About YDAEI
Youth Drug and Addiction Education Initiative (YDAEI) seeks to address the pressing issue of drug addiction among young individuals through education. With the alarming rise in youth overdoses, YDAEI's mission is to combat this disturbing trend. By providing evidence-based drug education and fostering a deeper, science-based comprehension of addiction, YDAEI aims to equip young people with the necessary tools to make healthy decisions regarding substance use. Through the dedication of the YDAEI team, this initiative endeavors to create a positive impact and promote the well-being of youth in the face of the growing drug addiction crisis.
MISSION
To equip youth with science- and facts-based knowledge about drugs and addiction to empower them to make healthy and sensible choices.
VISION
Our vision is to empower today's youth with the knowledge, skills, and support they need to make informed decisions about drug and substance use. Through our education initiative, we strive to create a society where every young person is equipped with the knowledge and tools to lead a healthy, drug-free life. By fostering a culture of prevention, compassion, and evidence-based education, we aim to break the cycle of addiction, promote mental and physical well-being, and inspire a generation of young leaders who champion a drug-free lifestyle. Together, we can build a brighter future for our youth, free from the grips of substance abuse and misuse.
Our Youth Leaders
CADENCE WONG
I am a Founding Committee Member and Lead Presenter at YDAEI. Co-developing the interactive, science- and fact-based curriculum, which serves as the foundation of our program, has been both exciting and rewarding. Reflecting on Red Ribbon Week during my elementary and middle school years, I always felt something was missing—an explanation of how addiction occurs and why drugs are harmful. In my role, I had the honor of collaborating with our clinical mentor to create an educational program that teaches our target audience how substance dependence (addiction) develops and explains the role of dopamine using simple neuroscience concepts, such as the brain’s reward system. The students' positive response to these concepts has been incredibly rewarding. In 2023, our innovative drug education program received a $50K grant from the California Department of Health Care Services through the Youth Opioid Response (YOR 3) program to expand our reach to more youth organizations.
ERIC GEE
As a Founding Committee Member and Lead Presenter of YDAEI’s interactive science-based drug education program, I have the chance to help young individuals understand the detrimental effects of drug addiction on physical and mental health, and empower them to make health-conscious decisions. Being an athlete, I understand the temptation of drug use for stress management but know that turning to substance use is a dangerous choice. From curriculum development to presenting at youth organizations, I am excited to see how much interest the middle school students showed in the simple neuroscience concepts behind addiction through interactive activities and discussion.
PARTNERS
If you are interested in partnering with us, please reach out to us at info@ydaei.org.
