Drug-Free World Florida Finds Common Ground With Law

CLEARWATER, Fla., Oct. 22, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This past week, staff and volunteers from the Foundation for a Drug-Free World Florida (FDFW), a group supported by the Church of Scientology, and which opened up new offices in downtown Clearwater, Florida this past July, took part in two conferences focused on health and crime prevention and where they also found educators and law enforcement officers successfully using their Truth About Drugs program. The first conference was organized by the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) and held in St. Petersburg, Florida from October 15th to the 17th. The FDFW members then attended the 46^th Annual Southern States Crime Prevention Conference in Sarasota on October 19th and 20th. FDFW members distributed over 3,000 Truth About Drugs materials to some 350 health educators and law enforcement officers at the two conferences.

“We are always on the lookout for ways in which to deliver the Truth About Drugs materials to individuals who are trying to prevent youth from being ensnared by drugs,” said Rosalia Kellerer, the Executive Director of the FDFW of Florida. “I was encouraged to see that at both conferences we ran into people who got these materials at earlier conferences and have been using them for up to seven years since then, getting effective results with the youth they teach,” Ms. Kellerer concluded.

The Foundation is fighting to reduce statistics in Florida such as:

13 people die every day from a drug overdose, 5.6 of which are from prescription drugs (according to the 2014 Florida Medical Examiners Commission Report)
Almost 45% of Pinellas County youth aged 5-17 reported having used one or more illicit drugs.
63% of Pinellas County high school students admitted abusing alcohol.

Over 100 SHAPE and Crime Prevention conference attendees also signed up to receive the Truth About Drugs Educators’ Kit, containing a step-by-step lesson plan and guide that takes students from “What is a Drug?” through true data on each of the popular illegally used drugs and other practical tools to educate youth on substance abuse.

One school resource officer attending the Crime Prevention conference, who has been using the Truth About Drugs materials, said, “Kids love this program. It is the only thing that makes them listen.”

FOUNDATION FOR A DRUG-FREE WORLD

The Foundation for a Drug-Free World and its Truth About Drugs program, sponsored by Churches of Scientology and Scientologists, stands as one of the world's largest nongovernmental drug education and prevention initiatives.

Fact-filled, high-impact educational materials are distributed by the Foundation to schools, communities and governmental institutions worldwide. DrugFreeWorld.org is the leading drug education site, visited more than the next five top drug education sites combined.

Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard, whose extensive research into drugs gave way to the Foundation for a Drug-Free World program and initiative, wrote, “Research has demonstrated that the single most destructive element present in our current culture is drugs.”

FOUNDATION FOR A DRUG-FREE WORLD FLORIDA

The new Foundation for a Drug-Free World center on Fort Harrison Avenue in downtown Clearwater provides drug education and prevention to the communities of Clearwater and Tampa Bay. It houses an information center and features award-winning public service announcements and informational documentaries on each individual commonly abused drug. It also offers seminar rooms for drug education lectures and workshops. Truth About Drugs Education Packages are available in the center at no cost for educators to use in school and community settings.

For More information on the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, contact Rose Kellerer at 727-467-6962 rosalia@drugfreeworld.org

The Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization

The Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization is the international religious retreat for Scientologists all over the world. This Clearwater Church makes its historic Fort Harrison available free of charge to non-profit organizations to hold community events and supports area non-profits. Scientology’s founder, L. Ron Hubbard once said, “A community that pulls together can make a better society for all.”

Drug-Free World Florida Finds Common Ground With Law Enforcement and Teachers

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