National Drug & Alcohol Facts WeekSM

Teenagers across the nation have joined forces with other teens and scientists across the United States as part of “National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week^SM” (NDAFW).  The week-long health observance, organized by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), both part of the National Institutes of Health, takes place Monday, January 25^th through Sunday, January 31^st.  NDAFW celebrates the inquisitive minds of teens by giving them a space (virtual or physical) to ask questions about drugs and alcohol and to get scientific answers from experts. 

About a third of high school seniors across the country report using an illicit drug sometime in the past year, and more than ten percent report non-medical use of a narcotic painkiller.  While drugs can put a teenager’s health and life in jeopardy, many teens are not aware of the risks. Even for those teens who do not abuse drugs, many have friends or family who do, and they are often looking for ways to help them. 

We want teens to have the opportunity to learn what science has taught us about drug abuse, alcohol, and addiction. There are so many myths about drugs and alcohol cluttering our popular culture.  National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week^SM is for teens to get honest answers about drugs so they can make good, informed decisions for themselves and share accurate information with friends.

For more information on NDAFW please go to their website: https://teens.drugabuse.gov/national-drug-alcohol-facts-week