Second Step E-Newsletter
October 2011
Just the Facts, Ma’am: Help Your Students Get Their Facts Straight About Drug Abuse During National Drug Facts Week
When it comes to drug, alcohol, and tobacco use, many teens harbor the false belief that “everyone is doing it.” The truth is that most teens choose not to use and abuse these harmful substances. In fact, according to National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Director Dr. Nora D. Volkow, “…teens are craving factual information about drug risks and dangers to help them make smart choices.”
Bringing Questions and Answers Together
National Drug Facts Week (NDFW) is an opportunity for you to help your students get their facts straight about drug abuse. NIDA, sponsor of the week-long event, recommends that you host a community-based question and answer session that brings together teens and scientific experts. This gives teens the chance to pose their questions about drugs to the experts with the facts and to learn about the science behind drug abuse. For an event to be officially registered with NIDA, it should:
- Have a teen audience
- Have an adult advisor
- Be held between October 31 and November 6, 2011
- Be registered on the NIDA Web site
- Include at least one of the following:
- A scientific expert
- A discussion of the National Drug IQ Challenge
- A discussion of NIDA's Drugs: Shatter the Myths booklet
Making an Event Happen in Your Community
Everything you need to plan an NDFW event that connects teens and drug experts can be found online in NIDA’s National Drug Facts Week Event Toolkit. The toolkit outlines the six steps for planning and promoting a successful event, and gives you the resources to complete each one. Here are brief descriptions of the six steps:
- Find an adult advisor. Every event needs a designated adult to register the event and get it approved for NIDA’s Web site. Adult advisors can be teachers, counselors, or other adults who work with teens. You can also find adult advisors in local community organizations.
- Brainstorm an event. You’ll need to decide what kind of event to hold, and where it will happen. The NIDA Web site has a section on activities to help you get your ideas flowing.
- Find an expert. Experts are must-haves for pulling off a successful NDFW event. Find yours at a local university, hospital, or health department. In a pinch, NIDA’s scientific materials will give your participants a good grounding in the facts about drug abuse.
- Register your event. This important step will get your event recognized on NIDA’s Web site. You can also see what other events are happening across the country.
- Order your scientific materials. NIDA offers two great free resources: the National Drug IQ Challenge and the Drugs: Shatter the Myths booklet.
- Spread the word. Use the tips and resources on NIDA’s Web site to get the word out about your event. Find out how to advertise to your friends and community, promote your event to the media, and issue a proclamation to get some public recognition in the community.
Other Ways to Observe National Drug Facts Week
If you’re unable to sponsor or participate in a question-and-answer event, there are many other ways you and your students can observe NDFW:
- Learn more about common drug myths: Use NIDA’s booklet Drugs: Shatter the Myths to help you and your students learn more about common drug myths.
- Send a CyberShoutout on October 28: use Twitter, Facebook, or your own blog to tell others about NDFW, and to help dispel myths about drug abuse.
- Tweet about NDFW: use the hashtag #drugfacts2011.
- Take the National Drug IQ Challenge: Test your knowledge about drugs and drug abuse with the new interactive version of the National Drug IQ Challenge.
- Participate in Chat Day 2011 on November 1: Register soon for this popular Web chat between NIDA scientists and teens. Read transcripts from Chat Day 2010 for a taste of the questions posed by thousands of teens last year.
- Encourage teen musicians to enter The MusiCares and GRAMMY Foundation's Teen Substance Abuse Awareness through Music Contest: invite young musicians to create original music and/or music videos about making healthy choices and avoiding the dangers of substance abuse. Have them take a look at last year’s winners for inspiration.
