As we near the annual observance, many parents and teachers ask, “What is National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week?” Created by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), this week-long health observance aims to connect students with scientists and experts to dispel myths about substance use.

According to NIDA, “National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week (NDAFW) is an annual event focused on the science of drug use and addiction that educates and empowers youth to make informed decisions about substance use and their health.”

Why the Science of Addiction Matters

In 2026, the focus is on busting common myths through evidence-based education. For teenagers, it’s vital to understand the “why” behind health warnings. The adolescent brain is still developing, which makes it especially vulnerable to the long-term effects of drugs and alcohol.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) also plays an important role in this effort. The DEA states that “National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week offers educators, prevention specialists, counselors, and other youth intermediaries flexible programming to identify topics of greatest interest to their community and science-based information and resources that help improve knowledge and awareness, while also promoting skills that support informed decision-making, healthy coping, and other skills that are critical to the prevention of substance use among youth.”

Shattering Myths with Evidence-Based Facts

A main goal of National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week is to replace misinformation with scientific facts. Here are the key focus areas and myths addressed during the 2026 observance.

• Myth: “Vaping is harmless because it’s just water vapor.” Fact: Nicotine vaping and cannabis use among adolescents can seriously affect brain development and respiratory health.
• Myth: “Everyone is doing it.” Fact: Statistics consistently show that most teens do not use drugs or alcohol. Normalizing sobriety encourages youth to stay drug-free.
• Myth: “Prescription drugs are safer than street drugs.” Fact: Misusing prescription medication—including taking someone else’s pills—is unsafe, illegal, and can be just as addictive.

How Tarzana Treatment Centers Supports Youth

Tarzana Treatment Centers (TTC) supports the goals of National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week by offering specialized care. As stated confidently on TTC’s Youth and Family Services overview page, “With a highly trained team of youth specialists, TTC is committed to helping youth recover by developing inner strength. Thus, we teach recovery strategies that work in practice. In the program, youth develop proper structure and find a deeper connection through self-exploration and honest expression.”

Since every teen’s journey is different, the treatment plan for each young person in the program is personalized and based on a thorough bio-psychosocial assessment.

Furthermore, TTC believes in the power of youth leadership. For example, the Youth Advisory Board (YAB) at TTC is a “constructive feedback system that appeals to parents and youth. By offering a voice to youth, the YAB enhances the youth services of Tarzana Treatment Centers. As designed by TTC’s youth specialists, the YAB is a body of young people with firsthand experience with treatment, community health education, and outreach.”

Get Involved in National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week

Prevention begins with an open, non-judgmental conversation. Start today by using science-based tools from NIDA to empower the next generation. If you or someone you care about needs support, our integrated healthcare approach ensures everyone gets the care they need.