NDAFW Goes ‘Virtual’ and Celebrates 10 Years of Shattering Myths

National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week (NDAFW), an annual health observance that links teens with science-based facts about drugs and alcohol, celebrated its 10th year on Mar. 30-Apr. 5.

Launched in 2010 by NIDA, and in partnership with NIAAA since 2016, NDAFW connects students with scientists and other experts through live and online activities nationwide to shatter the myths about drugs and alcohol. 

This year, more than 2,700 events were registered in all 50 states and 13 international sites, surpassing the previous record of 2,321. Due to COVID-19, many NDAFW local events had to be cancelled, rescheduled or adjusted to a virtual/remote activity. In lieu of in-person events and activities, NIDA encouraged virtual participation and provided activities for teens, parents, caregivers and teachers that didn’t involve leaving the house. In fact, after NIDA announced virtual participation, more than 500 events were registered in a single day—about 50 percent higher than previous years. 

Examples of virtual activities included: Kahoot! games on vaping/e-cigarettes, marijuana and drugs and alcohol; free science-based resources and toolkits; the National Drug & Alcohol IQ Challenge, an interactive quiz available in English and Spanish that can be taken on mobile devices; and social media activities, including participation in a Tweetstorm and a Twitter Trivia Challenge. 

Images of NDAFW virtual events will be posted on NIDA’s Flickr album: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmMitoSt. More information about National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week can be found at https://teens.drugabuse.gov/national-drug-alcohol-facts-week.