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Health & Fitness

National Drug Facts Week Jan. 27-Feb. 2 in Fairfax County

By Kristen Talman

Alcohol and marijuana are the drugs most abused by teenagers. What comes next?    

A.
Ecstasy (MDMA) 
B. Cocaine
 C. Bath Salts
 D. Prescription drugs and cough medicine E. Tobacco

This week, Jan. 27-Feb. 2, is one that all teens should be aware of. It is National Drug Facts Week sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, better known as NIDA. This health observance week for teens aims to shatter the myths about drugs and drug abuse. The Youth Council of the Unified Prevention Coalition of Fairfax County is joining in spreading the awareness.

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As a new member of the Youth Council, I recognize that often teens view our efforts as a “lost cause.” But weeks like this one give us a chance to inform more people of the downsides of drugs and the scientific facts. I thought I was aware of the majority of drug facts, yet I’ve learned that I only knew a portion of them! (To see the correct answer to the NIDA question above read to the end of this blog.) Through educating others, I feel people like me would be surprised by just how much they don’t know.

The UPC Youth Council is joining nearly 1,000 other community groups across the country in taking part in this special week. In Fairfax County, we’re supporting National Drug Facts Week with our special “Change for Change” event to take place in Alexandria at West Potomac High School in its doubleheader basketball game against Mount Vernon High School on Wednesday, Jan. 29 (The girls’ basketball game starts at 5:45 p.m., and the boys’ tip off at 7:30 p.m.). 

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Students and fans are asked to drop their pocket change into their school's bucket to in a friendly competition that is also a fundraiser for UPC.

“Change for Change” is exactly what the name says: We accept pocket change to implement change in our community through trying to keep youth safe and drug free. At the event, we will distribute information about our Youth Council and provide information, including free copies of NIDA’s “Drug Facts: Shatter the Myths” booklets. Students (and parents) also are encouraged to take the National Drug IQ Challenge.

Our Youth Council came up with the “Change for Change” idea as something that our various members who represent different high schools could sponsor at their own school events such as athletic games. It’s a great way to educate the community of what we do and how to get involved, especially teens. On Jan. 17 another Youth Council member and I went to the Lake Braddock vs. South County high school doubleheader basketball game to set up our first “Change for Change” stand.

This event was incredibly rewarding to see the community giving back and putting money into their schools’ bucket. However, the best part was having other teens and parents simply looking at our pamphlets and the posters the Youth Council made a couple months back. I hope our event helped raise awareness to the upcoming NIDA week and also encouraged teens to live a safe and drug-free lifestyle.

If you feel like your brain is starting to feel like mush with so much time off from the snow days, I encourage you to take the National Drug IQ Challenge. You might be surprised just how much you really don’t know! Did you know the answer to the NIDA question at the top of this blog?

The answer is d. Some prescription medications have psychoactive (mind-altering) properties and, because of that, are sometimes taken for non-medical reasons. In fact, prescription and drugstore cough and cold medicines are, after marijuana (and alcohol), the most commonly abused substances by Americans 14 and older. Learn more: http:// www.drugabuse.gov/publications/ drugfacts/prescription-over-counter- medications

Kristen Talman is a sophomore at Centreville High School and a member of the UPC Youth Council.

The Unified Prevention Coalition of Fairfax County is a nonprofit organization with more than 60 community partners working together to keep youth and young adults safe and drug-free. Visit www.unifiedpreventioncoalition.org and www.facebook.com/unifiedpreventioncoalition. Follow the group on Twitter at www.twitter.com/keepyouthsafe.

 

 

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