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March/April 2004 Living Now
Drug Free Marshal Contest and Trip to Washington, D.C.

by Alexandria Roland

My name is Zander, I am 14 and I have been a Drug Free Marshal for ten years. I was 13 when my mom proposed the DFM contest to me last summer. She said that if I collected together enough successful events in which I participated, I could be a good candidate for earning the prize. This prize was not a medal or any token of achievements. The prize was a trip to Washington DC to talk to Oregon Senators and Representatives and swearing them in as Drug Free Marshals to aid us in our mission.

The Drug Free Marshals are regular children and teens, nation-wide, who have each promised to fight for a drug-free America. Every one of the Oregon representatives committed to this promise by taking the pledge. And they all had to agree that to reduce the demand of drugs is the way to stop the usage. By getting the word out that drugs are harmful to our bodies and by demonstrating to the public what the horrible effects of drugs are, the Drug Free Marshals are hoping to save numerous lives.

Last April we celebrated the Drug Free Marshals’ 10th anniversary. I entered into this nation-wide contest, where from each state there is a winner or two. Two of us were awarded the experience when we demonstrated that both of us had proven ourselves as truly committed to being drug free in conducting and participating in many events throughout the year.

Some of the events in which I took part included passing out hundreds of DFM flyers at the Oregon Zoo. Last year in 8th grade I gave a talk with some statistics of the effects of drugs. For instance, how much a person’s reaction time is slowed after one and two joints of marijuana and how many thousands of Americans had used or tried cocaine and heroin. The best part was that my entire class, including the teacher, gasped at the reality. Other events include swearing in many children as Drug Free Marshals at parks and parades, etc.

Thus, Alex Martin and I were given the golden opportunity to fly down to the capital and have a talk with each of our Oregon Senators and Representatives in D.C. We also had the chance to meet other winners from across the country, who we may not otherwise have been able to meet. Other than that, the sites of D.C. were truly amazing and to feel that the two of us had earned our way there was something that made the entire experience even better. And to hear the opinions of our political representatives from Oregon and to listen to the events and the achievements of other Drug Free Marshals of all ages is truly an experience and an opportunity that I will never forget.

The Oregon Drug Free Marshal contest was sponsored and funded by the local Church of Scientology of Portland and the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre Portland. For more information on how to be drug-free contact them at 503-963-8121 or www.scientology-portland.org.