Summer vacation is coming to a close, and students will be preparing for class before you know it. So why not add a little learning to school shopping and last minute social activities? Now, students can learn about the science behind drug abuse—and teachers can get an early start on fall lesson planning—with several newly released Spanish-language publications from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).



NIDA, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has created a health education campaign to keep students, parents, and educators in the loop all year long. Now in its fifth year, the NIDA Goes Back to School campaign is the source for free publications that educate young people about the consequences of drug abuse.



Providing educators with culturally appropriate information is an important step that can help reduce health disparities among Spanish-speaking communities. So, the Institute recently adapted several of its science education publications to meet the growing needs of the Spanish-speaking Hispanic and Latino population, with these free materials now available on request.



The newly adapted Explorando la mente (Mind Over Matter) series helps students in grades five to nine explore the brain’s response to drugs with the help of Clara Mente, a friendly narrator and budding young scientist. This set of eight full-color magazines incorporates easy-to-understand language and comic-book style illustrations to teach students about the effects of drugs like marijuana and steroids.



Other NIDA publications have also been culturally adapted to inspire open conversations among family members. For example, “Juventud Latina: Hable con sus hijos sobre las drogas y sus peligros” (Latino Youth: Speak to Your Children About Drugs and Their Dangers), answers questions about drug abuse and addiction and gives tips to Hispanic and Latino ...