Promote & Enhance Your Event

Toolkits

Check out the newly revised Opioids & Other Prescription Drugs Event Toolkit

Interested in a topic-specific event?
NIDA also has several toolkits for events that are specific to the following themes:

• Alcohol
• College-Aged and Young Adults
• Drugged Driving
• Marijuana
• MDMA
• Opioids and Other Prescription Drugs
• Teens in the Juvenile Justice System
• Tobacco Nicotine, & E-cigarettes
• New Psychoactive Substances (Synthetics)
• Video (which includes a teen-friendly video showing parts of the brain and their functions)

We also have a general NDAFW toolkit available in Spanish.

Activity Ideas

Check out some of the activities below for ideas and for help with planning your National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week® event or promotional activity. It’s going to take some work—but if you can pull it off, your event is going to be awesome and it might just save some lives!

• Check out events and promotional activities on our NDAFW Events page and photos from past events on our Flickr page
• Register your own NDAFW event on our Registration page

NOTE: Be sure to read our privacy notice out loud to the audience before your event. Also, NIDA would love to see your NDAFW images! Please include the “SHATTER THE MYTHS” Photo and Video Request (PDF, 3MB) release form with any photographs, audio files or videos that you share with NIDA.

A Listicle Tickle

Remind teens about the dangers of drugs with a listicle about DrugFacts using NIDA’s resources.

"A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words"

Create a 1 minute video of how substance use has impacted your community or a neighbor community.

Bake Sale

Host a bake sale to help raise money for your club!

 

Become a CSI Agent

Who can sort out clues in the CSI: Web Adventures virtual game and solve the mystery first.

Bike Party

Organize a local bike party to raise awareness about substance use.

¡BINGO PARA NDAFW!

El equipo de NDAFW se entusiasma con presentar un nuevo juego de Bingo que cualquier persona pueda utilizar.

 

Blog it Out!

Drugs & Health: NIDA’s Blog for Teens is full of emerging trends and the latest science-based research on drug misuse and addiction.

Candlelight Vigil

Drug misuse can hurt families and communities, no matter where you live.

Chat Day Event

Follow the Chat!

 

Choose Your Path

Suggest that your school hold an assembly to focus on the dangers of prescription drugs.

Concert with Local Bands

Everybody loves a good concert.

Drug Awareness 5K

Staying healthy is more than just being drug-free!

 

Football Trivia Party!

With the Super Bowl coming up, why not use it as an incentive to get kids to think about leading healthier lives?

Footloose!

Put together a flash mob in the local school, mall, or Movie Theater.

Get Involved

Host a program where everyone attending writes their Senator, Congresspeople, Mayors, Governors, or even the President.

 

Good Morning, NDAFW!

During the school announcements over the PA system, have teachers, counselors, principal state a drug fact.

Graffiti Fact Wall

Create a graffiti type wall on poster paper with facts about drugs, slogans, facts/myths, posters, and messages about where to get help.

Grammy Music Contest

Participate in the GRAMMY Foundation® and MusiCares® Teens! Make Music Contest.

 

Halftime Activities

Come up with creative and fun sports halftime contests!

HBO Addiction Q & A

NIDA and HBO have teamed up as co-presenters of an Addiction film series.

Hold an Addiction and Art Contest

Art can be a powerful expression of emotion around the theme of drugs and addiction.

 

Host an Online Event

Host a [Twitter chat, Facebook Live, or other online event] to share scientific facts and SHATTER THE MYTHS® about drugs and alcohol.

I want to SHATTER THE MYTHS because...

Join NDAFW by sharing why you want to SHATTER THE MYTHS!

I Resolve...

It’s the time of year for New Year’s Resolutions!

 

Lunch n’ Learns

Learning while you eat is definitely more fun!

Massive Sculpture Exhibit

Organize a massive sculpture exhibit at your school, or challenge other schools to enter this contest.

Meme Contest

Organize a meme challenge at your school.

