The 10th National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week – Shatter the Myths is set for Monday, March 30 to Sunday, April 5, 2020. This special NDAFW observance raises awareness and scientific truth about the use and impact of drugs and alcohol on the minds, bodies and health of teens.
Take a break at home next week to check out the NDAFW website, resources and activities for parents, kids and educators. Try out the online games and lessons and share facts, photos and videos on social.
Read more about the event below from the National Institutes of Health announcement.
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.
Since its inception in 2010, NDAFW has continued to grow, with planners organizing nearly 2,000 events in all 50 states and in 20 countries last year. Due to COVID-19, many NDAFW local events may be cancelled, rescheduled, or adjusted to virtual/remote activities.
“Teens can make good choices if they understand how substance use affects their developing brains,” said NIDA Director Nora D. Volkow, M.D. “For 10 years, NIDA has been working with communities nationwide and around the world to provide young people with the critical information they need to improve their health and avoid the potentially devastating effects of drug addiction.”
In lieu of in-person events and activities, NIDA encourages virtual participation. Examples include:
• Playing the new Kahoot! games with an online class or individually.
• Taking the National Drug & Alcohol IQ Challenge interactive quiz available in English and Spanish on mobile devices.
• Sharing the facts on social media. Use the new “Not everyone’s doing it” social media cards and hand-held placards.
• Participating in the Drug Facts Challenge! interactive game using scientific facts about the brain and addiction, marijuana, vaping, and more.
• Taking advantage of the free, science-based resources, including toolkits and activity ideas; science- and standards-based classroom lessons and multimedia activities; and the recently updated Mind Matters series.
NIDA will host a Tweetstorm to raise awareness for NDAFW on Monday, March 30, from 3 to 4 p.m. EDT. On Friday, April 3, at 3 p.m. EDT, NIDA will host a Twitter Trivia Challenge in collaboration with Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD). Follow @NIDAnews and @NIAAAnews on Twitter or join the conversation by using the hashtag #NDAFW.
