Social Media

National Drug Facts Week (NDFW) is a 5-day event that features teen-led activities, a cool contest sponsored by the Grammy Awards, and chats to shatter the myths around drug abuse and addiction. SBB and NIDA want you to help us spread the word through school and community events, both online and in person. Read on… NDFW kicks off on Monday, November 8, with the Sara Bellum CyberShoutout. We’ll be blogging here on the SBB and adding updates from you throughout the day. We need your support to make this good. Could you maybe:

• Post a comment here on the Sara Bellum blog?
• Write a new post for your own blog?
• Post our new NDFW Web badge on your blog.
• Upload event pictures to Flickr?
• Post drug facts that we give you to your Facebook and/or Twitter account, or wherever you share updates and issues with friends and family?

Note: If you plan to blog or post something to your Facebook page for the CyberShoutout, let us know in the comments. If you’ll be tweeting, don’t forget to use the hashtag #drugfacts2010 so we can update Sara Bellum throughout that day with your ideas and thoughts. We hope you’ll take part in this CyberShoutout event – together, we can separate fact from fiction when it comes to drug abuse and addiction! Here are some facts to get you started:

• The chances of becoming addicted to marijuana or any drug differ for everyone. For weed, that's about 1 in 11 people. Learn more.
• In 2006, prescription pain medications were involved in more overdose deaths than heroin and cocaine combined. Learn more.
• Drugs reset brain’s pleasure meter, making you feel hopeless & sad w/out drugs 'til normal fun stops making you happy. Learn more.

Get in on the action! Teens across the nation will be participating in NDFW through activities, participating in Drug Facts Chat Day, and leading events in their communities. How loud can you shout? Remember, no matter how or where you speak out, add the hashtag #drugfacts2010.

A few months ago, we asked you about your favorite social networking sites—including Facebook, MySpace, Bebo, and Twitter— and now we want to know a little bit about how you use social media. “Social media” is an overarching term that refers to interactive Web sites as a whole, not just social networking Web sites. While this term surely encompasses social networking sites, social media also can refer to blogs and Web sites such as YouTube, Tumblr, Web sites with online discussion forums, and more.

So now we want to know: how do you use social media? Do you blog, watch YouTube videos, post on discussion boards, or share your favorite viral videos and pictures on Tumblr?

To answer the question, you can either submit a comment by writing your response in the “Leave a Reply” box below, or send us a message. As always, we read all comments and consider all feedback.

Don’t forget that you can always respond to questions we’ve asked before; just drop us a comment! We always look forward to hearing from you!

Are you on Facebook? Chances are, the answer is yes—the popular site has more than 750 million active users who spend over 700 billion minutes per month on Facebook! Individuals might use Facebook in a variety of ways—to connect with friends and family, share photos, keep up-to-date on the latest news at school or in the world, and even plan events. Organizations also use Facebook to get their messages out—for instance, maybe your school has a chapter of Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD). The organization has a page on Facebook. Check out the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s Drug Facts Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/NIDA.Drug.Facts.Week and find out more about National Drug Facts Week 2011. And now SBB wants to know—how do you use Facebook? Do you “Like” any organizations or groups on Facebook? Do you “Like” any groups or campaigns that promote healthy living? To answer the questions, you can either write your response in the “Leave a Reply” box below, or you can send us a message. As always, we read all of your comments and feedback. Don’t forget that you can always respond to questions we’ve asked before. Just drop us a note! We look forward to hearing from you!

See our shoutouts: Bloggers | Tweeters | Facebook Posts Today, October 28, marks the second annual CyberShoutout! This is a day for teens to come together with teachers, parents, community organizations, and scientists to shatter myths about drug abuse and addiction and spread the facts by blogging, tweeting, or posting on Facebook. People all over the country are helping to raise awareness about drugs and drug abuse. Throughout the day, we will be showcasing some of Sara’s friends who are spreading the facts and shattering the myths. Thanks again to everyone who is participating! Let your voice be heard! Keep those shout-outs coming all day today, and be sure to watch the Sara Bellum Blog for updates. Bloggers:

