National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week
March 18th-24th, 2024
It’s officially National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week!
National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week®(NDAFW) is an annual health observance that inspires dialogue about the science of drug use and addiction among youth. It provides an opportunity to bring together scientists, students, educators, healthcare providers, and community partners to help advance science and address youth drug and alcohol use in communities and nationwide.
It was launched in 2010 by scientists at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to stimulate educational events in communities so teens can learn what science has taught us about drug use and addiction. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism became a partner in 2016, and alcohol has been added as a topic area for the week. NIDA and NIAAA are part of the National Institutes of Health, and work with leading organizations, media outlets, and other Government agencies to spread the word about NDAFW.
How NDAFW Works
Events and Activities: Communities, schools, and organizations nationwide host events such as informational sessions, webinars, health fairs, and media campaigns. There is a wealth of resources to support event planning located on the NDAFW website.
Chat Day: A live online chat event is held with NIDA scientists where teens can ask questions about drugs and alcohol and receive evidence-based answers.
Social Media Engagement: NDAFW utilizes social media to share facts, infographics, and videos using the hashtag #NDAFW. This digital outreach extends the week’s impact and reaches a broader audience.
Why NDAFW Matters
Adolescence is a critical period for brain development, making young people especially vulnerable to the effects of drugs and alcohol. By providing them with the facts, NDAFW empowers teens to make healthy choices and potentially prevent a lifetime of substance misuse issues. One of the main goals of NDAFW is to debunk the myths surrounding drugs and alcohol that teens are led to believe. Here are some examples of myths and the facts to discredit them:
Myth: "Everyone's doing it."
Fact: The perception that "everyone" uses drugs and drinks can create pressure, but the reality is, many teens choose not to. Exaggerating how common usage is increases the risk of teens wanting to try drugs or alcohol in order to fit in.
Myth: "I can quit whenever I want."
Fact: Addiction is a complex disease that affects the brain. Drugs and alcohol change brain chemistry, making it harder to control impulses and make sound decisions. While quitting might seem easy at first, the longer someone uses, the harder it becomes to break the cycle.
Myth: "I can handle my drinking/drug use."
Fact: It's easy to underestimate how substances affect you. Alcohol impairs judgment and coordination, increasing accident or injury risk. Even occasional drug use can have unexpected negative consequences on your physical and mental health.
In conclusion, NDAFW stands as a beacon of hope, emphasizing the importance of evidence-based education in preventing substance abuse. It offers a valuable reminder that our youth deserve honest information to make healthy choices. While one week may seem short, the impact of NDAFW has the potential to ripple throughout the year. By continuing these conversations and supporting research efforts, we can empower young people with knowledge. Ultimately, this understanding may pave the way for a generation that understands the true risks of drugs and alcohol, and has the resources to prioritize their health and well-being.
Here at Communicare, we have highly trained mental health therapists with experience in treating those with addiction issues. We accept auto, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Blue Care Network, United Health Care and Beacon insurances.
Sources:
https://infocenter.nimh.nih.gov/publications/teen-brain-7-things-know
https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/national-drug-alcohol-facts-week/learn-about-ndafw
https://positivechoices.org.au/students/mythbusters-common-drug-myths-exposed
