OCHN Highlights National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week

OCHN Highlights National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Suzanne Weinert • weinerts@oaklandchn.org • 248-758-1991
OAKLAND COUNTY, MI (March 17, 2025) – Oakland Community Health Network (OCHN) highlights March 17-23, 2025, as National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week (NDAFW). NDAFW is an annual observance that encourages dialogue about the science of drug use and addiction among youth. The week gives teens an opportunity to ask questions about drugs and alcohol and receive scientific answers from experts. This health and wellness observance is organized by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). To learn more about NDAFW, click here.
The Monitoring the Future (MTF) study is an ongoing national study that surveys trends in legal and illicit drug use among adolescents. The MTF, conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan and funded by NIDA, has completed its 50th year of data collection in 2024. The same year, they released data that indicated drug abstention among students reaching records high. This includes use of alcohol, marijuana, and nicotine vaping. However, while drug and alcohol use were down, the use of nicotine patches significantly increased.
According to the survey, substance use education, when started as early as eighth grade discouraged youth from initial drug experimentation. The survey collected data from over 22,000 students, from eighth to 12th grades, spanning across 235 public and private schools in the U.S. The survey also gathered the student’s perception of harm, disapproval of use, and perceived risk to drugs. Some of the latest findings showed alcohol use decreased for 8th and 12th graders, with 12.9% and 41.7% reporting use in the past year respectively, and the largest decline for 10th graders, with 26.1% reporting use in the past year (compared to 30.6% in the previous year).
In addition, data was collected on various substances which included marijuana, nicotine vaping, narcotics, and abstaining. To learn more about MTF, click here. "OCHN is committed to partnering with our national allies to raise awareness and provide accurate information about drugs, alcohol, and addiction among teens in our community. This important work extends beyond March and continues throughout the year," says Dana Lasenby, CEO and Executive Director of OCHN.
For more information about OCHN, visit www.oaklandchn.org. Non-emergency Access services can be reached at (248) 464-6363. If you or someone you know needs immediate assistance, call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988