Drug-Free South Plans for Progress in 2016

The Truth About Drugs materials provide teachers, law enforcement and community groups with effective drug education tools.

Drug-Free South (DFS) has been making inroads in Tennessee since 2009. It is the local chapter of Foundation for a Drug-Free World, a worldwide non-profit public benefit organization aimed at helping young people learning the truth about drugs.

The Tennessee chapter is making plans for progress across the state during 2016. “We have helped so many people, and each one marks great success, but we have to look to the future and the millions of Tennesseans who are still victims of abuse and addiction,” says Rev. Brian Fesler who coordinates the Drug-Free South.

The cornerstone of the DFS program is a series of booklets that provide the facts about the most commonly abused drugs. Next is a series of 16 award-winning “They Said, They Lied” public service announcements. They are contemporary, high-impact communications aimed directly at youth.

“Our message is aided by high-quality videos that address young adults at their level. They get the cold reality of the dangers of addiction and can then make a sane decision to be healthy,” says Fesler.

Finally, the core of the Truth About Drugs educational program is a 100-minute documentary, The Truth About Drugs: Real People, Real Stories. The film is a hard-hitting, no-holds-barred presentation told by former users who themselves survived life-shattering addiction.

Drug-Free South is dedicated to handling the drug problem in Tennessee, especially with the rise in prescription drug abuse leading to heroin addiction, according to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Fesler is passionate about helping young people before they become a statistic. “We need to reach every kid with the truth before it is too late,” he says. “We will speak to anyone, or will give materials to any teacher wanting to help kids on this subject.” For more information on the Truth About Drugs program, or to order materials, visit drugfreesouth.org.