PASADENA, CA – At the Pasadena Police Department's National Night Out event, the Drug Free World mobile exhibit made a powerful impact, engaging hundreds of community members, youth, and local leaders in proactive dialogue about substance abuse prevention. The event, held on the evening of August 7, featured an interactive display by the police department that drew crowds with specialized gear and emergency response equipment, while officers demonstrated hardware and answered questions. The Mounted Enforcement Unit also made a special appearance on horseback, delighting families and showcasing its role in community policing.
The Drug Free World booth was a hub of activity, with a large number of local kids and youth stepping forward to take the pledge to live a drug-free life, demonstrating a strong community commitment to health and safety. The event also marked significant collaborative milestones for ongoing drug awareness initiatives in the region. The Pasadena Library formally accepted a supply of educational booklets to be made publicly available for families and students, and the Elks Club Drug Awareness Program acquired 400 educational booklets to distribute through their community outreach programs.
A standout moment involved an 8-year-old boy who, alongside his older sister, had just taken the Drug-Free Pledge. After receiving a Truth About Drugs booklet, he was encouraged to use the resource to protect himself, his friends, and his family. Spotting a public service announcement about the dangers of alcohol playing on the booth's television, the young boy made an insightful connection, asking, "Oh wow! If you do drugs, can you get into an accident like the one in the video?" After receiving confirmation and learning that additional educational videos were available online, the boy eagerly asked for the website address. Determined to learn more, he stated, "I'm going to watch all the videos."
The event underscored the importance of community engagement in drug prevention. The Foundation for a Drug-Free World, a nonprofit public benefit corporation, provides the secular Truth About Drugs program and materials free of charge to anyone wishing to take action. Thanks to the support of sponsors such as the Church of Scientology and Scientologists, the foundation has grown to a network of some 200 chapters around the world. Through a worldwide network of volunteers, 100 million drug prevention booklets have been distributed, tens of thousands of drug awareness events have been held in some 180 countries, and Truth About Drugs public service announcements have been aired on more than 500 television stations.
These materials and activities have helped people around the world learn about the destructive side effects of drugs and thereby make the decision for themselves to not use them. The foundation also offers free Truth About Drugs E-Courses, designed so you can learn the truth about drugs at your own pace. Find out what drugs are, what they are made of, their short- and long-term effects, and view real stories from real people about each of the most popular drugs of choice at www.drugfreeworld.org/course/.
