(Washington, D.C., Monday, March 30, 2020) – The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is teaming up with the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, both part of the National Institutes of Health, for National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week® from March 30 to April 5. Now in its 10th year, this national health observance week for teens encourages local communities to host activities and events across the U.S.
Online resources, including the popular National Drug & Alcohol IQ Challenge, will be interactive and accessible on mobile devices, with videos of scientists answering the questions to better illustrate the science behind the answers.
Dr. Jack Stein of NIDA explains the importance of National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week®.
SOUNDBITE #1:
BY GIVING TEENS THE SCIENCE-BASED FACTS ABOUT DRUGS AND ALCOHOL, WE CAN HELP PREPARE THEM TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS. THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT GIVEN THAT VAPING OF NICOTINE AND MARIJUANA AMONG TEENS IS ON THE RISE. DURING NATIONAL DRUG AND ALCOHOL FACTS WEEK, MARCH THIRTIETH THROUGH APRIL FIFTH, TEENS CAN ASK SCIENTIFIC EXPERTS ABOUT DRUGS, ALCOHOL, AND VAPING, AND GET THE FACTS ABOUT HOW THEY IMPACT DEVELOPING BRAINS, BODIES, AND BEHAVIORS.
SOUNDBITE #2:
NOW, WHILE OVERALL MARIJUANA USE RATES REMAIN STEADY AMONG TEENS, DAILY USE OF MARIJUANA AMONG EIGHTH & TENTH GRADERS WENT UP SIGNIFICANTLY FROM TWENTY-EIGHTEEN TO TWENTY-NINETEEN. NATIONAL DRUG AND ALCOHOL FACTS WEEK, MARCH THIRTIETH THROUGH APRIL FIFTH, IS A GREAT TIME TO TALK TO TEENS ABOUT DRUGS AND ALCOHOL. THIS ANNUAL EVENT BRINGS TEENS, EDUCATORS, AND FAMILIES TOGETHER WITH SCIENTISTS AND OTHER EXPERTS TO DISCUSS HOW DRUGS AFFECT THE DEVELOPING BRAIN AND BODY.
For more information about National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week, visit teens.drugabuse.gov/NDAFW.