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
CHERISE WONG
I founded YDAEI during my junior year of high school after getting the chance to delve into the field of neuroscience, which gave me a newfound perspective of how addiction develops within the brain as addictive substances disrupt the brain's natural reward system. With the emergence of the opioid epidemic and growing presence of illicit fentanyl in the illicit drug supply, my attention was drawn to the growing trend of youth substance misuse and overdose. Seeing the contrast between my own elementary school drug education—which only superficially discouraged drug use during a school spirit week—and my now-deeper understanding of addiction, I realized that by equipping youth with a science-based understanding of drug addiction, they could be empowered to make wise and informed choices for their own health and well-being.
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.