• Dr. Nora Volkow, Director of NIDA, is featured on the Partnership at Drugfree.org giving a shoutout to the importance of engaging the American teenager around the facts of drug abuse.
• Sue Scheff, author and parent advocate who founded Parents Universal Resource Expert (PURE), says What path will your teen choose? National Drug Facts Week (NDFW) is a health observance week for teens that aims to shatter the myths about drugs and drug abuse. Through community--based events and activities on the Web, on TV, and through contests, NIDA is working to encourage teens to get factual answers from scientific experts about drugs and drug abuse.
• Sue Scheff gave a second shoutout in her post "It's Not Just Pot Anymore," in which she shares the facts behind marijuana use.
• Jack Maypole, pediatrician and writer, posted this in a story, Deserving of Your Attention: Teens Abuse of ADHD Meds on newly minted college students issues with prescription drugs on The Faster Times blog: I’m covering this topic on the occasion of the opening of NIDA’s National Drug Facts Week to raise awareness — for teens and the adults in their lives — of something about which there are a lot of myths: prescription drug abuse, including ADHD meds.
• The Dana Foundation is participating in today’s CyberShoutout for the second straight year and shattering myths about drug abuse by interviewing Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives member Bertha K. Madras, Ph.D., professor of psychobiology at Harvard Medical School in their post Drug Facts Week Interview: Bertha Madras.
• The MomtiniLounge, a mommy blogger who also participated last year, says: Today, I’m joining teens, parents, teachers, and scientists across America to kick off National Drug Facts Week by publishing my own shoutout for educating teens about the effects of drug abuse" in her post Shoutout to Educate Teens About Drug Abuse.
• The Ultimate Block Party, in its post Everyday ways to promote healthy development – now and later!, asks: Want to do something for your kids that helps promote healthy physical, cognitive, and social development? What if I told you that this activity also helps prevent substance abuse later on? With all these positive effects, you might think that I am talking about something difficult or expensive, but all you need to do is eat together as a family!
• Ryan Donnelly, a recoving drug addict and alcoholic, says: Today, I’m giving a shoutout to educate teens about drug abuse. Monday is the start of the second annual National Drug Facts Week, and I’m adding my voice to spread a powerful message about drug abuse and addiction. Please take some time today to read more on this topic. Visit NIDA’s Sara Bellum Blog and get educated! RESPECT!
• The NIH Science Education blog is also joining teens, parents, teachers, and scientists across America to kick off National Drug Facts Week by offering up their own shoutout for educating teens about drug abuse.
• Lisa Frederiksen of Breaking the Cycles says in her shoutout: One of the key risk factors for a person developing a drug abuse/drug addiction is early use — using drugs while their brains are going through the critical developmental stages that occur ages 12-25.
• Dirk Hanson, science reporter and novelist, says: Addiction Inbox is pleased to join the CyberShout again this year, because cigarette smoking among 12th graders reached it’s lowest point in history in 2010—and also because, in the same year, about 10% of high school seniors reported abusing Vicodin. Good things are happening, more truth is being told—but there is a lot of hard work yet to do.
• Barbara of Recovery Happens shares her story as a mother of a drug addict: Here is my message to both parents and teens based on my personal experience being the mother of a very intelligent, kind, funny and good looking young man who got addicted to heroin when he was 17 years old.
• LaDonna Coy shares ways to use social media to support drug use prevention in her post, CyberShoutout - Applying Social Media Technology in Prevention, by listing activities you can do both online and offline.
• Bill Ford from DadOnFire says: Drug abuse can turn into drug addiction and moms and dads need to know they are often the last ones to know. Yes, I am on fire. I have children and have known many young people who have suffered needlessly.
• Phoenix House, a nonprofit provider of drug abuse treatment and prevention services, announced: This morning, singer/songwriter Kara DioGuardi, the creator of our Phoenix Rising Music Program, made this year’s kickoff especially memorable. Appearing on Fox & Friends, Kara announced that two talented teens from our Phoenix House Academy of Los Angeles had won the MusiCares/GRAMMY Foundation’s Substance Abuse Awareness through Music Contest.
• "The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Joins NIDA in Celebrating National Drug Facts Week 2011:" As reflected in the 2011 National Drug ControlStrategy, a key ingredient for preventing drug use is ensuring that communities, parents, and especially our youth, have the most up-to-date scientific information about drug use and its consequences. National Drug Facts Week provides young adults with science-based facts and information about drug and alcohol use, and empowers them to make healthy decisions as informed consumers.
• The team at GovLoop is supporting the cause: NIDA is running a pretty cool program today to shatter myths about Drug Abuse to gear up for next week's National Drug Facts Week program. Much props to NIDA for a cool program.
• AwareRx shouts out this drug fact: Nearly 15% of all US high school students misuse prescription controlled substance drugs.
• The Indiana Prevention Resource Center promoted NIDA's online resources that help teens plan their own National Drug Fact Week events.
• Lisa Killam-Worrall, Pharm.D., director of the Drug Information Center at the Texas A&M Health Science Center, reminds us that: “Prescription drugs can be safe when they are taken by the patient whom they are prescribed for. Danger incurs when people decide to take someone else’s medication without knowing what it is, the dosage amount or the side effects associated with it.”
• Find Youth Info says: Teens have many questions about drugs and drug abuse. Without a reliable source for answers, they turn to the Internet, TV, friends, and pop culture—where the answers they get might be fictional or dishonest. Moreover, when it comes to drugs and drug abuse, misinformation can have serious consequences.
• Wise-Life.com shouts out from across the pond in Liverpool, England: While the above messages may originate from the United States, they apply to all people, of all cultures, all over the world!!! Let’s shout about it together.

