Driving a Nation to Drug Awareness

Billy Smith poses in front of a photo of his son, Jeremy, one of many overdose victims displayed on his 24-foot trailer.

After losing his son, Jeremy, to an opioid overdose, Billy Smith set out on a journey to bring the Truth About Drugs all over the United States.

Jeremy was thriving until he started taking painkillers after a fall. Dependence soon took hold of him, and he died of an overdose.

His son’s death left Smith searching for answers. Volunteering at church-sponsored Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, he realized how vital drug education was. “If I had known what my son was going through, I might have prevented it.”

Determined to spare other families the same pain, Smith is the driving force behind Angels Across America—Drug Epidemic Awareness Ride. With a 24-foot trailer covered in photos of overdose victims, he raises awareness nationwide. The trailer draws attention wherever it goes, and Smith distributes Truth About Drugs booklets to bring the vital information they contain to as many people as possible.

In one year, Smith drove over 10,000 miles to events across the US. He partnered with grass-roots groups, faith organizations and Drug-Free World, amplifying the reach of his campaign.

“The trailer gets people’s attention,” says Smith. “They relate to it one way or another—from the pictures, the miles I’ve been driving or from their own experience. That translates to interest in the materials I’m giving out. They realize they can learn more, help others or do something themselves to educate.”

WE REALLY WANT TO hear FROM YOU

REHAB SPECIALIST, USA

“The response I have had from teens is that the videos and booklets resonate with their lives, and they find value in seeing others who have been through what they are going through in their lives.”

COUNSELOR, NIGERIA

“I used the materials and they have been very effective. I organize antidrug seminars in schools, most especially secondary schools. There are many transformation stories of youths who have left drugs and are now doing well. There are also trainings we do where we are determined to get to the youths before drugs do. It’s really an exciting thing touching the life of the youths and giving them drug education.”

SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER, VENEZUELA

“The materials provided have truly been very useful—I have had the opportunity to help many young people who needed it. They have understood how harmful drug use is and the effects it entails. Thanks to you, we have helped many children and young people.”

NURSE, UNITED KINGDOM

“I cannot begin to explain how amazing the materials are, and how helpful they have already been for the children in our school. I work in a private boarding school with children aged between 13 and 18. The resources were particularly good at conversation-starting between the pupils and staff members, with pupils asking questions, talking about experiences and seeing other people under the influence of drugs. The booklets really helped them gain a strong understanding of what actually happens to the body, what different substances look like and how they are taken. Our deputy head teacher was very impressed with the quality of the materials.”

FACTS

20 YEARS IN NUMBERS

For the past 20 years, the Foundation for a Drug-Free World has touched countless lives:

84,000

EDUCATORS & TEACHERS

empowered with
Truth About Drugs
educational materials

1,000,000,000

PEOPLE REACHED

with the
Truth About Drugs
program

80,000

EVENTS

held internationally

600,000

COMPLETIONS

of the
Truth About Drugs
online courses

170,000,000

BOOKLETS

distributed from the
Truth About Drugs
program

REACH THEM BEFORE DRUGS DO

There are no scare tactics. This is factual, specific and documented information that talks to students in their own language and gets them engaged and thinking.

Our education program is available at no cost for educators, as a printed curriculum or online.