At a time when illegal drug trafficking generates as much money as the oil industry - upwards of $400 billion a year internationally - and America's taxpayers now pay more than $100 billion as a consequence of illicit drug consumption, Scientologists are dramatically stepping up their two-decade long efforts to tackle the spread of drug abuse at its source. Leaders of the Church of Scientology's "Say No to Drugs, Say Yes to Life" campaign called upon local community leaders and concerned citizens to join initiatives which were first organized in observance of the United Nations' International Day Against Drugs and Illicit Trafficking, June 26 th, and are continuing through the summer.

Englewood citizens joined with the Church of Scientology of Colorado to say no to drugs during the annual "Drug Free Marshals" event held at Cornerstone Park in conjunction with the City of Englewood's 4 th of July Family Festival this past week.

Over 200 children and their parents took the Drug Free Marshal pledge which includes promising to live a drug free life and to help their family and friends be drug free. Everyone who made the pledge received a Drug Free Marshals badge.

"It's exciting to see the enthusiasm the parents and children have for the Drug Free Marshals program," said Officer Nancy Peterson, of the Englewood Police Community Relations Department. Officer Peterson encouraged the children to keep their pledge by swearing approximately 60 children and their parents in to be Drug Free Marshals at the end of the event.

"Drug abuse is ruining our culture," said Susan Gaut, coordinator of the "Say No to Drugs, Say Yes to Life" campaign in Denver. "Overcoming this scourge requires real drug education - actual direction that makes it clear to people everywhere exactly what drugs do to their bodies and minds. The first step is Drug Free Marshals."

Scientologists use neither street drugs nor any of the dangerous mind-altering substances pushed as a solution to everything from stress to being overweight. "Amid this sea of chemical maskings to the problems of living, Scientologists have increased their educational campaigns to help people stay or become drug-free*," said Gaut. "With 200 million drug abusers globally - and billions more at risk - it's time to take drug education to an entirely new level that will reverse this trend."

* Scientologists are not opposed to the use of medical drugs, including antibiotics, for the treatment of physical conditions.