Rustenburg mayor invites the Foundation for a Drug-Free Word to address the city’s grade 12 students on the importance of living a drug-free life.

The Department of Education brought together 5,000 grade 12 students in Rustenburg, South Africa, October 14 to discuss life choices as they prepared for their final exams.

The importance of reaching the city’s graduating students with factual information about drugs was highlighted by this year’s crime statistics for the North West Province of South Africa. A 34 percent increase in individuals driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol indicates substance abuse is on the rise.

At the request of Rusteburg Mayor Councillor Mpho Khunou, Foundation for a Drug-Free World participated in the forum which was held in two sessions: 3,000 students in the first and some 2,500 students in the second.

Drug-Free World Africa Coordinator Maurithus Meiring spoke to the students about the harmful effects of drugs and how this can influence the rest of their lives.

Supported by the Church of Scientology and Scientologists, the Foundation partners with civil and nongovernmental organizations. Through its worldwide network of volunteers and partnerships, it has distributed some 8 million copies of the Truth About Drugs booklets over the past year—more than 80 million since the booklets were first published in 2006.