, maybe want to look cool in front of other people they’ve just met, but then keep coming back for more.”
In 2018, a study from the National Union of Students stated that around two in five students were drug users, with weed being the most sought-after substance.
Despite marijuana being the most consumed illegal drug, the drug-dealing students suggested that this was only one of the many illegal substances students at Kingston attempt to get their hands on.
Another student drug dealer said: “I don’t actually sell anything other than weed, but I know for a fact that ketamine has become popular with most people. Probably even more so than cocaine recently.
“It seems to me that even if students don’t have much money for things like food and other essentials, they’ll still find the money for drugs if they’re going on a night out.
“In reality, it’s probably cheaper to take a pill or have coke on a night out in comparison to buying overpriced drinks at a club, so there’s probably that attraction as well.”
Both drug dealers also said that selling drugs was only a temporary thing for them while they were studying at university to make some money alongside their student loan.
Despite knowing the potential consequences of selling the products, they said they see it as another regular job with high demand.
“The thing is, someone is always going to be selling drugs at university campuses,” said one of the students. “To me, it’s the same as having any kind of job while at university.”
Another possible attraction for some students is the reduced prices and loyalty bonuses, which apparently come with repeated business.
One former KU student, who has a degree in psychology, said: “What happens with a lot of people at university, like myself, is that you get to know drug dealers pretty well because you’ve spent time hanging out with them at the start of the year at fresher’s events, or they’ve lived in the same halls as you.
“When I would buy drugs, it would be off people I knew which would mean cheaper prices, especially if it was repeated business.
“In general, I’ve never met a horrible drug dealer. One time I was picking up drugs but ended up taking my dealer out clubbing with my friends because we got on so well.
“People are definitely not as anxious about meeting a dealer nowadays, especially with all the stereotypes that come with meeting and interacting with one.”
Amelia Jones 
Hermione Marszalek