Drug Overdose Awareness Day Brings Drug-Free World to Clearwater Beach

CLEARWATER, FL — This Sunday, August 31st, the Drug-Free World Florida Chapter participated in International Drug Overdose Awareness Day by bringing the Truth About Drugs booklets to Clearwater Beach, along with a pledge for beach-goers to live a drug-free life. 20 volunteers distributed more than 1,500 booklets and collected 126 signatures.

“The latest statistics from the Florida Department of Health showed there were more than 100,000 non-fatal drug overdoses in a 12-month period in Florida,” said Stephanie Klimke, the Executive Director for the Foundation for a Drug-Free World Florida Chapter. “In that same time frame, 7,769 people died from drug overdoses. Those victims are not numbers – those are people who were someone’s child, someone’s parent, someone’s friend. It is up to all of us to do what we can to educate people on the truth about drugs so drugs aren’t sought as an option in the first place.”

To bring educational materials to people whose lives could be affected by drug abuse, the Drug-Free World volunteers took to Clearwater Beach on Sunday, a hub for locals and tourists alike. The volunteers distributed the Truth About Drugs booklets, which contain general information about what drugs are, how drugs affect the body and the mind and the effects of taking drugs.

“Our volunteers were continually thanked for getting out a message that is vital to our community,” said Klimke. “When International Drug Overdose Awareness Day was established in 2001, one of the guiding principles set down was that only a community-wide effort can end overdoses and it is our duty to do our part.”

For more information about the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, or to order free materials, go to www.drugfreeworld.org.