 

Bingo

Educate players about certain topics and facts surrounding drug and alcohol use.

Peer-to-Peer Counseling

Sometimes the best people to explain facts to teens are teens themselves.

Poster Campaign

Paint the town in drug fact posters!

 

Prescription Drug Misuse Art Contest or Poster Campaign

Create illustrations to showcase what you’ve learned about prescription drug misuse.

 

Radio Public Service Announcement (PSA)

Write a radio public service announcement about teen prescription drug misuse.

Rap Slam/Poetry Slam

Are you and your friend good with words? Hold a "slam" event---writing rap lyrics or poetry about drug use.

 

Remembering Celebrities

By understanding that drug misuse can extinguish talent, youth, and life, we can grasp the effects of the disease.

Scavenger Hunt

Scatter clues around your school or community.

 

School Assembly

There are many inspirational people in your local community working with people recovering from a problem with drugs.

 

Sidewalk Art

Hold a contest for teen artists.

Social Media Campaign

Social media is the best way for getting information out fast, so let’s help spread the news about drug misuse!

Songwriters Competition

Use your musical talent to spread the word about drugs and drug misuse.

 

 

Take it to the Streets

Volunteer at community events and hand out information regarding drugs and drug misuse.

There's Snow Business like Show Business!

Hey it’s getting cold outside! Time for an indoor karaoke or talent show.

Trivia Night

Hold a trivia night at your school or community center.

 

Wear the Message!

Get creative and develop your own messages and images to put on a t-shirt.

 

What’s in the News “Book Club”

Our free booklets are great resources for answering your questions.

 

 

 

 

Featured Resources

Toolkit: Opioids & Other Prescription Drugs

Game: Can be played as a group or individually

Toolkit: Tobacco, Nicotine, & E-Cigarettes

 

 

 

Download (PDF, 2MB)

Tools for Success: This resource gives National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week® event planners promotional “tools for success” using traditional and social media channels. The presentation includes examples of how to create a press list and pitch letter, manage onsite media and appropriate follow up after the event. In addition, event holders are given social media examples to promote their events via Twitter and Facebook.

• Download (PDF, 2MB)

Download (PDF, 2MB)

Informed Families Campaign: Informed Families partnered with NIDA in January 2018 to deliver prevention messages during National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week® to Educators, Parents & Students throughout Florida.

• See what Informed Families did: Download (PDF, 2MB)

NIDA Has Toolkits and Publications to Help with Your Events

Drug & Alcohol Use
Prevention Network

 

• Check out our publications, Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know (available in both English and Spanish), and Family Checkup: Positive Parenting Prevents Drug Abuse. Also, our most popular NDAFW publication, Drugs: SHATTER THE MYTHS, is now available in Spanish. All publications are free.
• Interested in a drug-specific event? NIDA also has several toolkits for events that are specific to the following themes: alcohol, college-aged and young adults, drugged driving, marijuana, MDMA, opioids and other prescription drugs, teens in the juvenile justice system, tobacco nicotine, & e-cigarettes, new psychoactive substances (synthetics) and a video toolkit, which includes a teen-friendly video showing parts of the brain and their functions. We also have a general NDAFW toolkit available in Spanish.
• Once you have decided on your event, a resource, “How to Promote Your National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week® Event: Tools for Success (PDF, 3MB)”, is available to help promote it through traditional and social media outreach.

