Teens Education on Drugs, Alcohol

Teens in a Pakistani classroom learn dangers of addiction

Students at Agha Khan Higher Secondary School in Karachi, Pakistan

National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week, an annual health observance for teens to shatter the myths about drug and alcohol use, took place Jan. 22-28. Every year, the number of events increases, with activities being held in all 50 states and around the country.

This year, the observance saw 2,320 total events, some held in international sites including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Mexico, Northern Marinara Islands, South Africa, the U.K., Ireland, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Nigeria, Micronesia, Ukraine and Zambia.

Launched in 2010 by NIDA, and in partnership with NIAAA since 2016, National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week links students with scientists and other experts to counteract the myths about drugs and alcohol that teens get from the internet, social media and movies. Online resources included several new drug-specific toolkits for event holders to use, a pledge card and the popular National Drug IQ Challenge, an interactive quiz accessible on mobile devices for teens to test their knowledge about drugs and alcohol.

Visit http://teens.drugabuse.gov/national-drug-facts-week for more information. To see pictures of NDAFW events across the nation, visit https://www.flickr.com/photos/nida-nih/collections/.