For decades, Colombia has been famous worldwide not for its beautiful beaches, nor for its section of the Amazon rain forest or the dramatic Andean peaks reaching heights greater than 18,700’. Instead, the word “Colombia” has typically gone hand-in-hand with the word “cocaine.” Until 2012, Colombia was the world’s largest producer of cocaine, and it continues to be the number one source of the cocaine that makes it into the United States. In addition to public health problems caused by drug use within its own borders, Colombia has also seen years of violence in relation to drug trafficking, from battles between trafficking organizations to political assassinations to random killings in the streets. Fortunately, there are people and organizations working to stem the tide of drug abuse and addiction in Colombia. The team from Narconon Colombia recently made inroads on the effort to salvage the nation and turn things around by working on the local level in Municipio de El Colegio, also known as the city of El Colegio, a name that translates roughly to “The School.”
On the 10th of June, the Mayor of El Colegio signed an agreement to enter into a partnership with Narconon Colombia, under which the organization and the city will work together to reduce the rates of drug abuse in the city. The new agreement provides Narconon with a powerful ally in making their effective drug addiction treatment solutions available to the people of Colombia, while also providing the El Colegio municipal government with much needed assistance in educating the approximately 22,000 people living in the town concerning the dangers of drug abuse. The agreement was not, however, the only major development in the fight against drugs in El Colegio. Furthermore, the Mayor designated the 18th day of every month as an anti-drug education day. This move began on September 4, 2009, when the Honorable City Council of El Colegio issued a proclamation naming June 18th as the annual Day of Prevention of Substance Abuse.
As commendable as this was, a single day was not enough to adequately bring attention to the issue of drug abuse and the dangers it poses to the individual and the community. Recognizing an opportunity, the Executive Director of the Narconon Colombia Center and the President of Narconon Colombia approached the El Colegio Mayor with a proposal: That he expand on the proclamation by designating the 18th of every month as a drug awareness and prevention day. The Mayor was so pleased with the idea that he immediately jumped on board and carried it out.
What Happened on the First Narconon Anti-Drug Day in El Colegio
The Narconon Colombia team got started right away on June the 18th, setting up a station in the Main Park of El Colegio. From this location, they began to pass out informational brochures and flyers in order to spread information about the risks of drug abuse and about solutions to the problems of abuse and addiction. Furthermore, they also held a dancing event in a local disco hall, with the theme of “We Have Fun Without Drugs!” People of all ages were invited to the dance, children and adults alike, and admission to the event was free. By providing this type of event, the city and Narconon were not only able to give the townsfolk an example of how to enjoy themselves in a drug-free manner, but also to make strong positive associations with the anti-drug message. Having the opportunity to work with the city every month makes it possible for Narconon Colombia to greatly augment its efforts at building a drug-free community in that nation. Over the course of nearly 20 years, Narconon Colombia has been delivering its rehab treatment program at a residential center in the hills outside of Santa Fe de Bogota, around an hour and a half away from El Colegio. Last year alone, they delivered drug education to 25,000 people and spoke several times on television and radio. Now, with grassroots efforts on the 18th of every month, the organization can expect to see even greater success in putting an end to drug abuse and addiction in Colombia.
For more on the Narconon Columbia story see our latest Narconon news release that was published on PR Web.