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Click on the widget below to go to National Drug Facts Week Home page http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/. Tab through to "Share: Click here to highlight the code for this widget and paste it into your Web page." and to Click for more information which links to NDFW's home page, http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/, and NIDA"s home page, http://www.drugabuse.gov/nidahome.html.

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Drug Facts Chat Day
nida4teens
Get Drug Smart with Sara Bellum: NIDA for Teens

Behind the Scenes during Chat Day 2008

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Narrated by Public Information and Liaison Branch Chief, Carol Krause

  • Female student sitting in front of computer.

    Students from Rockville High School in Maryland send in their questions.*GS

  • Two male students having a discussion.

    Some students discuss with each other what to ask.*GS

  • Female student sitting in front of computer.

    Some students keep it private.*GS

  • NIDA's Chat Day Moderators reading questions from their computers.

    Ten miles away, NIDA's Chat Day Moderators read questions from Rockville and dozens of other schools from all over the country and assign them to scientists.*CP

  • NIDA scientists and science writers reviewing questions and typing answers on their computers.

    NIDA scientists and science writers review questions and prepare answers.*CP

  • Scientific experts and editors work together to ensure answers are accurate.

    Scientific experts and editors work together to ensure answers are accurate.*CP

  • Picture of the map.

    Map showing locations of schools that registered for Drug Facts Chat Day.*CP

  • NIDA director Dr. Nora Volkow working in front of her computer.

    NIDA director Dr. Nora Volkow answered more than 100 questions herself.*CP

  • Longshot of the room facing the projection screen.

    Scientists keep track of their progress on a projected screen.*CP

  • Scientists working.

    Scientists volunteered to take up to five hour shifts to answer questions from teens.*GS

  • NIDA scientists looking at the computer screen smiling and laughing.

    NIDA scientists smile at the sense of humor shown by some students.*GS

  • Scientists working.

    They work as fast as they can to get to as many questions as possible.*GS

  • The webmaster stretching in his seat.

    The webmaster takes a stretch break.*GS

  • Plate of untouched food next to a scientist

    ...even lunch goes uneaten...*GS

  • NIDA staffers answering questions on their computer.

    Some NIDA staffers answered general questions, like "What's the worst drug?"*GS

  • NIDA scientists and science writers working.

    As the day wraps up, NIDA scientists and science writers had answered more than 1300 questions.*GS






















* Photos by: 1. Gabriel Shaya 2. Chris Phillips, Macro International, Inc.