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Drug Free AmbassadorsDrug Prevention & Education Program by the Church of Scientology - Space by Cyrus Brooks December 18 ANTI-DRUG GROUP CREATES LOCAL IMPACT27 October 2008
On the heals of reports of public reports of
the dangers of oxycodone on the street and by prescription, a group of anti-drug
campaigners took to the streets to reach the public on the dangers of
drugs.
The Drug Free Ambassadors reached 700 people at
Danks Street Fair in Waterloo with the new Truth about Drugs booklets. It
includes information on the most commonly abused drugs including painkillers
like oxycodone.
One local counselor was impressed with the
campaign and wanted to meet the group for more information, while an endless
stream of parents and young people reached for information to educate themselves
or friends on the dangers of all kinds of drug use and abuse.
President of Drug Free Ambassadors Australia,
Cyrus Brooks, said, "When you get involved in helping the community with the
drug scourge, you find a lot of interesting and surprising facts. For example,
prescription drugs are the highest abused drug in Australia. We also have one of
the highest per capita uses of marijuana and alcohol makes regular appearance in
the media for heartbreaks in causes and controversies, such as attempts to
attract female patrons to clubs with shall we say, "inappropriate" gimmicks. So
I have spent years out with volunteers educating people wherever I go so they
can steer clear of traps they don't realise they may be falling
into."
The Drug Free Ambassadors was started over 15
years ago by the Church of Scientology and makes regular appearances at fairs,
festivals and in the streets. In December last year, the executed the largest
one day volunteer handout with 67,000 drug information booklets given out in a
day, just before New Year's parties so people would think twice before indulging
in dangerous substances.
This group has also released a dozen new drug
information ads for TV and has sent info packs to schools over the greater
Sydney area to help teachers with their drug education efforts. The groups
website www.drugsalvage.org.au has
had thousands of downloads of booklets and views of the pages, with success
stories by young people coming in who have read the booklets and decided to quit
usage, just with the information alone.      September 19 August 23/24 international anti-drug event!!
Volunteers Strike Back at Drug Abuse and Crime
Volunteers worldwide participated in a global strike against drugs this weekend August 23-24 by getting hundreds of thousands of Truth About Drugs educational booklets into the hands of residents in Paris, London, Sydney, Los Angeles, Johannesburg and 100 other cities. The massive international drug education blitz is part of the international “Say No to Drugs, Say Yes to Life” drug prevention campaign.
Australia itself has seen some of the largest drug busts in recent times, mainly Ecstasy and Methamphetamine, some of the most common party drugs, leading endless youth to ruin. The tragedy of Anabel Catt over a year ago sparked a wave of support for more and better education and prevention efforts.
“The most powerful weapon we have to help youth with drug abuse is education," said Cyrus Brooks, President of Drug Free Ambassadors Australia. “Today, the problems of drugs hit us wherever we turn, but the Truth About Drugs booklets cut through the drug hype kids hear in the streets.”
The Truth About Drugs is a series of pocket-sized, research-based booklets refined through two decades of experience by members of Scientology churches and other volunteer organizations participating in the “Say No to Drugs, Say Yes to Life” campaign activities. The booklets are available in 22 languages.
“The beauty of The Truth About Drugs is that it provides a lot information in a concise way,” said Brooks. “It is factual and hard-hitting and tells why people take drugs, how drugs work and the short- and long-term effects of the most commonly abused drugs. This is information people need.
“Saturday and Sunday we got thousands of booklets out around Sydney in just a few hours and it shows how interested people are. It’s great to get out and make a difference in your community. It’s also very encouraging to know that so many people are working together to spread the truth about drugs in their area. By getting this information out there, we can save many lives.”
The long-running “Say No to Drugs, Say Yes to Life” campaign has been carried out in 60 counties over the past 20 years, including 51,247,843 handouts (with 21 million Truth About Drugs booklets), 280,000 billboards and posters, 98,000 public events and 3.4 million individuals pledging to be drug-free.
To find out more about “Say No to Drugs, Say Yes to Life” activities in Sydney and Australia-wide, contact Cyrus Brooks at info@drugfreeambassadors.org.au.
