Each year, organizations around the world observe National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week® (NDAFW). This NIDA-sponsored health observance brings together scientists, health care providers, students, educators, and community partners to inspire dialogue about the science of drug use and addiction among youth.
This year, 25 organizations from 14 countries signed up to organize 148 different international events. These organizations ranged from governmental entities, such as the Ministry of Health in Tanzania and the National Drug Council in the Cayman Islands; to educational institutions, such as Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in the United States and Bharati Vidyapeeth’s College of Pharmacy in India; to other regional and local organizations, such as Rural Mutual Development in Nepal.
These events covered a wide range of projects and activities, including community art projects, educational initiatives, and professional development opportunities. The Basix India organization coordinated a glass painting community art project to raise awareness of drug misuse, overdose, and prescription mishandling.
Several organizations focused on educating students directly. The Nigerian group, Vincycomfort Orientations Initiative Against Social Vices, initiated a campaign to educate children and youth on the harmful effects of marijuana, made possible through resources and personnel from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency. The group planned a showing of a movie specifically produced as orientation material against drug use and addiction. The National Drug Council in the Cayman Islands organized “Shattering the Myths on Vaping,” a discussion on the science behind drugs and addiction among high school students to combat the misconceptions about vaping and e-cigarette devices.
In the United States, Humphrey Fellows hosted by VCU presented an NDAFW event in collaboration with Reynolds Community College. The event engaged high school students in discussions and activities designed to challenge myths and improve their understanding of substance use. After opening remarks from Dr. Wendy Kliewer, coordinator of the VCU Humphrey Fellowship program, the event broke into several sessions, each of which featured a video produced by Humphrey Fellow Niranji Wijewardhana. Additionally, Humphrey Fellow Grace Aliyu led an interactive session titled, “Decoding Alcohol Myths, Truths, and the Power of Choice,” and Humphrey Fellow Dr. Hari Nugroho, an addiction medicine physician, gave a presentation and led an interactive game on “What You Really Need to Know About Substance Use.”
Other organizations focused on training and collaboration among health care professionals. The organization Bring Light Save Life from Cameroon held trainings for addiction professionals on overdose prevention and the use of naloxone. The Centro Integral Socio Comunitario organization in Argentina took an intersectoral approach to problematic substance use by building collaborative and context-specific responses to strengthen prevention, intervention, and support. They hosted a presentation/panel to create a space for knowledge exchange and innovative strategies while reflecting on emerging challenges and developing tools for addressing problematic substance use in the community.
Learn more about NDAFW or see a list of all international events.