According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week (NDAFW) is “an annual, week-long, health observance that inspires dialogue about the science of drug use and addiction among youth.” This year it took place from March 21-27.
Numerous events are held around the country to inform teens about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.
Here at the high school, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) hosted some activities during lunch.
“SADD is doing some different activities with what are called drug buster goggles,” SADD advisor Brian Bollone said. “They are goggles that simulate different levels of impairment with alcohol, hallucinogenic chemicals, and stimulants.”
Bollone believes Drug and Alcohol Facts Week is important, especially for today’s teens. It allows people to become further informed on the dangers of drugs and alcohol.
“[National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week] gives kids the chance to experience what different levels of impairment are and some of the alternatives,” Bollone said “This is a chance for us to highlight it in the building.”
Though teens may be more informed about drugs and alcohol now than in the past, the information they receive is not always accurate.
“I think teens are more informed now. It is a question of where the information is coming from and making sure their sources are reliable,” Bollone said. “Peer information is not going to be the most reliable, but knowing how to judge what is true about different types of drugs or chemicals is important.”
For those who are interested in informing themselves about the dangers of drugs and alcohol, there are numerous reliable sources available.
“There are lots of different sources. There is the National Drug Council, SADD’s national website, and we have a school liaison that works with Pine Rest to do things with mental and chemical abuse, so students have a lot of different options,” Bollone said.
