The Basics
The physical or psychological dependence on a substance, making it difficult to stop using despite harmful consequences.
What is addiction?
Contrary to popular belief, e-cigarette vapor is not harmless water vapor; it is a mixture of fine particles called this.
True or False: Prescribed medications are always completely safe to share with family members or friends.
What is False?
Red Ribbon Week is commemorated every year during this autumn month.
What is October?
The pressure exerted by friends or social groups to act in a certain way or try drugs and alcohol
What is peer pressure?
A condition where a person needs more of a drug to achieve the same effect they previously felt with smaller amounts.
What is tolerance?
The primary plant from which natural nicotine is extracted and cultivated for commercial use
What is Tobacco?
A life-saving nasal spray medication that can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose
What is Narcan?
Red Ribbon Week honors the memory of Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, who worked for this federal agency.
What is DEA? (Drug Enforcement Administration)?
The term used to describe drinking 4 or 5 or more alcoholic drinks in a short period of about two hours.
What is binge drinking?
Painful or uncomfortable physical and mental symptoms that occur when a person stops using a substance they are dependent on
What are withdrawal symptoms?
The legal age across all U.S. states to purchase any tobacco or vaping products
What is 21?
An extremely potent synthetic opioid, up to 50 times stronger than heroin, often secretly mixed into counterfeit pills.
What is Fentanyl?
The official national theme for Red Ribbon Week 2026 encourages youth to "Make a Difference. Be a Hero. Stay..." this.
The measure used by law enforcement and medical staff to determine the amount of alcohol in a person's bloodstream
What Blood Alcohol Concentration?
Any drug or medication taken for a reason other than its intended medical purpose, or taken without a prescription.
What is Substance Abuse?
This is the smoke or vapor inhaled involuntarily by people near someone who is smoking or vaping.
What is secondhand smoke?
Painkillers like oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine belong to this class of drugs
What are opioids?
Factors in a person's environment or personality, like supportive family, positive hobbies, or coping skills, that decrease the risk of substance abuse.
What are protective factors?
A term for temporary memory loss caused by heavy drinking, where a person remains conscious but cannot form new memories.
What is a blackout?
The central nervous system chemical (neurotransmitter) associated with pleasure and reward that drugs artificially trigger.
What is Dopamine?
A severe, potentially fatal lung condition linked directly to e-cigarette use and vaping products
What is EVALI (E-cigarette or Vaping Use-Associated Lung Injury)?
Secure drop boxes located at pharmacies or police stations where people can safely get rid of unused or expired medications.
What are drug-take back boxes?
The year the National Family Partnership organized the very first National Red Ribbon Campaign (1985, 1988, or 1995)
What is 1988?
The legal BAC limit for drivers aged 21 and older in most U.S. states.
What is 0.08%?