Monitoring the Future

View Widget and Code

Web Badge: 160x600

View Widget and Code

Web Badge: 300x250

View Widget and Code

Web Badge: 728x90

View Widget and Code

IQ Challenge Badge

View Widget and Code

IQ Challenge Badge SP

View Widget and Code

Countdown

View Widget and Code

NDAFW Logo Badge

View Widget and Code

Chat Day Logo Badge

View Widget and Code

Shatter The Myths Badge

View Widget and Code

GUIDELINES FOR USE

• Use of the marks is a non-exclusive license granted to the user by the agency (HHS). Such license (or permission) can be revoked by NIDA at any time, particularly if the “Guidelines for Use” are not followed.
• The National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week® logos, badges, and widgets may not be used to endorse any commercial product or service.
• The National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week® logos, badges, and widgets may not be used to solicit funds or other contributions of monetary value.
• The National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week® logos, badges, and widgets may not be used in any manner that could give rise to the appearance of such endorsement or solicitation; EXCEPT
• The National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week® logos, badges, and widgets may be used for informational, educational and historical purposes in connection with programs that promote information found on the National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week® website. Any other uses are unauthorized.
• SHATTER THE MYTHS® is a trademark and service mark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• SHATTER THE MYTHS Logo is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS).

Disclaimer

Placement of the drugfactsweek.gov badges or widgets are to be used only as a marker to the drugfactsweek.gov site and a channel for drugfactsweek.gov content. The use of a widget or link does not indicate any form of endorsement or approval from NDAFW, the Coordinating Center for Health Information and Service, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

^ Back to top

Spread the word about your NDAFW events and activities. Media outlets such as high school newspapers, local news stations, radio programs, and city newspapers and their websites are all good outlets for publicizing your NDAFW event. Here are three steps to help guide you in working with the press.

Step 1: Develop a key message to deliver to the media.

Before you contact the media, develop a few key talking points that will help them understand what NDAFW is and what you’re trying to accomplish with your event. Preparing these messages in advance will help you speak consistently about NDAFW and have a framework from which to answer any media questions you receive. Check out our Learn About NDAFW page for key points.

Tips to develop your key message

• Keep your information short and easy to understand.
  • Example: Here's a chance to ask questions and get the facts about drugs!
• Explain why you’d like them to cover your event.
  • Example: Give a few highlights about teen drug use from the latest Monitoring the Future study results.
• Include basic information about your event.
  • Example: Who, What, When, Where, and Why
• Inspire people to take action.
  • Example: Tell them they can make a difference in teens’ lives when they help spread knowledge to SHATTER THE MYTHS® around drugs and drug abuse.
• Make it clear to the press that your event provides a safe, honest environment to discuss drugs and drug abuse. 
• Incorporate your key message across all of your communications channels—including pitches, press releases, social media, and other media platforms.

Step 2: Create an effective media list.

After you've created your key messages, develop a list of all media contacts that should receive this information. The media list should include information on the topics each reporter covers, his/her contact information, and other relevant details (e.g., the best times to call). Be sure your list includes all local TV stations, radio stations, and newspapers, including university and high school papers:

• Each station and newspaper has reporters that cover different kinds of news. Think about which ones might be most interested in your event.
• For newspapers, start with the metro or local reporters. You could also contact health, youth, education, and lifestyle reporters. Look for names of reporters in those sections, or call the newspaper to get their names.
• Consider influential bloggers in your area that cover issues related to health, youth, or drugs and drug abuse.

Step 3: Distribute press materials.

When working with the media, it’s helpful to provide resources and tools to help them write their articles. Customize these sample press materials with details from your event and use them as inspiration for your own press materials:

Sample Press Release

A press release announces news related to your event. You can send a press release 1 or 2 days before, the day of, or the day after your event. Include details such as how many people will be/were there, and why. Be sure to follow up with a phone call after you send it!

Download Word Document

Sample News Advisory

A news advisory tells the media about an upcoming event and advises the media to cover it. It should only be 1 page and include specific “who, what, when, where, why” information, plus some general information about your organization.

Download Word Document

Sample Letter to the Editor

An effective letter to the editor should be related to a recent story in the news. It should express your opinion, and you can reference your event as a supporting point. Be sure to include your age, address, and phone number.

Download Word Document

^ Back to top

Create buzz about your event before it even starts. Post on Facebook or Twitter; add photos to your Flickr, Pinterest , and Instagram pages; shoot a video; and blog about your event.

