The Warriors Ignite Group joins teens across the U.S. in week-long effort to
SHATTER THE MYTHS on drugs and alcohol
Teenagers from Warriors Ignite have joined forces with other teens and scientists across the United States as part of “National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week” (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 23rd through Sunday, January 29th. 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. As part of the NDAFW celebration, Warriors Ignite students are drug and alcohol facts with their peers at the Van Buren Community Jr. /Sr. High School with daily announcements and a graffiti wall outside of the nurse’s office at the school.
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.
In the fall of 2014, 27% of Van Buren County 11th grade students reported having had at least one drink in the past 30 days, and 15% of them reported having had 5 or more drinks in a row at least once in the past 30 days. 81% of 11th graders also reported it would be easy or very easy for kids under 21 to get alcoholic beverages. During the assessment phase of the IPFS Project in 2015 youth and young adults reported that two of the places youth under 21 are accessing alcohol is at parties in friends’ homes or at community events in Van Buren County.
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 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 National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week and the Warriors Ignite Group please contact the SAFE Coalition at 319-293-6412 or info@vbsafecoalition.com. Also look at the following websites for more information: www.vbsafecoalition.com or https://teens.drugabuse.gov/national-drug-alcohol-facts-week. Remember to talk with your kids about Drug and Alcohol Abuse and how it can affect them and the rest of their lives.
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