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When it comes to child and youth drug-use, the numbers reveal an alarming trend.
Statistics Published last week in one Southern California school district show that:
A large percentage of 11th-graders admit to binge drinking or marijuana use.
 | | Here the Drug-Free Marshals Coordinator of the Church of Scientology of Los Angeles administers the pledge to live a drug-free life. |
Over the past year, of 90,000 public school students in one school system, one in five 11th-graders report they had five alcoholic drinks in a couple of hours, while 14 percent said they had smoked marijuana in the last month.
And what is really important about statistics like these is the effects of drug use on the lives and future of each of these young people.
One such story was featured in a drug-education booklet published recently, thanks to a grant from the International Association of Scientologists:
“During the whole time I was on drugs I destroyed everything I had built up and fought for in my life. I cut ties to all my drug-free friends and disconnected from my family, so I hadn't any friends but my drug mates. Every day revolved around one thing: my plan for getting the money I needed for drugs. I would do everything possible to get my amphetamine—it was the only thing in my life."
It’s because of what drugs do to the lives of kids that the Church of Scientology International created the Drug-Free Marshals program 13 years ago in the city of Los Angeles, California.
Aimed at reaching children before they experiment with harmful substances, Drug-Free Marshals groups are very easy to set up and anyone is welcome to start a chapter and use it to reach out to the kids in his or her area.
Over the years, this program has been adopted by cities around the world, but LA still boasts one of the most active chapters.
 | | The Drug-Free Marshals work with police in cities around the world to get the word out to kids and get them to commit to living drug-free lives. |
In recent weeks, the LA Drug-Free Marshals chapter, sponsored by the Church of Scientology of Los Angeles, made a presentation to the Glendale City Council and participated in the 6th Annual South Central Prevention Coalition Day of Awareness Event and the KTLA Kids Day LA. They also worked with police in cities in and around LA, getting the word out to as many kids as possible, and helping them commit to living drug-free lives.
 | | The Drug-Free Marshals was established in Los Angeles 13 years ago and LA still boasts one of the most active chapters. |
The Drug-Free Marshals have kids take a pledge to stay drug-free and spread the word to their family and friends.Those taking the pledge get badges making them honorary marshals, like those of the deputy marshals of the Wild West. But these marshals use information, not guns, and theirs is a “license to help.”
For more information on how you can start your own chapter, contact the Foundation for a Drug-Free World 1-888-NO TO DRUGS or e-mail: info@drugfreeworld.org
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