OCHN highlights National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Suzanne Weinert • weinerts@oaklandchn.org • 248-758-1991

OAKLAND COUNTY, MI (March 18, 2024) – Oakland Community Health Network (OCHN) highlights March 18-24, 2024, 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 a long-term epidemiological study that surveys trends in legal and illicit drug use among American adolescents. The MTF, conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan and funded by NIDA, released data in 2023 which indicates a declining trend among youth relating to illicit drug use following COVID-19 pandemic. However, while illicit drug use was down, synthetic fentanyl has caused a dramatic rise in overdose deaths among teens between 2010 to 2021, making drug use less common, but more dangerous.

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 availability to drugs. Some of the latest findings showed alcohol use remained stable for 8th and 10th graders, with 15.1% and 30.6% reporting use in the past year respectively, and declined for 12th graders, with 45.7% reporting use in the past year (compared to 51.9% 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 stands with our national partners in helping to share facts about drugs, alcohol, and addiction among teens in our community.

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.

About OCHN
OCHN is contracted by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to lead a provider service network and manage care for approximately 29,000 Oakland County citizens at more than 400 service sites across the county. People who receive public behavioral health services through OCHN's provider network include those who have an intellectual or developmental disability, mental health concerns, or substance use disorder. Most of these individuals have Medicaid insurance coverage.

OCHN's goal is to ensure these individuals are aware of and have access to services and supports that will improve their health and quality of life, as well as ensure their engagement in full community participation. Its mission to “inspire hope, empower people, and strengthen communities” reflects an unyielding belief in a "Valuable System for Valued People." Programs and supports provided by OCHN's service network are available at www.oaklandchn.org.

OCHN Highlights National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week - PDF

Oakland Community Health Network | www.oaklandchn.org

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