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March 20-26 is National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week® (NDAFW), an annual, week-long health observance that inspires dialogue about drug use and addiction among youth. Substance Abuse Counselors will sponsor NDAFW in schools and help students understand the myths about drugs and alcohol. During this week, SACs will provide drug and alcohol facts to help keep APS community safe.
Some facts about Drugs and Alcohol from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA):
- Vaping is the most commonly used form of tobacco among youth in the United States; Nearly 3,200 youth under the age of 18 utilize their first tobacco product every day. Youth who use vaping products or smokeless tobacco may also be more likely to also become smokers of traditional cigarettes.
- Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States amongst teens: 1 in 7 teens admit to using marijuana in the past 30 days. There are many risks associated with the use of marijuana, including decreased school performance, lowered IQ, and mental illness.
- Alcohol is the most commonly abused substance by teens. Underage drinking can lead to devastating life consequences, such as poor decision-making, addiction, and death.
- Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are the most common substances involved in overdose deaths. 1 person every 5 minutes dies because of an overdose each day in the US.
- Fentanyl is a strong opioid that is 50-100 times more potent than morphine. Illicitly manufactured fentanyl looks just like many other drugs; however, it is commonly mixed with substances like heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine and made into counterfeit pills that resemble other prescription opioids. In 2022, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) seized more than 57.7 million counterfeit pills, laced with fentanyl and more than 13,700 pounds of fentanyl powder. This is equivalent to more than 410 million lethal doses of fentanyl.
Resource for families: Start a conversation: 10 questions teens ask about drugs and health
