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National Drug Facts Week

2010–Ongoing

National Drug Facts Week logo

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

2013 National Drug Facts Week : Monday January 28th through Sunday February 3rd .

What is National Drug Facts Week?
National Drug Facts Week was launched in 2010 by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health. To counteract the myths they get from the internet, TV, movies, music, or from friends, NIDA scientists want to stimulate events in communities so  teens  can learn what science has taught us about drug abuse and addiction.

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, scientists and other 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, and other venues, students will be able to ask the experts questions about drugs, and discuss NIDA materials designed for teens.

How can I plan an event for National Drug Facts Week?
Check out the National Drug Facts Week Website (below) for more information. NIDA offers an online toolkit with lots of suggestions on how to plan events and how to find experts who can participate. The site also tells you how to register your event, and how to get free materials for teens, including the National Drug IQ challenge quiz.

Why Celebrate National Drug Facts Week?
About a third of high school seniors report using an illicit drug sometime in the past year; more than ten percent report nonmedical use of potentially addictive prescription painkillers; and more than 20 percent report smoking marijuana in the past month.  Many teens are not aware of the risks to their health, to their success in school and the dangers while driving under the influence.  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 Federal 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. Partners within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services include the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Other major federal partners include the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, the Office of Safe and Healthy Students in the U.S. Department of Education and the Drug Enforcement Administration in the U.S. Department of Justice.

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.

This page was last updated August 2012