National Drug Facts Week

2010–Ongoing

National Drug Facts Week (NDFW) is a health observance week for teens that aims to shatter the myths about drugs and drug abuse.

Who created National Drug Facts Week?
National Drug Facts Week was launched by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health. NIDA scientists want to give teens the opportunity to learn what science has taught us about drug abuse and addiction amid the noise and clutter of drug myths they get from the internet, TV, movies, music, or from friends.

When is National Drug Facts Week?
NDFW will be celebrated from Monday January 28th through Sunday February 3th, 2013.

What happens during National Drug Facts Week?
National Drug Facts Week is an opportunity for teens to shatter the myths about drugs and drug abuse. In community and school events all over America, teens and experts will come together for an honest conversation about how drugs affect the brain, body and behavior. In school assemblies, after school clubs, athletic events, book clubs and other venues, students will be able to ask scientists questions about drugs, or discuss NIDA materials designed for teens.

How Can I Get Materials for National Drug Facts Week?
Go to the Web site http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov and look for links to our teen booklet (Drugs: Shatter the Myths (8MB)) as well as the National Drug IQ Challenge. These tools are free to the public and are excellent centerpieces for National Drug Facts Week events.

How can I plan an event for National Drug Facts Week?
Check out the National Drug Facts Week Website for more information. NIDA offers an online toolkit with lots of suggestions on how to plan events and how to find scientific experts who can participate. The site also tells you how to register your event, and shows you photos from last year’s activities.

Why Celebrate National Drug Facts Week?
About a third of high school seniors report using an illicit drug sometime in the past year, and more than ten percent report non-medical use of a narcotic painkiller. More than 20 percent of high school seniors report smoking marijuana in the past month. 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. When teens are given the scientific facts about drugs, they can be better prepared to make good decisions for themselves and they can share this information with others.

Who are NIDA’s Partners for National Drug Facts Week?
NIDA has many federal, state and local partners working together to get the facts about drugs to teens in communities all over America. NIDA has a special collaboration with the MusiCares and GRAMMY Foundation who are sponsoring a music contest related to issues about drugs or healthy living. Contest details can be found on the National Drug Facts Week Web site.

For more information on National Drug Facts Week, or to become a partner visit the Web site http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov or call 301-­‐443-­‐1124.