The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is launching National Drug Facts 
Week, a new national awareness week designed to bring together teens and 
scientific experts to discuss the facts about drug abuse. NIDA is a component of 
the National Institutes of Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human 
Services.  The week, which starts on Monday, November 8, encourages 
community-based question and answer events between teens and scientists. 
Events can be sponsored by a variety of organizations, including schools, 
community groups, sports clubs, book clubs, and local hospitals.  The week will 
also include the launch of the first annual National Drug IQ Challenge, a 20-
question multiple choice quiz that teens and adults can take to test their science 
based knowledge about drugs. See web link above for details.  NIDA provides an 
online toolkit that advises teens and their sponsoring organizations on to how 
create an event, how to publicize it, how to find a scientific expert, and where to 
find scientific information on drugs.  National Drug Facts Week is being supported 
by multiple federal agencies that share an interest in preventing teen drug abuse. 

For NCPIE educational materials that can support your National Drug Facts Week 
activities, see: “Not Worth the Risk – Even If It’s Legal,” at Click Here  

An FDA advisory panel will meet Sept. 14 to discuss whether dextromethorphan 
should be a controlled substance, reviewing the common cough suppressant 
because of increasing signs of abuse and injuries among adolescents. Non-medical 
use of dextromethorphan accounted for an estimated 7,988 emergency room visits 
in 2008, up from 4,634 in 2004, according to a U.S. government report.

Consumer medication information (CMI) – information about the prescriptions 
dispensed at retail pharmacies, has been examined through research commissioned 
by the FDA.  In a recently published study conducted by researchers from the 
University of Florida, the study concludes that the content, format, reading level, 
and length of CMI materials can negatively affect rates of comprehension and 
retention.  Researchers assessed the effectiveness of CMI collected through a 
hidden shopper collection process using criteria approved by FDA. Approximately 
60% of the CMI materials for select medications met the criteria. The study noted 
that directions for use and comprehensibility were two areas needing particular 
attention in order to increase the effectiveness of the information provided.  

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), a NCPIE Board member, 
has updated this checklist to help consumers avoid medication errors.  .  Topics 
covered include:  

Bring a list or a bag with all your medicines when you go to your doctor's 
office, the pharmacy, or the hospital.
Ask questions about your medicines.
Make sure your medicine is what the doctor ordered.
Ask how to use the medicine correctly.
 Ask about possible side effects.

Available in English and Spanish language.

The little white bag you get from the pharmacy that holds your medicine often 
comes with an attachment. It's a flier that's supposed to give you information 
about your drug. It tells you what it's called, how to take it and what problems 
might arise. The trouble is, it's often several pages long — and filled with technical 
medical jargon and legal-speak.  Sometimes you can't find where the most 
important information is, so a lot of people wind up just chucking it in the trash.  
The Food and Drug Administration is about to make some changes.  To read more 
click here.