Event Series:
National Drug and Alcohol Facts Weeks
National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week
March 18 - March 24
National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week
Participate in National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week. Help share facts about drugs, alcohol, and addiction in your community. NDAFW is an annual health observance that inspires dialogue about the science of drug use and addiction among youth. The weeklong observance, held the third week in March, inspires dialogue about the science of drug use and addiction among youth. It brings together students, educators, mental and physical healthcare providers, and community partners. Together, they help address youth drug and alcohol use in communities and nationwide.
The awareness color for drug abuse prevention is red. Personalized Cause offers red enamel pins, fabric ribbons and red silicone awareness wristbands. Call attention to drug abuse and drug abuse prevention resources, facts and awareness.
What is National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week?
National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week, or NDAFW, was launched in 2010 by scientists at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). The goal is to stimulate educational events in communities so teens can learn, for example, what science has taught us about drug use and addiction. In addition, The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism became a partner in 2016. The partnership then included alcohol abuse information to its focus. NIDA and NIAAA are both part of the National Institutes of Health. Both work with leading organizations, media outlets, and other Government agencies to spread the word about NDAFW.
The Statistics
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6.8% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 reported drinking alcohol in the past month and 14.3% reported having used illicit drugs in the past year. Furthermore, the survey reported that younger adolescents tend to have lower perceptions of the risk of harm from having four or five alcoholic drinks nearly every day or drug use.
Keep youth safe by taking part in this year’s National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week® (NDAFW) and informing teens about the consequences of alcohol and drug misuse and the importance of prevention.
Get Involved:
- Researchers have found that teens who drink alcohol or use drugs are more likely to engage in sexual behaviors that can put them at risk for sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy. Learn about how you can incorporate substance use prevention into your APP programming to promote healthy outcomes.
- Check out resources from the SAMSHA youth substance use prevention campaign “Talk. They Hear You.”
- Educate youth on the consequences of alcohol and drug use with the fact sheets from the Tips for Teens series.
- Share the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s resources for youth, parents, and educators on drug use and the developing brain.
One Choice
NDAFW also encourages dialogue around the science of addiction and substance use among youth. The Institute for Behavior and Health’s One Choice prevention message is data-driven and youth-led. Incorporating the One Choice resources into NDAFW is a powerful combo!
Lastly, and most importantly, The One Choice prevention message is: No use of any alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, or other drugs by youth under age 21 for reasons of health.
One Choice is centered on health, based on three key facts which include:
- The developing brain is uniquely vulnerable to substance use.
- For teens, all substance use is related.
- More than ever, young people are making One Choice.
SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357) (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service), or TTY: 1-800-487-4889 is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service, in addition, provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations.
