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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


Students from Rockille High School in Maryland send in their questions. Students from Rockville High School in Maryland send in their questions.
Some students discuss with each other what to ask. Some students discuss with each other what to ask.
Some students keep it private. Some students keep it private.
Ten miles away, NIDS's Chat Moderators read questions from Rockvilleand other schools from all over the country and assign them to scientists. 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.
NIDA scientists and science writers review questions and prepare answers. NIDA scientists and science writers review questions and prepare answers.
Scientific experts and editors work together to ensure answers are accurate. Scientific experts and editors work together to ensure answers are accurate.
Map showing locations of schools that registered for Drug Facts Chat Day. Map showing locations of schools that registered for Drug Facts Chat Day.
NIDA director Dr. Nora Volkow answered more than 100 questions herself. NIDA director Dr. Nora Volkow answered more than 100 questions herself.
Scientists keep track of their progress on a projected screen. Scientists keep track of their progress on a projected screen.
Scientists volunteered to take up to five hour shifts to answer questions from teens Scientists volunteered to take up to five hour shifts to answer questions from teens.
NIDA scientists smile at the sense of humor shown by some students. NIDA scientists smile at the sense of humor shown by some students.
They work as fast as they can to get to as many questions as possible. They work as fast as they can to get to as many questions as possible.
The webmaster takes a stretch break. The webmaster takes a stretch break.
...even lunch goes uneaten... ...even lunch goes uneaten...
Some NIDA staffers answered general questions, like 'What's the worst drug?' Some NIDA staffers answered general questions, like "What's the worst drug?"
As the day wraps up, NIDA scientists and science writers had answered more than 1300 questions. As the day wraps up, NIDA scientists and science writers had answered more than 1300 questions.

* Photos by:

1. Gabriel Shaya

2. Chris Phillips, Macro International, Inc.