Getting Ready for School, More than 500 Tampa Bay Youth Pledge to Be Drug Free this Year

Tampa Bay, FL: The Foundation for a Drug Free Florida got their message out to nearly 1000 youth and their parents at two recent back-to-school events: one in Tampa’s Town and Country area and the other in Clearwater’s North Greenwood neighborhood.

            In all, 502 elementary school aged children took a pledge to be drug free. The pledge states:

            “I pledge:

            “To LIVE a Drug Free Life.

            “To LEARN more about how drugs really harm people.

            “To SHOW my friends that a drug-free life is more fun.

            “To HELP my family and friends to be drug-free.”

            As a part of point 2, (“To Learn more about how drugs really harm people”) the youth and their parents were given copies of the booklet “The Truth About Drugs,” which is published by the Foundation.

            This booklet simply defines what drugs are, why people take them and what the mental and physical effects of drug use are. This is highlighted by stories from former drug abusers, such as this from Ben: “I ended up homeless and on the streets, living and sleeping in a cardboard box, begging and struggling to find ways to get my next meal.”

            “As the age for first time illicit drug user gets younger and younger, it is important for kids to know WHY drugs are harmful, rather than just telling them to ‘say no,’” said Florida Foundation Chapter President Julieta Santagostino. She has been involved with this program for the past 7years.

            More than 800 of these booklets were distributed between the two events.  The booklets are a part of a multi-faceted educational program delivered by the Foundation, added Santagostino, which also includes public service announcements, a full-length feature documentary (“The Truth About Drugs”), posters and drug education lectures.

           Inspired by L. Ron Hubbard’s research and work in the field of drug rehabilitation, this program was developed by the Church of Scientology in conjunction with medical experts in the field. The materials are available free to educators, governmental agencies, community groups and educational institutions. The Foundation for a Drug Free World organizes the production and distribution of the above-mentioned educational materials. The program is now used by more than 1,200 organizations in 188 countries.

            The Foundation for a Drug Free World is a secular nonprofit corporation. For more information, please go to www.drugfreeworld.com.