"Healthy New Year" Is the Message as Volunteers Hit the Streets of Brixton

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- South Londoner Toni Pepperstreet and her team of five volunteers launched the New Year with a healthy, drug-free message, distributing 4,400 TheTruth About Drugs booklets in Brixton.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160118/322989

Drug abuse is an epidemic in the U.K. with the British Drug Survey of 2014 reporting more than 3 million taking illegal drugs in England, so in addition to handing out booklets to individuals, volunteers in their signature aqua-blue jackets brought sets of the booklets to shops. They asked shop owners to make these available to help educate the community about the true effects of street drugs. The booklets give the facts about drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy, and amphetamines.

"An old trick of drug dealers is to tell lies about drugs," said one of the volunteers. "They make drugs more attractive by telling people drugs will make them creative or popular."

"Shop owners really appreciate our leaving these booklets for their customers," said Pepperstreet. "We come to Brixton every 6-8 weeks and it's really nice to have their support. I believe that education is key. Giving people the true information about street drugs, they can then make up their own minds not to take them."

Last year, Pepperstreet organized a Drug Free London football tournament, bringing different cultures of Lambeth together in the name of sport while spreading the message that you can have a healthy, happy life, free of street drugs. The thirteen week tournament saw six local football teams fighting for the coveted trophy, which was presented by the Mayor of Lambeth.

The booklets and program are sponsored by the Church of Scientology London to do something effective about the issue of drugs in London.  For more information visit www.drugfreeworld.org.

SOURCE Toni Pepperstreet