According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6.8% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 reported drinking alcohol in the past month and 14.3% reported having used illicit drugs in the past year. Furthermore, the survey reported that younger adolescents tend to have lower perceptions of the risk of harm from having four or five alcoholic drinks nearly every day or drug use.  

Keep youth safe by taking part in this year’s National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week® (NDAFW) and informing teens about the consequences of alcohol and drug misuse and the importance of prevention. 

Get Involved: 

• Researchers have found that teens who drink alcohol or use drugs are more likely to engage in sexual behaviors that can put them at risk for sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy. Learn about how you can incorporate substance use prevention into your APP programming to promote healthy outcomes. 
• Check out resources from the SAMSHA youth substance use prevention campaign "Talk. They Hear You." 
• Educate youth on the consequences of alcohol and drug use with the fact sheets from the Tips for Teens series. 
• Share the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s resources for youth, parents, and educators on drug use and the developing brain.