Bringing research to the teen world: National Drug Facts Week

January 22, 2015

Maureen Fitzgerald
Communications Coordinator, ATTC Network
Editor, NIATx
The latest Monitoring the Future study released in December 2014 reported that both teen alcohol and cigarette use are at their lowest points since the study began in 1975. Use of a number of other illicit drugs has also declined.

University of Michigan researchers who led the study, Drs. Lloyd Johnson and Richard Miech, comment on the results in this two-minute You Tube video:  E-cigarettes Surpass Regular Cigarettes Among Teens.


NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow wrote about the survey results in her December 2014 blog post, Good News from Monitoring the Future 2014:

"I like to think that prevention messages are making an impact. Teens are getting the message from various sources that drugs are not good for their developing brains, and there are much better, healthier, and more enjoyable ways to spend their time."

One reliable source of information for teens is coming up next week, January 26-February 1, 2015: NIDA's National Drug Facts Week, now in its fifth year.

NDFW offers science-based information that schools, counselors, prevention programs, and community support programs can use in their efforts to keep teens from starting drug use at an early age. And it's keeping kids from starting that's key: As the NIDA resource Principles of Adolescent Substance Use Disorder Treatment states, early onset of drug use increases a teen's risk of developing a substance use disorder later.

The NDFW web site features interactive video games, infographics, and a Drug-IQ challenge. A variety of materials are available for download, including NIDA Teaching Guides in English and Spanish. An Events Map shows NDFW events scheduled across the country: almost 1200 so far, with the number increasing daily. 

On Drug Facts Chat Day (Friday, January 30) you can watch online as high school students connect with researchers from NIDA, NIAAA, the National Institute of Mental Health, and other federal agencies.

Chat Day gives researchers valuable insight into the information (as well as misinformation) available to teens. "Their questions help us gain a better understanding of what kinds of science-based information is important to convey to kids to help them to make informed and healthy decisions," says Jack Stein, Director of NIDA's Office of Science Policy and Communication, commenting on Chat Day 2013. (Watch a previous  Chat Day in Action to get an idea of the kinds of questions teens pose.)

So be sure to visit the NDFW website, check out all the great resources it offers for providing teens with the most accurate, research-based information about drug abuse, and add Chat Day 2015 to your calendar!

Follow up to Kim Johnson's blog post, Three Wishes for 2015: 

Kim's third wish for this year was to reduce the stigma and shame associated with substance use disorders.  "I'm hoping that this is the year that someone comes up with the ribbon, bracelet, headband, color--something to symbolize recovery from an SUD."

Thomas Cox of Bloomington, Indiana, responded to Kim's wish with a letter and samples of a wearable symbol that he created to promote the concept of recovery.  As Mr. Cox, "a 45-year veteran of the world of addiction counseling" writes: "I think the more positive message of recovery better serves the purpose to work toward the reduction of the stigma advanced by the unaware...I am very interested in moving addiction (and mental health) to a recognizable positive symbol that will begin the process of awareness that is needed to combat the stigma we continue to have in this arena." You can find out more by visiting the website for his project, http://recoveryorientyourself.org/

Many thanks to Mr. Cox for sharing his vision and samples of his recovery symbol!

I’m hoping that this is the year that someone comes up with the ribbon, bracelet, headband, color—something to symbolize recovery from an SUD. - See more at: http://attcniatx.blogspot.com/2015/01/three-wishes-for-2015_5.html#sthash.FcRzGiH7.dpuf

I’m hoping that this is the year that someone comes up with the ribbon, bracelet, headband, color—something to symbolize recovery from an SUD. - See more at: http://attcniatx.blogspot.com/2015/01/three-wishes-for-2015_5.html#sthash.FcRzGiH7.dpuf

I’m hoping that this is the year that someone comes up with the ribbon, bracelet, headband, color—something to symbolize recovery from an SUD. - See more at: http://attcniatx.blogspot.com/2015/01/three-wishes-for-2015_5.html#sthash.FcRzGiH7.dpuf

I’m hoping that this is the year that someone comes up with the ribbon, bracelet, headband, color—something to symbolize recovery from an SUD. - See more at: http://attcniatx.blogspot.com/2015/01/three-wishes-for-2015_5.html#sthash.FcRzGiH7.dpuf