New York, NY and Washington, DC: Scholastic, the global children's publishing and media company, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) today announced a two-year, school-based science education partnership designed to inform students ages 12 to 15 about the dangers of drug abuse. In October, Scholastic Classroom Magazines will launch Heads Up: Real News About Drugs and Your Body, a series of special articles and inserts running throughout the school year that will feature the latest scientific information about the effects of drugs on a teen's brain, body, and life, written in appropriate language for this age group, as well as real life accounts of teens in recovery. Heads Up will have a unique, edgy look designed to capture and keep teens' attention on the campaign's messages, featuring original art by renowned collage artist Stephen Kroninger, whose work has been the subject of exhibits at New York City's Museum of Modern Art and at numerous galleries. Heads Up will reach more than 8.5 million students and their teachers.
According to NIDA's 2001 Monitoring the Future Survey, 11.7 percent of 8th graders had used an illicit drug in the past month, while 22.7 percent of 10th graders and 25.7 percent of 12th graders had done so.
"While science is often thought of as a challenging topic, our goal in working with Scholastic on the Heads Up program is to reach young people where they spend most of their day--in the classroom--and give them accurate, science-based information about drugs and their health effects in a format that is credible and designed specifically for them," said Glen R. Hanson, Ph.D., D.D.S., NIDA's acting director.
Junior Scholastic, Science World, Scholastic Scope, Scholastic Choices, Scholastic Action, Scholastic Math, and Scholastic News, magazines serving middle and high school classrooms, as well as Scholastic's news web site at www.scholastic.com/headsup, will run Heads Up. Each installment in the series will provide science-based information on how common drugs of abuse - such as marijuana, nicotine, ecstasy, inhalants, heroin, hallucinogens, steroids, methamphetamine, and cocaine - affect the brain and body, from damaged brain cells to tar-covered lungs and muscle spasms, and will tell the stories of teens grappling with addiction and recovery.
Teacher's Editions for each magazine will offer lesson plans, extension activities, and additional resources. In November, all classrooms will receive a poster illustrated by Stephen Kroninger that gives a tour of a body affected by various drugs of abuse.
"Scholastic is pleased to partner with NIDA, which is at the leading edge of the world's research on the health aspects of drug abuse and addiction," said David Goddy, Publisher of Scholastic Classroom Magazines. "Together we're able to take a unique approach to health and science education, reaching teens in their classrooms with the voices of their peers and the very latest scientific facts about drugs and addiction, in a context they'll respond to and understand. Our goal is to speak to students with respect, and give them the information they need to make smart choices about their bodies and their lives."
Scholastic is also sponsoring a Heads Up Poster Contest inviting students to design a science-inspired poster sending the message that drugs of abuse are bad for the brain and body. The Grand Prize winner will see his poster brought to life by a professional illustrator, and receive a trip for two to New York City and a $500 U.S. Savings Bond.
Scholastic is the world's largest publisher of educational magazines for grades pre-k through 12. Teachers rely on Scholastic classroom magazines to enhance instruction in subjects including reading and language arts, math, science, social studies, current events, geography, world languages, and art. Scholastic News, grade-by-grade classroom magazines for grades 1-6, gives kids their own thought-provoking, interactive news weekly through which they can understand current events and relate them to their world. Junior Scholastic is a bimonthly current events magazine for grades 6-8. ScholasticNews.com, the magazines' online companion, gives teachers, students and parents an additional resource with which to learn about and discuss current events in the classroom and at home. ScholasticNews.com's special reports, which offer expanded, in-depth coverage of important topics in the news such as 9/11, the Middle East Crisis, and school violence, have received high praise from teachers for sensitive, age-appropriate coverage of major breaking news.
About Scholastic
Scholastic Corporation (NMS: SCHL) is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books. Scholastic creates quality educational and entertaining materials and products for use in school and at home, including children's books, textbooks, magazines, technology-based products, teacher materials, television programming, videos and toys. The Company distributes its products and services through a variety of channels, including proprietary school-based book clubs, school-based book fairs, school-based and direct-to-home continuity programs; retail stores, schools, libraries, and television networks; and the Company's Internet Site, www.scholastic.com.