Post on Facebook About Your NDAFW Event

Posting Tips: When posting on Facebook about your NDAFW event, you’ll want to:

• Make your post positive and include a call to action (e.g., Join Us! or Spread the Word!).
• Keep your message short and to the point.
• Include a link, an image, or a video that relates to your event.
• Mention your friends, colleagues, or other organizations in your posts to spread the word even further!

Need Ideas for Sample Posts? We’ve provided sample Facebook status updates that you can easily copy and paste to help let folks know about your event. Be sure to like the NIDA Facebook page and tag us in your posts!

Tweet About Your NDAFW Event

Whether you tweet about your event to get people to attend, live tweet at the event itself, or help to SHATTER THE MYTHS® about drugs by tweeting the facts, be sure to use the hashtag #NDAFW.

Tweeting Tips: When tweeting about your NDAFW event, you’ll want to:

• Use the hashtag #NDAFW in every tweet.
• Avoid shortening “you” to “u” and “are” to “r” and similar tricks.
• Include a link, as well as an appropriate image or video.
• Mention your friends, colleagues, or other organizations in your tweets to spread the word even further!

Need Ideas for Sample Tweets? We’ve provided sample tweets that you can tailor and post on your own Twitter account. Be sure to follow @NIDAnews and @NIAAAnews and mention us in your tweets!

Share With Flickr, Pinterest, or Instagram

NIDA would love to see your NDAFW images! Customize your Flickr, Pinterest, Instagram, or other visually interesting page using pictures from your events and NIDA images.

• Make sure to take pictures at your events!
• Visit the NIDA Flickr account for images.
• Check out all of our Downloads.

Show Your NDAFW Event With a YouTube Video

Make your own video of your NDAFW events and share! Check out what other NDAFW event holders have done!

• The Herren Project and NIDA team up for National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week®
• NDAFW Promo
• NDAFW: Do You Have Questions? Teens Do, Part 2

We have numerous videos on our YouTube account that you can share with your friends through social media.

Blog About Your NDAFW Event

You’ve worked hard to make your event a success. Tell the world about it! Your NDAFW event makes a great blog post. Use our sample blog post or create your own!

Blogging Tips: When blogging about your NDAFW event, you’ll want to:

• Keep your post short and easy to read.
• Make the title interesting and to the point.
• Include a call to action.
• Include links to appropriate sites, such as the NIDA for Teens or NDAFW websites.

Need Ideas for Posts? Here is a sample blog post to help you get started.

^ Back to top

Twitter Chat:

Download NDAFW Facebook
Profile Image (360KB)

Digital.gov has some great lessons on hosting a Twitter chat. We’ve shared a few below and you can find more in-depth info here: https://digital.gov/2017/05/01/build-your-audience-by-hosting-a-twitter-chat/

Observe first – You may want to participate in a chat before hosting your own. This will give you the chance to see what they’re like and learn a little more about your community and audience on Twitter.

Choose a theme – What topics are relevant to your online audience or local community? Consider others in your community who might also participate in this topic.

Pick your hashtag – Use a hashtag to help your participants follow along by picking something that is easily identifiable. May we suggest #NDAFW?

Plan your questions in advance – If you have others participating as panelists, it’s also helpful to provide the questions to them ahead of time, so they can be prepared. Our NDAFW toolkits can provide information on specific drug and alcohol-related topics that you might want to use for your Twitter chat

Prepare your Twitter chat team – Some Twitter chats can become tough to manage if you have a lot of participants.  If you are able, consider asking members of your team each taking a specific role to help keep things organized. At NIDA, we like to have at least one person post content and one additional person to keep an eye out for audience questions.

Promote your chat – Don’t forget to let people know about your chat ahead of time! Promote your chat on your social media and any other channels you use to reach your audience.

Resources:

• More in-depth Twitter Chat guidance - Health.gov’s Guide to Hosting a Twitter Chat
• Example of Twitter Chat - #NDAFW 2018 Event Prep Twitter Moment on Drugs

FB Live:

If you’re hosting an event with speakers or panelists, you may want to consider livestreaming on Facebook, Twitter or another social media platform. You can also host a Q&A on Facebook Live, either as a follow-up to a lecture or on its own.

