Feb. 22, 2000

Veracruz, Mexico .... [ANN]

Young people across southern Mexico are marching on February 24 for a better life without drugs. The marches in the states of Hildago and Veracruz are expected to bring 5,000 marchers onto the streets of all the major towns to promote a drug-free lifestyle and to provide help through seminars, literature and counseling.
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“These anti-drug marches are to show the benefits of a better life without drugs,” says Pastor Enrique Perez Diaz, youth leader for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the states of Hildago and north Veracruz. “Using placards, chants and dramas to get the message across, the youth will also give out magazines and invitations to meetings to help people with their problems. We want to promote the great advantages of a new drug-free lifestyle that can bring so much happiness. The youth really want to show that Adventists are happy people-you don’t need drugs.”

The more than 270 Adventist churches in the region will be used as rallying points for the marchers, following a successful experimental program in November. It is expected that government institutions such as the DIF (involved in family issues) will participate as previously. Future events planned by the youth include a peer drug awareness and prevention program called “Youth to Youth” which is scheduled to begin this summer. [Jonathan Gallagher]

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