Harnessing the Power of Education to Prevent Drug Abuse
- According to the 2022 World Drug Report, 284 million people between the ages of 15–64 used illicit drugs worldwide in 2020—a 26 percent increase over the previous decade.
- Drug-related deaths have risen to almost half a million people per year—every 60 seconds someone dies because of drugs.
- More than 1.4 million Truth About Drugs booklets were distributed around the world in the past year.
Over the past year, educators, counselors, police officers, drug prevention specialists and parents placed more than 33,000 orders to the Foundation for a Drug-Free World for drug education materials. That’s a new order every 16 minutes of the day, 24 hours a day, throughout the entire year.
Thanks to IAS support, these orders are all fulfilled free of charge, including shipping costs, making it possible for hundreds of thousands to find out the truth about drugs.
Here are some of the responses from a few of the many individuals who received the Truth About Drugs booklets and materials or came across the Drug-Free World website videos online:
“Thank you for sharing [the Truth About Drugs materials]. I talked to a young teen just yesterday. She was thinking about trying drugs. I explained to her in full detail about what drugs can do. She listened to what I had to say and shared her dreams for the future. Now she wants to help others so they don’t go down that path.”
“I was in 7th grade when our health class got these booklets and documentary ... I used as much time as I could in class to read the other booklets, as well as the one we would be going through in class. I would go on the website at home where I could download digital copies of the booklets and posters for free. So I did and looked more into them, and I’d watch the video segments. I just learned more and more, educating myself. I wrote the Drug-Free World Foundation ... to thank them for shedding more reality on this in an engaging way, not just do ‘Just Say No’ stuff like many others have done over the years. Not long after that, I came home from school to a package of my own actual booklets and DVD of the documentary. My parents and teachers were very proud of me for reading and watching all about these things on my own, actually going out of my way to educate myself. I’m very proud, too.”
“I wish I had this information six years ago. I remember the first time I tried an Oxy 101 after my friend convinced me—it took a year of me saying no until I was going through some rough stuff and caved in and tried them. His dad being terminally ill with cancer meant an easy hookup. I instantly fell in love with that leaned-out euphoric high. Nothing mattered, I felt amazing. Everything was so easy, nothing was boring. Wish I knew how bad withdrawals could be years later, sniffing those old green Oxy 80s2. Then when they were taken off the market, on to the new OxyNEO [a newer brand containing oxycodone], then methadone, then some fentanyl abuse and now never knowing if I’ll be able to get off methadone ... I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy, and hope everyone has the correct education for painkillers.”
“This is really deep. I have been trying to find some videos that share the truths about crack cocaine because the majority of the videos regarding addiction seem to be very stereotypical and it’s usually about the drug itself rather than personal experiences and people telling how it really f*****g is. Crack is the worst drug in the world in my perspective. I may have had it different from others, but it was the worst for me, even over heroin, alcohol and amphetamines. I pray that if you are going through addiction right now then don’t give up hope. You’re not alone. Please stay strong.”
