"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. Beginning November 21, the site can be accessed from NIDA's home page at http://www.nida.nih.gov. As new science education materials are developed, they will be added to this website.

NIDA supports more than 85 percent of the world's research on the health aspects of drug abuse and addiction. The Institute also carries out a large variety of programs to ensure the rapid dissemination of research information and its implementation in policy and practice.

Fact sheets on health effects of drugs of abuse and other topics can be ordered free of charge in English and Spanish, by calling NIDA Infofax at 1-888-NIH-NIDA (-644-6432) or 1-888-TTY-NIDA(-889-6432) for the deaf. These fact sheets and further information on NIDA research and other activities can be found on the NIDA home page at http://www.nida.nih.gov.