“Just Say No” is so last century.
Plus, it didn’t work for everyone. To make an impact on our teens, we must use engaging resources that tell the facts about drugs without sounding manipulative or judgmental. Most importantly, these resources must be useful and enjoyable enough that teens will return to these sites and eventually share them with their friends.
National Drug Facts Week
January 27th starts the kickoff of National Drug Facts Week, a health observance week for teens that aims to counteract the myths about drugs with factual answers from scientific experts.
In honor of this week, we have compiled a list of eight unique and educational websites about drugs—in a way that teens might like enough to visit more than once.
1. Above the Influence?
2. Mouse Party?
3. Addiction Blog?
Although not specifically designed for teens, addictionblog.org is the ideal resource for curious teens who are looking for reliable answers to commonly asked questions about drugs and addiction. (For example: How much Marijuana does it take to OD?) Created by a network of addiction industry leaders, this website covers a variety of subjects ranging from addiction treatment to family support and is the go-to reference for both teens and parents alike.
4. NIDA for Teens?
Even without dancing mice or slick animations, the National Institute on Drug Abuse is one of the leading sites of drug information and the latest scientific research. Host of the National Drug Facts Week, NIDA includes hundreds of addiction and recovery related articles, including downloadable resources, links to other resources, and even a simplified version of their site for younger teens.
5. Ask Frank?