National Drug and Alcohol Facts Awareness Week 2023 | | |
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National Drug and Alcohol Facts Awareness Week (NDAFW) will be held March 20-26, 2023.
NDAFW is an annual, week-long observance that inspires open
communication about the science of drug use and addiction among youth. The sharing of accurate facts and data helps the public to be more informed when making choices concerning drug and alcohol use.
Scientists, students, educators, healthcare providers, and community partners come together during NDAFW to address youth drug and alcohol use in communities and nationwide. This unique collaboration is a chance for many to share their diverse perspectives and experiences.
NDAFW has a list of resources for parents, caregivers, and teachers to use when providing youth with information about drugs and alcohol.
Teens can take the National Drug and Alcohol IQ Challenge test to assess their knowledge about youth drug misuse.
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Drug and alcohol misuse among youth has become a widespread issue, affecting countries all over the world.
Nigeria, India, and Pakistan are a few of the international countries that are hosting official NDAFW events.
NDAFW has compiled a map of all the registered events taking place during the week. Currently, over 1,400 events are listed.
Any organization interested in hosting an NDAFW event can register here. Registering with NDAFW will ensure that your event is listed on the map, giving it more exposure. Registering with NDAFW will also enable your organization to connect with NIDA staff for assistance.
Organizations can check out these tips to promote and enhance an NDAFW event.
Participating in this, or another similar national health observance, will increase your organization’s visibility and effectiveness.
Prevention First is pleased to amplify the prevention work of NDAFW to build healthy communities and support positive decision-making.
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Important Facts about Alcohol Misuse | |
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In observance of National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week, the APRC would like to share a few facts.
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Alcohol is the most used substance by youth in Illinois, according to the Illinois Youth Survey.
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Research presented in the Neurobiology of Stress Journal states females are more likely to drink due to stress or negative events, while males drink for positive reinforcement.
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An article in JAMA Network shared, "An estimated 1 in 8 total deaths among US adults aged 20 to 64 years were attributable to excessive alcohol use, including 1 in 5 deaths among adults aged 20 to 49 years."
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According to the National Cancer Institute, there is strong scientific evidence that alcohol causes several types of cancer, including liver, mouth, throat, breast (in women), and colon cancer.
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Alcohol-impaired driving fatalities in Illinois increased by nearly 22% from 2019 to 2020, as noted in NHTSA's Overview of Motor Vehicle Crashes in 2020.
- Alcohol prevention policies and strategies such as outlet density regulation, social host ordinances, alcohol compliance check investigations, and roadside safety checks work to reduce alcohol-related harms.
The Alcohol Policy Resource Center can assist with how to analyze your data, scan your community, and match policy/strategy to assessment findings. If you have any questions or need more information, don't hesitate to contact Kellie Henrichs or Jody Heavilin.
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Prevention First and the YPRC believe the Student Advisory Board should reflect the diversity of background and experience of all young people in Illinois. We want applicants of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, from urban and rural areas, from all socioeconomic groups, and with all types of life experience. Access the application here or with the QR code above. Any questions? Contact Robyn Block. | |
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Upcoming Events, Training, and Resources
Spring is just around the corner, and several prevention events take place this season, such as National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week, Prescription Drug Take Back Day, and SAMHSA’s National Prevention Week. When community members and stakeholders collaborate, these events are amplified. Take your prevention efforts to the next level by engaging other community members!
Prevention First’s online self-paced course, Collaborating with Key Stakeholders, will increase participants’ knowledge and skills in building relationships and collaborating with key community stakeholders. Participants will learn strategies for identifying and engaging key stakeholders, building relationships and getting stakeholders on board, and convening local coalitions.
The SAMHSA resource Prevention Resources for Building Healthy Communities has recently been updated. This resource showcases evidence-based approaches to preventing substance misuse as well as engaging reports, community outreach materials, resources, and more.
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Applications Open for Drug-Free Communities Program Funding
Do you know an organization that is interested in helping to prevent youth substance use in the community and is passionate about engaging with youth?
The Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Program is accepting applications for grant funding in this important area of prevention work.
Substance misuse and mental health issues are on the rise among youth in the United States. The DFC Support Program works to mobilize communities to prevent youth substance use, awarding funding for up to 10 years to community-based coalitions to engage youth and build safe, healthy, and drug-free communities.
Eligible organizations can apply here.
Applications are open now for coalitions applying for year 1 and year 6 funding. Please note the deadline of April 11, 2023.
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Online Self Study Courses | |
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Cannabis Information Sources
During National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week, we spotlight two high-quality sources of evidence-based cannabis information.
