"Each year we bring our fifth graders to experience the Adventure Learning Center's alpine tower, giant swing, and team building exercises. They always come back energized, proud, and united! I believe it is one of the best field trips for kids! The staff is always positive, encouraging and totally dedicated to the kids. "

— 5th Grade Counselor, New Hanover County Schools

National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week January 23-29

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In the Port City the top three drugs youth are using are alcohol, marijuana and prescription drugs. New Hanover and Brunswick County are both in the top ten for prescription drug overdoses in NC and Wilmington is one of the top counties for heroin overdoses. Since eight out of ten heroin users started out with prescription drugs it is important to start educating our youth of these dangers when they are younger. National Drug & Alcohol Facts WeekSM  (NDAFW) is an excellent time to begin the conversation and NIDA can help with that.

National Drug & Alcohol Facts WeekSM started in 2010 by scientists as a way to educate youth on the science of drug use and addiction. However, you do not have to be a scientist to talk to youth and SHATTER THE MYTHS. Here are several of NIDA free publications you can either order or download as a PDF, Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know(available in both English and Spanish), and Family Checkup: Positive Parenting Prevents Drug Abuse. Also, our most popular NDAFW publication, Drugs: SHATTER THE MYTHS, is now available in Spanish.

Feel pretty confident on your knowledge about drugs and alcohol. During National Drug & Alcohol Facts WeekSM and year round, teens and adults can test their knowledge about drugs, alcohol, and drug abuse by taking the interactive National Drug & Alcohol IQ Challenge quiz. A new challenge is posted annually during NDAFW.