Tweeters:

@kara_dioguardi @NIHSciEd @TCADR @USAMDT_Mpls @RFutures @Phoenixhouse @gateamerica @SueScheff @ASCAtweets

@drugmonkeyblog @KaytSukel @GGI4Kids @MIHealth @FreeFromHell1 @dana_fdn @ONDCP @coyenator @nih_nhlbi

  Facebook Users:

• Parents' Universal Resource Experts, Inc (P.U.R.E.): PEERx: Who are your teens choosing to hang out with? It isn't always the 'friend' -it can be your teen making that bad choice. #parenting
• American School Counselor Association: Help shatter the myths! Learn more about the science behind addiction via the Sara Bellum Blog: http://1.usa.gov/iKSFo @DrugFacts
• Phoenix House: Today, National Drug Facts Week begins! We had an amazing kickoff this morning when our friend Kara DioGuardi announced on Fox that teens at our Phoenix House Academy of Los Angeles won the MusiCares/GRAMMY Foundation's Substance Abuse Awareness through Music Contest. We're so proud of these talented young musicians!
• Talbert House: Next week is National Drug Facts Week. Are you up to the challenge? Take the National Drug IQ Challenge to test your knowledge on drug abuse and addiction. What myths did you shatter?
• Centerpoint Health: Next week is National Drug Facts Week. Every day 2,000 teens on average use Rx drugs for the first time - without a doctor's prescription http://bit.ly/d4d6Oj.
• LaDonna Coy: In 2007, prescription pain meds were involved in more overdose deaths than heroin and cocaine combined http://bit.ly/djfjGi
• Richland One Community Coalition (ROCC): @DrugFacts about Marijuana: I'm shouting out because long-term marijuana use CAN lead to addiction in some people. Addiction means people can't control their use of marijuana, even though it may negatively affect family relationships, school performance, and extracurricular activities.
• Dominion Diagnostics: We are joining Drug Facts CyberShoutout to shatter the myths about drug abuse. Join us! http://bit.ly/9rUsL8.
• TOGETHER!: Help shatter the myths! Learn more about the science behind addiction via the Sara Bellum Blog: http://1.usa.gov/iKSFo (via Drug Facts)
• The Partnership at Drugfree.org: It's "Fill in the Blank Friday" and we'd appreciate your help! If I could tell the world one thing about drug addiction, it would be _____________.
• Arapahoe House - Official Page: I'm joining Drug Facts CyberShoutout to shatter the myths about drug abuse. Join me - http://bit.ly/9rUsL8.
• BASE (Building A Safer Evansville): It's national drug facts week! Know what you stand for, 63% of Rock County High School students have never tried marijuana! I'm shouting out to give props to that 63%! Drug Facts.
• Healthy Lifestyle Choices: I'm joining Drug Facts CyberShoutout to shatter the myths about drug abuse! Join me here http://bit.ly/9rUsL8
• Dysart Safe Schools/Healthy Students: SHOUTOUT TO SHATTER THE MYTHS! Monday is the start of the second annual National Drug Facts Week, and we're adding our voices to spread a powerful message about drug abuse and addiction. Add YOUR voice by liking "Drug Facts" on Facebook or by going to the Sara Bellum Blog.
• Indiana Prevention Resource Center: I'm joining @DrugFacts CyberShoutout to shatter the myths about drug abuse. Join me: link to your blog post or link to http://bit.ly/9rUsL8.
• Recovery Month: National Drug Facts Week is October 31-Novemeber 6, 2011. Join us to Shatter the Myths about drug abuse with the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/index.php
• Southeast Missouri Behavioral Health-Prevention Department: Today, we are giving a shoutout to educate teens about drug abuse. Monday is the kickoff of the second annual National Drug Facts Week, and we are joining teens, parents, teachers, and scientists to add our voice to spread a powerful message about drug abuse and addiction.
• Substance Abuse Helpline via Drug Facts: National Drug Facts Week kicks off today! Test your drug IQ!
• Family First Intervention: National Drug Facts Week is October 31-Novemeber 6, 2011. Join us to Shatter the Myths about drug abuse with the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) (NIDA): http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/IQchallenge.php