Drug Education Ads Win Silver Telly Award

A drug education public service ad series from the Foundation for a Drug-Free World has been honored with two Silver Telly Awards, one for its "They Said/They Lied" series as Best Public Service Campaign and another going to a single ad of the series selected as Best Public Service Ad.

The award-winning ads depict teens saying what they were told that turned them onto drugs.

Directed and co-written by director Gary Ravenscroft together with writer Christopher Smith, the powerful public service announcements show teens misled into drug abuse and tragedy.

Each ad is a dramatic and fast-paced video clip.

Presented annually since 1978, the Telly Awards recognize the finest in advertising, video and film, and in the last 29 years, the competition has become the largest of its kind with entries from 30 countries.

The Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 2006 to meet the growing demand for the "Say No to Drugs, Say Yes to Life" community drug-education and prevention program conducted by Scientology churches for more than 20 years. It provides youth-friendly drug education materials to schools, youth organizations, law enforcement and other officials as well as the general public.

The Foundation's research-based Truth About Drugs booklet series covers the subjects of crystal meth, marijuana, Ecstasy, crack, cocaine, and LSD, as well as abuse of prescription stimulants and painkillers. Both the short videos and the Truth About Drugs booklet series can be viewed online at http://www.drugfreeworld.org

The award winning ads depict teens saying what they were told that turned them onto drugs, followed by real-life episodes of the impact on the teen's life and family. The dramatic and fast-paced videos close telling the audience to "get the truth about drugs" at the Foundation's website.

"These ads give people information about what drugs really do, not only to the individual, but his family, friends and community," said director Ravenscroft. "Truthfully, we're all at risk as drugs have a far-reaching effect on all of us. So these ads debunk what people hear on the streets and help get them the facts they need before its too late."