IASIC, the International Academy on the Science and Impact of Cannabis, hosts a page pulling the top fifteen cannabis health outcomes suggested from research.
The Prevention Technology and Transfer Center has focused on cannabis prevention and published evidence-based resources for prevention professionals.
CPRC to Host Webinar
Finally, we’ll be hosting a webinar, Cannabis Impaired Driving, Prevention, and Policy, during National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week, on Thursday, March 23, from 10 am-11 am CST. Register here!
For assistance with cannabis policy prevention strategies in your community, please contact the CPRC by contacting Jake Levinson or Kellie Henrichs!
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Don't let your luck run out this St. Patrick's Day!
This year, St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 2023, falls on a Friday. The celebratory day is one of the most significant drinking occasions of the year, and this, unfortunately, means more drunk drivers on the roads. With the holiday falling on a Friday, we expect a fairly dangerous weekend for drivers and passengers alike. If you plan to drink, make sure to refrain from driving and make a plan to get home safely.
Review these facts and share the word about the dangers of drunk driving so you can continue merry-making for many St. Paddy's Days to come.
- St. Patrick's Day is one of the deadliest times on our nation's roads. During the 2016-2020 St. Patrick's Day holiday period (6 pm March 16 to 5:59 am March 18), 287 lives were lost in drunk-driving crashes. In 2020, more than 11,000 people in our country died in drunk-driving crashes, and every one of those deaths was preventable. Do your part this St. Patrick's Day: plan for a sober driver to ensure you get home safely.
- In 2020 alone, 37 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes over the St. Patrick's Day holiday period (6 pm March 16 to 5:59 am March 18).
- Between 6 pm and 5:59 am over the St. Patrick's Day holiday period in 2020, 31 crash fatalities involved a drunk driver.
- Although it's illegal to drive when impaired by alcohol, in 2020, one person was killed every 45 minutes in a drunk-driving crash on our nation's roads.
The rate of alcohol impairment among drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2020 was 3.1 times higher at night than during the day.
The Cost of Drunk Driving
The financial impact of impaired-driving crashes is devastating. Based on 2010 numbers (the most recent year for which cost data is available), impaired-driving crashes cost the United States $44 billion annually.
Plan for a Safe Celebration
Always remember to plan ahead when you will be celebrating with alcohol. If you plan to drink, make arrangements for a sober driver to take you home. Before celebrating this holiday season, look over these safety tips to keep you, your loved ones, and everyone else safe on the road:
- Plan ahead: If you wait until you've been drinking to make a smart decision, you might not. Before you have one drink, designate a sober driver who won't be drinking.
- You have options: designate a sober driver, call a taxi, or use a rideshare service. Getting home safely is always worth it.
- If it's your turn to be the designated driver, take your job seriously, and don't drink.
- Do you have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away and let a sober driver get your friend home safely.
For more information, visit the Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving campaign.
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Mental Health First Aid and QPR Naloxone Training Now Available
Mental health and substance use challenges often go hand in hand. This relationship is bi-directional, meaning that struggling with one increases the risk of the other. A person with depression may turn to opioids to cope, or someone with an opioid use disorder may experience a mental health challenge as a result. It only makes sense that those focused on mental health and well-being should also be concerned with opioid and other substance use, and vice versa. Therefore, the Prevention First Leadership Center offers Mental Health First Aid and QPR training with an add-on Naloxone training option.
Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid is a course that teaches participants how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. The training teaches the necessary skills to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone developing a mental health or substance use problem or experiencing a crisis. Courses can be held in person or virtually. Depending on the delivery method, the instructor-led portion of MHFA courses runs between 4.5 and 8 hours.
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QPR
QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer — the three simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. Just as people trained in CPR help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. QPR can be learned in our Gatekeeper course (virtual or in person) in as little as one hour.
Upon completion of either of these training options, participants will receive Naloxone.
For more information or to schedule your training, contact Randyl Wilkins or the Prevention First Leadership Center.
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Save the date for Take Down Tobacco National Day of Action on March 31, 2023!
Thousands of youth advocates across the country will stand up to encourage youth to make healthy decisions when it comes to tobacco.
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Professional Development at Your Pace | |
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Archived Webinars
Don't miss out on Prevention First's collection of live webinars to watch at your own convenience:
For APRC Webinars, visit their GoTo Stage for archived webinars.
For Substance Use Prevention Webinars, visit SUPP Training Events- Online or Archived Webinar on the sidebar.
For Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Webinars, visit their webpage.
For SUPR Treatment & Recovery Webinars, visit SUPR Training Events- Archived Webinar on the sidebar.
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