. . . scientology . net . au

2007-02-15

Anti–Drug Initiative Receives Charity Status

The Church of Scientology's 13 year old anti–drug initiative, the Drug Free Ambassadors, has just been formally recognized by the Federal Treasury and the Department of Family and Community Services as a charity and fully tax deductible, having been put on the register of Harm Prevention Charities.

The group have been holding events around the city preventing such harm that drugs do. For example at Bexley on Saturday, a young man — James came to the group, very complimentary of the anti-drug program and told his story. He started experimenting with marijuana when he was 14. A few years later he tried heroin. When he couldn't afford to keep up this drug habit he started stealing to pay for it. He ended up in prison and was condemned for 10 years. Whilst he was in jail he was also on the methadone program. He said it wrecked his life and that he would never do drugs again. After seeing us he also wanted to be a volunteer to help others.

The Drug Free Ambassadors is a drug education and prevention program aimed at teens and pre-teens, showing them not only the pitfalls of drugs, but the benefits of a drug–free life. The volunteers go to streets, fairs, malls, schools and wherever the youth congregate to pass on the message and ask them to take a seven point pledge. They follow humanitarian and researcher, L. Ron Hubbard’s message where he said, “Save the child,and you save the nation.”

There were other great responses there: A mother said that her daughter had bad headaches all the time and continuously took pain killers and she was hoping that her daughter would seek alternative means because she felt that these pills were not good for her. Shop owners said this is a very good thing for the Community and brought family and customers to sign the pledge while we was there. A group of the local girl scouts signed the Pledge and said “theres no way we’ll be getting into street drugs”.

The Ambassadors are also releasing new booklets to celebrate the new federal status including ones on heroin, marijuana, cocaine, LSD, speed/methamphetamines, ecstasy, crack, kiddie cocaine (ritalin) and painkillers. They are very popular and will get the truth out there.

For those who want to take the pledge you can find out more at the Drug Free Ambassadors web site.

The Drug Free Ambassadors will be regularly on the street promoting to youth; but you don't have to wait: for more information on the Drug Free Ambassadors, call 02 9692 7308 or via our website.