WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- 250
high school students from D.C. and Baltimore will interact with top U.S.
scientific experts and inspiring guest speakers to help "shatter
the myths" about drugs and substance abuse, and pledge to stay
drug-free at a major rally at the NIA/NIDA Biomedical Research
Center, 251 Bayview Blvd., Baltimore,
MD 21224, on Thursday, Feb.
11, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Immediately following the event there will be a media and key
partner debrief.
The "Shattering the Myths" event is hosted by Mentor Foundation
USA, in partnership with the National Institute on Drug Abuse
(NIDA). Special guest speakers include Olivia Farrow, Deputy Commissioner with the
Baltimore City Health Department, Dr. Ruben
Baler, NIDA Scientist, and Dr. Lonise Bias, parent testimonial and motivational
speaker.
During the day students will have the opportunity to get their
questions answered by a leading NIDA scientist, hear about the true
dangers of substance abuse, and also participate in poetry slam
workshops where they are able to express their own feelings around
substance abuse.
"This event is so important because it inspires and motivates
youth to become their own advocates for drug-prevention by allowing
them to dispel myths and make educated choices," says Gunilla Girardo, president and CEO of Mentor
Foundation USA. "Since 2011, when
Mentor Foundation USA began
organizing these youth rallies, we have reached more than 2,500
high school students in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Plans are now in place to offer
youth rallies across the U.S."
In conjunction with the "Shattering the Myths" event, global
fashion retailer H&M will recognize the winner of the 2015
national "Living the Example" video contest. From among the many
submissions from youth across the U.S., the winner, Carly Johnson from Texas, was unanimously selected from a team of
judges. Her inspiring video can be viewed here.
Background. About one-third of high school seniors across
the country report using an illicit drug sometime in the past year,
and more than 10 percent report non-medical use of a narcotic
painkiller. While drugs can put a teenager's health and life
in jeopardy, many teens are not aware of the risks. Even for those
teens who do not abuse drugs, many have friends or family who do,
and they are often looking for ways to help them.
About Mentor Foundation USA Our mission is to
prevent drug abuse among youth while helping them identify and
pursue their goals. Shattering the Myths is a major part of our
drug prevention platform.
Mentor Foundation USA is an
affiliate of Mentor International, which was founded in 1994 by Her
Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden and
the World Health Organization. We work to prevent drug abuse among
youth while helping them identify and pursue their life goals. We
operate as a Federation with national chapters in the United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, Lithuania, Latvia, Germany, Colombia, and a regional operation in
Lebanon, which includes 22 Arab
League countries. Collectively, we have implemented projects in
over 80 countries and impacted more than 6 million lives.
Contact: Nicole Larese (202)
352-5532
nicole@mentorfoundation.org
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visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mentor-foundation-usa-and-nida-host-6th-annual-drug-facts-rally-to-help-youth-shatter-the-myths-around-drug-abuse-300218664.html
SOURCE Mentor Foundation USA