It’s National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week

What Is National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week?

National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week is a nationwide health observance aimed at counteracting the myths teens hear about drug and alcohol use.¹ Many federal, state and local partners have teamed up to make this observance a priority, including the:

• National Institute on Drug Abuse
• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
• White House Office of National Drug Control Policy
• Office of Safe and Healthy Students in the U.S. Department of Education
• Drug Enforcement Administration in the U.S. Department of Justice

This topic is one of extreme importance as teens are constantly bombarded with myths and contradictory attitudes about drug and alcohol abuse from all outlets. Information on the internet, social media posts, TV shows, movies, music, and friends all are central to regards to a teen’s perspectives and thoughts on substance abuse. Unfortunately, these outlets can present some dangerous or troublesome ideas about drugs and alcohol that can influence a teenager’s behaviors and thought processes.

National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week is an essential observance in the U.S., especially in a time when drug overdoses are killing more people than guns, cars, and HIV.^2,3 It’s an opportunity to educate young people on some of the most commonly abused drugs by teens, such as prescription drugs, K2/Spice, and bath salts.

Preventing Teen Drug Abuse

Although Nova Recovery Center provides drug and alcohol rehab for adults, not teens, our staff members understand the impact that teen drug abuse can have on a person’s behavior later in life. In fact, many people who come to us for addiction treatment first started using drugs at a young age and those behaviors eventually progressed into serious addiction problems.

The consequences of teen drug abuse are far-reaching and can continue depriving people of their health and wellness long into their early, middle, and late adult years. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention cites the following consequences of youth substance abuse.⁴

• Declining academic performance
• Alcohol and drug-induced cognitive and behavioral problems
• Decreased physical health
• Increased risk of death by suicide, homicide, accident, and illness
• Developmental problems
• Social withdrawal
• Depression
• Alienation and stigmatization from peers
• Family dysfunction (emotional and financial)
• Criminal behavior

All of these consequences can have a serious impact on the lives of teens both now and later, therefore it’s very important to address substance use issues long before the teen and early adult years.

Helping Young Adults Recover from Addiction with Long-Term Rehab

Many individuals seeking drug and alcohol rehab are college-age people, young adults and middle-aged adults who started using drugs and alcohol years before they ever sought treatment for their addiction. (Read about one Nova alumni whose drug use started at the age of 13 and progressed into full-blown heroin addiction by the time he was in his early twenties.) Although some types of drug abuse are common among teens and young adults, it is all entirely preventable.

At Nova Recovery Center, we help adults of all ages overcome their addictions, whether they’ve been addicted for a few months or a few decades. Our primary goal is to help these people reclaim their lives and learn to live satisfying, productive, and independent sober lives. And many of our alumni go on to do so! (Check out this story about one Nova alumni who overcame his heroin addiction and went on to help other people recover from addiction.)

Addiction is a chronic, relapsing disease of the brain, but it’s not impossible to overcome. Recovery is a lifelong commitment and at Nova Recovery Center, our staff is dedicated to helping you achieve success in your sobriety journey.

If you or a loved one is suffering from addiction, call Nova Recovery Center today. Our rehab center and programs provide individualized treatment to help you get sober and stay sober, whether you’ve tried one time or ten times. Call Nova Recovery Center today to learn more.

References:

1. NIDA: National drug alcohol facts weekr
2. https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/trends-statistics/infographics/drug-overdoses-kill-more-than-cars-guns-falling
3. huffingtonpost.com: Drug overdoses CDC US
4. ojjdp.gov: Drugid