Here are some tips from HIV.gov for hosting a Facebook LIVE Q&A session. For more tips, check out their blog: https://www.hiv.gov/blog/live-from-facebook-its-aids-gov-lessons-weve-learned-so-far.

Before Your Event:

• Plan out your content- Create an event that your audience will want to watch by drafting a script or run-of-show that roughly outlines how your livestream will take shape
  
  • Prepare your presenters and make sure they talk to the audience, not just each other
  • Build in opportunities to pause and assess or answer any questions that might come from the audience
  • Promote your Facebook Live event before, during, and after the stream

During Your Event:

• Stay social- Facebook live is more than a broadcast platform and you should incorporate two-way communication into your script
  
  • Say hello to viewers who are participating in the event
  • Encourage viewers to leave comments or questions in the comments section
  • If possible, respond to viewer questions in real time

After Your Event:

• Review your analytics to see how well your live video performed
• Create your own lessons learned to use during your next event

Resources:

• https://www.hiv.gov/blog/how-host-facebook-live
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXB1TFj2UgM
• https://www.facebook.com/NIDANIH/videos/10154947734718571/

Create Your Own NDAFW Flyers and Posters

• Customize Our Template

  Print out this template and fill in your information. Print flyers yourself or print them at a print shop of your choice. Hang them everywhere teens are. Download flyer size [PPTX - 142KB] or download poster size [PPTX - 148KB].

• Create Your Own and Use Our NDAFW Logos

  Use your creativity to make a flyer or poster. You can get ideas from past events by looking through Previous National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week® Events (scroll down to “Check Out These NDAFW Event Posters!”) Don’t forget to use our NDAFW logos.

Download NDAFW Brochure

NDAFW Brochure

• Download PDF (7.64 MB)

The best way to get people to come to your event is to talk about it with your friends and community members. Hand out our brochure along with a flyer advertising your event to get people excited. Make sure you put all the important details on your flyer—who, what, where, when, and why is a good place to start.

Hang Up NIDA Posters

For posters about drugs and drug abuse, visit our Order Free Materials page.

^ Back to top

Want to make your own gear? Download for FREE below.

Stickers

Girl

Download image (999.52 KB)

Capsule

Download image (639.07 KB)

Pill Poetry

Not Baked Not Fried

Download image (65.14 KB)

T-Shirt Iron-Ons

Nat'l Drug & Alcohol Facts Week

Download Image (360.24 KB)

Everybody Is Not Doing It

Download Image (1.03 MB)

3D Stars

Download Image (1.08 MB)

Boy

Download Image (2.05 MB)

Wallpapers

Warning

Download Image (247.55 KB)

Pop

Download Image (933.94 KB)

Asterisk

Download Image (609.28 KB)

Car

Download Image (160.43 KB)

Avatars

Wheel

Download icon (6.82 KB)

The Good Kind

Download icon (2.24 KB)

I Rave Without X

Download icon (1.53 KB)

Pop

Download icon (8.38 KB)

A proclamation is an official designation of an event issued by governors, mayors, county executives, state legislators, counties, cities, or towns. It’s a great way to get some public recognition!

How can I get a proclamation issued?

Contact your local government official's communications office and ask what action is needed to designate January 22-27, 2019 as National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week® in your community. Contact information can usually be found online.

What should a proclamation say?

The proclamation should declare January 22–27, 2019 as National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week® and be signed by your local government official. This notes that he or she supports the observance. The proclamation should discuss the importance of this week, as well as the importance of teens asking questions and getting good, solid scientific answers.

Take a look at our Sample Proclamation [DOC - 164KB] and revise it to meet the needs of your community.

Then what?

Send the proclamation to local health organizations and local government officials, including the mayor or governor and encourage them to display the proclamation, especially on their websites. Then, send it to us at drugfacts@nida.nih.gov. We will post proclamations from across the country!

^ Back to top