Erika Christensen Hosts Drug-Free Hero Awards on Capitol Hill
Washington, D.C. (PRWEB) July 09, 2014 -- Hollywood actress Erika Christensen—star of NBC’s prime-time, one-hour drama Parenthood for the past five seasons—emceed the 2014 Drug-Free Hero Awards on June 25th at the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill. The event was organized by the Church of Scientology National Affairs Office in Washington, D.C.
Each year, Drug-Free Hero Awards are presented to individuals who have utilized and implemented The Truth About Drugs educational materials and programs at a grassroots level to impact their communities by educating youth on the dangers and pitfalls of drugs.
Drug education was a strong part of Christensen’s upbringing and she has been an advocate of drug education and prevention since her teens. Her commitment to drug prevention strengthened while she researched the role of Caroline Wakefield, the crack cocaine addicted daughter of Robert Wakefield (Michael Douglas) in Traffic, arguably the most important film on illegal drug trade in the history of American cinema. Christensen stated, “I studied the effects of different drugs and what they did to the body to play the role with realism. Then I interviewed drug addicts who were my age, 17 or 18 at the time, who were going through rehab to get off drugs. The experiences they related to me were part of what made my role in the film so real…and frightening.”
Each of the Drug-Free Heroes awarded use The Truth About Drugs educational materials to make a difference. They included:
• An official whose has used The Truth About Drugs for the past seven years. He has implemented the program in schools throughout Baja California;
• A police chief who incorporated The Truth About Drugs into the drug education program for his entire region;
• The education director of a women’s correctional institution who uses the Truth About Drugs to help inmates take control of their lives and their future;
• A regional chamber of commerce president who has coalesced a drug prevention movement throughout her state with these materials;
• Parents whose children died of heroin overdose and who independently established foundations to do all in their power to ensure other youth don’t suffer the same fate.
Scientologists on five continents work in their communities throughout the year to empower others with the truth about drugs. The Church and its members are dedicated to eradicating drug abuse through education.
The Church of Scientology supports The Truth About Drugs initiative, one of the world’s largest nongovernmental drug education and prevention campaigns. It has been conclusively proven that when young people are provided with the truth about drugs—factual information on what drugs are and what they do—usage rates drop commensurately.
Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard wrote, “The planet has hit a barrier which prevents any widespread social progress—drugs and other biochemical substances. These can put people into a condition which not only prohibits and destroys physical health but which can prevent any stable advancement in mental or spiritual well-being.”
Tracie Parker, Church of Scientology International, http://www.Scientology.org, +1 323- 960-3500, [email protected]
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