FAQs

• What is National Drug Facts Week (NDFW)?
  National Drug Facts Week is a health observance week for teens—an initiative of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The goal of NDFW is to shatter the myths about drugs and drug abuse. Download our NDFW Info Sheet for more information. [PDF format, 86KB]
• When is NDFW?
  Monday, November 8th through Sunday, November 14th, 2010.
• What happens on NDFW?
  Community-based "question and answer" teen-focused events (in the US and abroad!), nationally televised messages and shows on drug facts, events on the web, and the announcement of the Grammy Foundation MusiCares video music contest winner, are the major happenings during NDFW. Visit the NDFW Events page for web-posting approved NDFW events.
• What are NDFW Community-Based Events?
  NDFW Community-Based Events are about shattering drug myths and getting the scientific facts about drugs and drug abuse. These events are planned and implemented by people just like you at schools, community centers, and other locations that can accommodate a group of teens. NDFW events encourage teens to ask questions and get the facts about drugs and drug abuse from a scientific expert. Check out our NDFW Toolkit to learn more about planning an event and see the Activities page for ideas on types of NDFW events-big and small.
• What is the MusiCares & GRAMMY Foundation music video contest?
  The MusiCares and GRAMMY Foundation’s Teen Substance Abuse Awareness through Music Contest is for aspiring teen musicians who want to creatively spread the message about the importance of healthy choices and the dangers of drug abuse. Teens must send in their music video or original music/lyrics composition by October 10th. Winners will be announced during National Drug Facts Week!
• What is the National Drug IQ Challenge?
  The National Drug IQ Challenge is an interactive online quiz to test your drug IQ. There is also an easy to download PDF version available.
• What is NIDA’s Chat Day and when it is?
  NIDA’s Chat Day is an annual conversation where thousands of teens ask questions about drugs to NIDA’s scientists via Web Chat. The 2010 Chat Day was on Tuesday November 9th from 8 am to 6pm EST. Check it out: http://www.drugabuse.gov/chat/. Drug Facts Chat Day 2011 is scheduled for 11/01/11.
• How do I find a drug abuse expert to come to our event?
  There are great resources in your community or on the web that can help you find a local expert, including professors and researchers with an expertise in drug addiction, state and county health departments, local hospitals or you can even ask NIDA for help! Step 3: Find an Expert of our NDFW Toolkit is a great place to look for ideas!
• Can you post our National Drug Facts Week pictures on your website?
  Absolutely! We love to see you in action. You can post your pictures to our Flickr site or visit our Facebook page.
• How did NDFW start?
  In 2008, NIDA began hosting its annual Drug Facts Chat Day for teens, during which thousands of teens asked questions about drugs via a Web chat. Every year teens ask many more questions than the scientists can answer in a day. In response to this demonstrated interest NIDA developed NDFW, asking teens, schools and community groups all over America to hold their own "Q and A" events with local scientific experts.
• Who are NIDA’s Partners for National Drug Facts Week?
  NIDA has many federal, state, local and media working together to promote NDFW. Check out our Partners page for details.
• Why participate in NDFW?
  A third of high school seniors report using an illicit drug sometime in the past year, and more than ten percent report non medical use of a prescription painkiller. These data show that some teens are not aware of the risks of drug abuse. Even for those teens who do not abuse drugs, they may have friends or family who do, and may be looking for ways to help them. NDFW events’ encourage teens to get the scientific facts about drugs so they will make healthy decisions for themselves and share this information with others.
• With so much misinformation about drugs on the media and the internet, how can teens separate fact and fiction?
  Every day, teens are bombarded with messages about drugs and drug abuse through music, movies, TV, the internet and their friends. A lot of drug information out there is just plain myth. That is why having scientific experts at the NDFW events is so important. Check out NIDA’s website for Teens, our Scholastic compilations, the Scholastic/NIDA website Heads Up Real News About Drugs and Your Body, and the main NIDA site for accurate information on drug abuse and addiction.
• How do I contact you if I have a question about National Drug Facts Week? 
  Feel free to email us at drugfacts@nida.nih.gov or call 301-443-1121.