Get Involved

National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week, sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), is an annual health observance week for teens that aims to shatter the myths about drugs and drug abuse. Through community events, contests, and media, NIDA encourages teens to get answers to their questions about drugs and drug use directly from scientific experts. 

National Prevention Week, hosted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is an annual national health observance focused on increasing the prevention of substance use and the promotion of mental health.

Red Ribbon Week is an annual opportunity for teens, children, and adults to show that they are committed to being healthy and drug free. The nationwide event takes place during the last week in October. Each year, more than 80 million young people and adults wear and display the Red Ribbon to show their intolerance for drugs in our schools, workplaces, and communities. Many schools and communities have Red Ribbon activities that you can participate in.

The Red Ribbon Patch Program is designed to provide Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts the opportunity to earn a patch from the Drug Enforcement Administration by performing anti-drug activities in commemoration of Red Ribbon Week. 

The Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BGA) provide a safe place to learn and grow, make friends, develop ongoing relationships with caring adult professionals, participate in life-enhancing programs, and develop character. Programs include education and career development, leadership skills, health and life skills, visual and performing arts, crafts, creative writing, social and interpersonal skills, fitness, sports, and recreation. More than 4,000 clubs throughout the US serve over four million youth.

The Boys Scouts of America (BSA) is a youth development organization that provides a chance for young people to build character, learn the responsibilities of being a participating citizen, and develop personal fitness. The Boy Scouts combine fun with activities that are educational and build lifelong values.

The Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) builds and strengthens the capacity of community coalitions to create safe, healthy, and drug-free communities. Community coalitions are made up of local members of a community—people from business, government, law enforcement, schools, the media, and the faith community, as well as parents and youth. Everyone works together to combat substance abuse and its related problems.

The CADCA Youth Leadership Initiative is a training program that gives youth and adults the tools necessary to address problems so that they can make positive changes in their communities. 

The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program is a substance abuse prevention education program that is taught in more than 70 percent of the nation’s school districts. 

The D.A.R.E. Youth Advocacy Board (YAB) is made up of 50 students, one per state, who are graduates of the D.A.R.E. program at their schools. In addition to advising D.A.R.E., they consult with government and community leaders on drug-and-violence-prevention strategies that benefit youth. They also work as a united body to help others resist the pressure to become involved in drugs and violence while being positive role models. 

The Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) work with girls to develop their leadership potential through activities that enable them to discover their values, skills, and the world around them; connect with others in a multicultural environment; and take action to make a difference in the world. Through activities in science and technology, business and economic literacy, and outdoor and environmental awareness, Girl Scouting provides girls with the opportunities for fun and friendship while fostering development of leadership skills and self-esteem.

The Law Enforcement Exploring Program is designed for young men and women from the ages of 14 through 20 who are interested in a future in law enforcement. The program helps young people gain insight into a variety of careers through hands-on activities, while working on career development, leadership and life skills, citizenship and character development.

Mentor Foundation USA works with innovative, evidence based intervention approaches to prevent youth substance use and promote health and wellbeing. Mentor funds and manages the 'Living the Example' (LTE) program. LTE is an innovative peer-to-peer driven drug prevention and education program that engages students as messengers, "Youth Ambassadors," urging their friends to enjoy healthy and productive lives free from substance use. They also drive school-wide "change projects."

The National Organization for Youth Safety (NOYS) is a coalition of youth serving organizations and government agencies working together toward the common goal of addressing health and safety issues that affect youth in the US. It promotes safety and healthy lifestyles among all youth and encourages youth empowerment and leadership. Areas of interest include traffic safety, injury prevention, substance abuse, youth violence, and healthy life choices.

Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) is a peer-to-peer education, abuse prevention, and activism organization dedicated to preventing destructive decisions, particularly underage drinking, drug use, risky and impaired driving, teen violence, and teen suicide. SADD has many campaigns and activities for youth to participate in.

The Young Marines (YM) program is a youth education and service program for boys and girls ages 8 through completion of high school. It promotes the mental, moral, and physical development of its members. The program focuses on building character, developing leadership, and promoting a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. This is a national program with 300 units throughout the United States.