Evidence is vital for the substance use prevention field and prevention professionals. Evidence of drug trends lets us identify the emerging issues that need to be addressed. Evidence of intervention effectiveness helps us determine the “best fit” strategies for our communities, and collecting new evidence allows us to recognize when our efforts should be reinforced or adjusted. However, evidence is not only important to prevention professionals; it is also important to the people and communities we serve. Recognizing this, the National Institute on Drug Abuse created National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week (NDAFW). This year, NDAFW will take place March 22 through March 28.
Prevention professionals can use NDAFW events to share the evidence behind why drugs and alcohol are harmful with the people we serve, especially students. These events are an opportunity to dispel the myths that some people hold about drugs and alcohol and share the scientific evidence about the dangers of substance abuse and addiction. We know that low perception of harm about substances can be an important risk factor that increases the likelihood that someone will engage in use.1 Data also shows that providing accurate, evidence-based information is the most effective way of changing these perceptions, regardless of delivery method (i.e., education events, marketing campaigns, classroom courses, etc.).2 NDAFW events, and other such events throughout the year, are an opportunity to do just that. More information on NDAFW is available through the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Prevention training and technical assistance is available through the Central East Prevention Technology Transfer Center.
