For use as a standalone educational tool or an introduction to the naloxone demonstration guide, this presentation walks participants through information on overdoses and how naloxone can be used to prevent overdose deaths. Check out events already registered on our NDAFW Map to see who is hosting an event in your area. Teens that are interested in hosting events must partner with an adult who meets this criterion (including your parents!).
- The internet is filled with health information—and some of it is not truthful or accurate.
- 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.
- In an evolving public health landscape, it is critical that we prioritize data-informed prevention strategies when responding to the misuse of drugs and alcohol.
- By communicating the long-term, harmful effects on the brain from using alcohol and drugs, NIDA educates teens on the importance of prevention.
- In addition to the interactive map below, you can also view an accessible HTML version of the events list or download the events in CSV format.
With your dedication and efforts, our prevention work can literally save lives. From rural Montana to college campuses in Florida, the success stories from SAMHSA’s Communities Talk to Prevent Underage Drinking initiative offer compelling examples of drug and alcohol misuse prevention at work. Used their ingenuity to push prevention work forward, even when COVID-19 made gathering in person impossible. Youth.gov is the U.S. government website that helps you create, maintain, and strengthen effective youth programs. Whether you’re teaching in group activities for recovery a classroom or educating members of your community, you need science-based, accessible, and interactive materials to educate youth about the risks of substance use. Tweet, blog, or update your Facebook status to help spread the word about your NDAFW event.
Learn About National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week
EDT, NIDA will host a Twitter Trivia Challenge in collaboration with Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD). Anyone can test their knowledge by following the hashtag #NDAFW and answering multiple-choice questions about drugs and alcohol. Find learning activities that teach youth, parents, caregivers, and educators how to prevent overdose, the science of… National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week® (NDAFW) is an annual event focused on the science of drug use and addiction that educates and empowers youth to make informed decisions about substance use and their health. NDAFW is a week of educational events that annually brings together teens and scientific experts to SHATTER THE MYTHS® about substance use and addiction. Thank you for your continued support in preventing substance misuse and its harmful effects.
New: Understanding and Responding to an Overdose
Teach youth health literacy—the skill of finding and using credible information to make decisions and take actions that support their health. Test your knowledge of the facts about underage drinking and the risks to young people who start drinking too early. Quizzes, the National Drug & Alcohol Challenge covers substance use, alcohol, nicotine, addiction, and more. Test your group’s knowledge of addiction with this informative, interactive Kahoot! See NIH scientists explain addiction in terms youth can understand.
Classroom Activities to Prevent Underage Drinking for Middle School
Make sure to register your event, have it listed on the Events Map, or promote it as an NDAFW event. Please send an email to with information about your event, the dates, and any questions you may have. NIDA will host a Tweetstorm to raise awareness for NDAFW on Monday, March 30, from 3 to 4 p.m. Students and organizations can participate by tweeting about drug and alcohol education and using the hashtag #NDAFW during that hour.
Teaching Youth About Addiction
SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) from 2020 shows that 57 percent of youth ages 12 to 17 did not think dry eyes alcohol withdrawal there was great harm in having five or more drinks once or twice a week. Even more concerning is that as many as 62.6 percent of those in that age group did not think it was very harmful to smoke marijuana once or twice a week. During National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week® and year round, teens can test their knowledge about drugs, alcohol, and drug use by taking the interactive National Drug and Alcohol IQ Challenge quiz. If you haven’t yet had a chance to register or plan your event, it’s not too late to do so! NDAFW participants have promoted youth skill-building and encouraged youth to share their personal motivations for adopting healthy behaviors for mind and body. Registering your event provides you with the ability to connect with NIDA staff who can offer assistance and answer questions.Have general questions?
Test your knowledge on the causes of drug overdoses and learn about actions you can take to save a life. This month (March 21-27), the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s (NIDA) National Drugs and Alcohol Facts Week (NDAFW) offers another opportunity to advance community-based prevention initiatives. March 23, 2020—National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week® (NDAFW) marks its 10th anniversary March 30 through April 5, 2020, encouraging communities around the country to SHATTER THE MYTHS® about substance use and addiction. NDAFW is a joint initiative of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), which are both part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
NIH scientists explain the short- and long-term effects of using substances to cope with stress. Teach youth about substances that lead to overdose and how to identify and respond to an overdose using videos and Kahoot! Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. All approved events will be displayed on the Events Map within 2 weeks of submitting the registration form. If your event is not displayed within that time period, please send an email to In addition to the interactive map below, you can also view an accessible HTML version of the events list or download the events in CSV format.
NDAFW helps inspire dialogue about the science of alcohol and other drug use—how it affects the brain and body, and how it may lead to addiction among youth. By communicating the long-term, harmful effects on the brain from using alcohol and drugs, NIDA educates teens on the importance of prevention. Each year, NDAFW participants host educational events in their communities so youth can learn what science has taught us about drug use and addiction. We understand it may not be possible for some event planners to hold events during the week of NDAFW. Registered activities held any time in the same month as the week of NDAFW can be recognized as NDAFW events. We would still like to hear about your event and support you in any way possible.
Read about NIDA’s federal partners for NDAFW, find out how to gifts to celebrate sobriety partner with NIDA to promote National Drug and Alcohol… Follow the steps below to plan, register, and execute a successful, educational gathering. Find classroom activities that teach students in grades 5-8 how to resist peer pressure, effective ways to say “no” to peers, with downloads and role-playing activities. The internet is filled with health information—and some of it is not truthful or accurate.
