A new science education initiative for middle school students, teachers, and counselors will be launched by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institutes of Health, at the November 21 National Leadership Forum of the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America. "NIDA GOES TO SCHOOL" is designed to bring to the Nation's educators the latest scientific information about how drugs of abuse affect the brain and to give them effective, accurate tools to use in teaching their students. The National Association of Biology Teachers will partner with NIDA on current and future projects under the new initiative.
WHAT: Launch of National Science Education Initiative, "NIDA GOES TO SCHOOL"
WHO: Dr. Alan I. Leshner, Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH
WHEN: November 21, 8:30 a.m.
WHERE: National Leadership Forum
Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America
Omni Shoreham Hotel
Washington, D.C.
"Science-based education about drug abuse should be a prominent part of the curriculum for all students," said Dr. Alan I. Leshner, Director of NIDA. "This new initiative provides teachers easily usable, student-oriented materials to help achieve that goal."
The initial mailing, to every middle school in the country, will feature NIDA's award-winning MIND OVER MATTER materials. This innovative magazine series consists of seven full-color glossy magazines that unfold into posters, and a teachers's guide to help in using the materials. The series was developed to teach middle school students about how drugs of abuse, including marijuana, opiates, stimulants, hallucinogens, inhalants, steroids, and nicotine, act in the brain. MIND OVER MATTER also provides additional information on the brain and the effects of drugs. Other science-based education materials will be included in the initial NIDA GOES TO SCHOOL mailing.
NIDA has also created a NIDA GOES TO SCHOOL website featuring information specially geared to students and teachers. As new science education materials are developed, they will be added to this website.