### June 09 Recent event in ChatswoodPEOPLE ARE LOOKING - THERE IS HELP AGAINST DRUGS
As the controversy rages in the media, not enough treatment for Ice (crystal methamphetamine) and whether kids should be labeled with ADHD and drugged in school because they can't sit still in class, still others know they don't want drugs and are asking for help. Hope exists with an effective drug salvage campaign called Drug Free Ambassadors. The campaign was started by the Church of Scientology 14 years ago but has grown and stepped into a higher sphere of operation over the years and operates now as Drug Free Ambassadors Australia Incorporated. Volunteers go to wherever youth go, parties and raves, to the fairs and festivals, to the streets or the beaches and talk one on one giving the Truth about Drugs. Volunteers were in Chatswood recently when four youth came to the stall. One young man said that presdiption drugs are dangerious as well. One girl still stood there, and asked why people take drugs. Ambassadors President Peter Mousiol responded "it could be just boredem or problems or friends tell them it is a good thing to do and we give out these brochures to tell young people about the harmful effects of drugs so they don't even need to start." She was about 16 and said she was on Crack and LSD for about 2 years and wanted to come off but didn't know how. She confessed it was in fact because of boredom that she took the drugs pointed out it is just easy to get them. Peter referred her to Narconon a drug free withdrawl program and and she took the Crack and LSD brochures. Peter said about it, "it's a sad story; beautiful person, looks fine on the outside but behind the curtains a lost soul looking for hope and a solution." Spokesperson Carly Crutchfield started up www.myspace.com/drugsalvage on the Net and put downloadable anti-drug booklets and is getting incredible feedback on this. One person said "I admire what you are doing. I'm glad I found your page because I think I could use your and your affiliate's help and support with my own drug problems but more to the point some of my closest friends. Keep up the fight. I hope you continue to inspire others to change. I can't believe that I'm crying as I'm writing this due to the overwhelming impact your page has just had on me. I wish I could be stronger but am forever doubting myself. Hopefully I can use this moment as a reference point in my life and try to change for the future." The Ambassadors are looking for sponsors and working on getting booklets stocked in shops nationwide and printed and distributed everywhere. There are also projects to upgrade and increase the drug education workshops in all areas and train people locally for this, plus getting contemporary audio-visual aids for this, as well as straight onto the internet as educational entertainment. If you would like to help in this in any way, please contact the Drug Free Ambassadors Australia on info@drugfreeambassadors.org.au and see Carly's myspace page or call 02 9692 7308. END POOR MAN'S COCAINERISE IN ADHD DRUG PRESCRIPTION MEANS MORE FOR
"Ritalin is the new 'poor man's cocaine' so to speak - we are hearing stories of kids who have been prescribed these drugs, selling them to their friends and crushing and snorting the powder. Ritalin and its generic sister Dexamphetamine are easy to get and are prescribed at the drop of a hat. Kids don't need to access illegal drugs to get high and sell it to their friends - they are doing it with 'legal' prescription drugs, which are in the same class as amphetamines and speed. There has been a 10x increase in prescriptions from 1993 to 2003, now reaching 250,000 prescriptions a year throughout Australia. Are we creating a drugged out, off their face future generation of Australians?" demands Ms Crutchfield. One Australian reported, "its surprisingly easy to get Dexamphetamines by pretending you have ADD especially if someone who has been through the interview process coaches you with the right things to say." Why would people cheat to get prescribed a 'ADHD drug'? To illustrate, in 2000, the U.S.Drug Enforcement Agency revealed the results of studies on both animals and humans who were given cocaine and Ritalin. The test subjects could not tell the difference. The Drug Enforcement Administration concluded that, “They produce effects that are nearly identical.” And the statistics show it is used in the street for the same reason all drugs are. 17 percent of serious young offenders currently use heroin, cocaine/crack, street methadone, and morphine as well as illicit use of dexamphetamines and benzodiazepines. And 7 percent of all 14 year olds have tried amphetamines or speed; this figure includes illicit use of Ritalin or dexamphetamines. Then there is the story of Matthew, a teenager who died suddenly in March 2000. Medical examiners found that the youth’s heart was 14% larger than a full grown man's heart and although he had no history of heart problems, the autopsy revealed clear signs of small vessel damage. His death certificate reads: “Death caused from Long-Term Use of methylphenidate (Ritalin).” oOo November 21 Fisher's Ghost Festival14 November 2006
Every day we are reading stories about ICE (a pure form of crystal methamphetamine). From drug testing on the road to the work place. A positive note re media stories on drug education needed at the work place, while another quote from a former user read "If you use ice, you'll either end up in a mental institution, or in jail, or dead."
The heart of any drug prevention campaign will be education, and to that effect the Church of Scientology launched a huge campaign at it's 22nd Anniversary of the International Assocation of Scientologists.
The Truth about Drugs brochures and 10 new anti-drug booklets, to be gotten out at a grassroots level were core elements of the campaign. Very popular with the kids, they have already gotten praise from one Australian city council member who told the Church they "saved 3 lives already."
