Drug-Free South Raising Student Awareness

To protect youth from the disastrous effects of abusing drugs, the Drug-Free South team is bringing the truth directly to Tennessee students.

Drug-Free South participated in Red Ribbon Week this year with several events to raise awareness about the dangers of drugs to youth.  The organization has participated in the Red Ribbon campaign since 2009 by distributing copies of The Truth About Drugs booklets, visiting school classrooms and community meetings to deliver seminars utilizing the documentary The Truth About Drugs: Real People, Real Stories, and getting the Drug-Free World public service announcements played on television.

This year, Drug-Free South volunteers reached across Tennessee spreading the message: Say Yes to Life. “Our volunteers have seen thousands of people over the last few days,” says Brian Fesler, regional coordinator for the Drug-Free South, “This has been a fun, fast-paced week. We’ve reached a lot of people and have helped them understand the truth about drugs.”

The volunteers traveled Tennessee, and in just the last few days have given six seminars to over 1100 students. Before the week is over, the team plans to see at least another 1,000 people. “We really want a drug-free South, it’s not just our name,” says Fesler.

Drug-Free South is a chapter of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, an international non-profit organization. Its materials demonstrate the dangers of drugs through factual information and interviews with former addicts, giving personal perspectives on each of the substances covered.  For more information, visit drugfreesouth.org.