National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week

Many teens are not aware of the serious risks drugs and alcohol pose to their health, and their future. The question is: what can communities do to help educate this generation about drug and alcohol abuse?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One method is for schools staff, parents, and students to work together on awareness events that will provide teens with the facts about drug use. National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week (NDAFW) is a national health observance designed to give communities the materials and tools teens need to say no to drugs and alcohol.

Inspired by the National Institute on Drug Abuse(NIDA), part of the National Institute of Health, NDAFW is in its seventh year and will be held this January 22 through January 27, 2019.

“This week is designed to counteract the myths teens have about drug abuse, often reinforced by their peers, the Internet, and the entertainment industry,” said NIDA Director, Nora D. Volkow, M.D. “When given the facts from people they trust, teens are in a better position to make good decisions about drug use.”

All around the country, science teachers, health teachers, guidance counselors, social workers, drug prevention programs, and educational support programs are using science-based information  in their curriculum, school assemblies, PTA meetings, and educational programs to get the truth out about drug and alcohol abuse. 

One such program is the UNITE Corporation’s Arrive Alive Tour. The Arrive Alive Tour uses a high-tech simulator, impact video, and a number of other resources to educate individuals and communities about the dangers of drunk and drugged driving. The simulator allows participants to experience, in a controlled environment, the potential consequences of impaired driving. This spring Arrive Alive will feature the first ever marijuana simulator to tour the country! With the legalization of marijuana happening in more and more states across the country, driving while under the influence of marijuana is a bigger issue than ever before, and Arrive Alive makes it its mission to help students combat this dangerous issue.