The subjects cover Crystal Meth (ICE), Marijuana (top drug in Australia after alcohol), Ecstasy, Heroin, Cocaine, LSD, Crack, abuse of Painkillers or Ritalin, even inhalants like petrol sniffing.
Drug Free Ambassadors Australia is the charity and volunteer group running with these materials and is organising lectures to schools and other concerned businesses and community groups, and has been running in Australia for 13 years.
Spokesman Cyrus Brooks said, "Undertaking to handle the drug problem is no light task. It's a David and Goliath venture, but if entire communities work together to solve the range of problems associated with drugs, significant strides can be made."
"Governments at State and Federal level want more prevention and education, as in the National Strategy on Drug Education and the prevention objectives of the Amphetamine, Ecstasy and Cocaine Prevention and Treatment Plan from NSW Health. The Drug Free Ambassadors are working straight down this line. Every youth that starts makes that informed decision that drugs don't have to be part of his life, is a win for all of us," concluded Mr. Brooks.
The International Assocation of Scientologists sponsored a print run of 250,000 booklets for Australia and the Drug Free Ambassadors are offering community groups and individuals these free of charge to kick start an anti-drug campaign in their local area, whether it be in the city or rural communities.
Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard said, "One has the choice of being dead with drugs or being alive without them. Drugs rob life of the sensations and joys which are the only reason for living anyhow".
The Scientologists are taking this to heart, helping all communities to help salvage individuals from the ravages of drugs, plus help youth make informed decisions about drug-free living. For more information, contact the Ambassadors group at info@drugfreeambassadors.com.au or 02 9692 7308.
PHOTO CAPTION: YOUTH WITH NEW BOOKLETS AT CAMPBELLTOWN FISHER'S GHOST FAIR
CONTACTS:
Cyrus Brooks
0428 755 244
info@drugfreeambassadors.com.au letter to the editor 28 oct 06Dear Editor,
I was happy to read that the government is going to support broad education on the dangerous effects of ICE (a purer form of methamphetamines also called Crystal Meth, Glass, etc). Working with the Drug Free Ambassadors, started by the Church of Scientology, for many years now, I've seen the effects these drugs have in the community and on individuals. Speed and its purer forms, base and Ice, have serious short and long term effects. Yet I saw one website give weak advice on it, saying that you don't know what is in the stuff you are buying, so best to try a little first. Sheesh! Meth can cause depression, psychosis, brian damage similar to stroke and epilepsy, hallucinations and violence, as has been reported by hospitals and police. Do people know you get a rush, high, then a binge, where you want more, tweaking, where meth doesn't give you any more high--but it can cause you to feel like bugs are crawling under your skin, then a terrible crash and hangover and finally withdrawl which brings on a bad depression amongst other things. Let's be real. People need to know the truth of this terrible drug. My best wishes goes out to those trying to get off, or helping others about this. A drug free life isn't just a trite phrase. It's a worthwhile goal.
Sincerely,
Cyrus Brooks
Drug Free Ambassadors Coordinator Crow's Nest Fair13 Oct 06
Drugs cost us billions of dollars in lost work from those effected, in drug
enforcement, in medical treatment, and so on. The human cost in lost loved
ones and heartbreak, is uncountable.
In musicland we know the stellar fallen stars of Kurt Cobain or in times
past, Jimi Hendrix, both died due to drugs and their effects.
At the Crow's Nest Fair, the Church of Scientology's initiative Drug Free
Ambassadors, releases 10 new booklets to educate and prevent youth from
taking drugs.
"Prevention is the key," said spokesperson Cyrus Brooks. "The cost for
handling drugs after the fact is so much greater; plus the person is
influenced by the drug itself and may not be able to see for himself it's
terrible effects until they are irreversible."
Drug Free Ambassadors release booklets on Speed, Marijuana, Ecstasy,
Cocaine, Crack, Heroin, LSD, abuse of Painkillers and Ritalin and The Truth
about Drugs, summarizing it all at the festival.
"The booklets we've had are very popular," said Cyrus, "police, teachers,
youth and community groups use them. And this is important because law
enforcement can seize kilo after kilo of the stuff, but there will always be
a supply for drugs if there is a market for them. This campaign is key as
education and prevention will cut the demand for drugs."
The Drug Free Ambassadors is based on drug research by L. Ron Hubbard on the
effects to the mind as well as the body, and this is the new thing.
Cyrus summed it up, "When youth know that the effects of the drug aren't
fully eliminated after a month or two, but go on for years, and it makes you
mentally sluggish and hazy, they think twice before doing it. When they get
the full data, they make better decisions. We can deliver that."
For more information contact 02 9692 7308, info@drugfreeambassadors.com.au
or www.drugfreeambassadors.com.au
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