International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking event being held in South Auckland.

On Friday the 24th of June 2011 Drug Free Ambassadors and the Foundation for a Drug Free World New Zealand are recognising the 'International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking' at the Manukau Institute of Technology, Global Village in Otara.

Community organisations from around the country with a focus on drug education and drug rehabilitation organisations will be presenting their work and what they do to help solve the drug problem.

This year the UN Theme for World Drug Day is "Global action for healthy communities without drugs."

TeRata Boldy, national coordinator for the Foundation for a Drug Free World New Zealand says 'It is important to recognise what these community groups are doing to reduce drug abuse and how they can work together to tackle drugs and the problems that drugs create in our society.'

Thomas Henry, Chairman of the District Maori Council will be the master of ceremonies for the event. Keynote speakers include Mr. Tom Claunch, Clinical Director and Co-Founder of Capri Trust; Kings College Headmaster Bradley Fenner; David Trethowen, a Youth Worker from Youth Development & Projects in Henderson Auckland; NZ Drug Detection Agency CEO, Kirk Hardy, and 3 youth from Te Waireka Kaupapa Maori AOD Service from Hawkes Bay who'll share their experiences and the positive change that drug rehabilitation has brought to their lives.

World Drug Day 2011 is a collaborative community effort to highlight what people in their communities do make to protect people from drugs, something that is key in society today.

Drug Free Ambassadors and the Foundation for a Drug Free World were established by the Church of Scientology and have promoted leading drug free lives in New Zealand since 1997. They have handed out hundreds of thousands of booklets and lectured in schools and community centres. Several Maori Warden Organisations across Auckland have become partners in the Drug Free Ambassadors programme and distribute drug education materials around the community.

Marie Thérèse Kiriaky from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime said,'The theme is meant to reinforce the role that communities play in addressing the drugs challenge in society. It aims to highlight the fact that successful approaches in drug use prevention and treatment involve families, schools, and communities to build on protective factors, and it further calls upon communities to take action against drugs'.

The events starts 10am and goes through to 3pm. 52 Otara Road, Otara, and anyone can attend.

To find our more about the Foundation for a Drug Free World and to order free educational materials go to www.drugfreeworld.org

ENDS