Bringing the Truth About Drugs to Vienna
Reaching youth before dealers do in the charming streets of the City of Music.
Gabriele Toker, Executive Director of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World Austria, has a single mission: to empower youth, parents and educators with the Truth About Drugs. As a mother of two girls, Toker is deeply committed to fostering a drug-free and healthy lifestyle for her daughters. Alarmed by the growing disregard for the dangers of marijuana—the most commonly used drug in Austria—she discovered the Foundation for a Drug-Free World as a powerful resource to help her children and others make informed choices.
Since 2006, Toker and her dedicated team of volunteers have been bringing their message to life at booths across the country, featuring lively music, dance performances and engaging games. At the Danube Island Festival, held in celebration of Austrian artists, Toker’s interactive booth drew in crowds with fun activities and street painting. Children who participated received certificates acknowledging their pledge to live drug-free, igniting a sense of responsibility and community spirit.
Toker’s initiative also connects with teachers eager to introduce the Drug-Free World program in schools, reaching kids before dealers do. Collaborations with local artists and athletes amplify their message of creativity and healthy living. The impact of Toker’s efforts is palpable. From medical students distributing educational booklets to concerned parents learning about the risks of Ritalin, her outreach is resonating throughout Vienna.
WE REALLY WANT TO hear FROM YOU
Mothers, students, police officers, activists, drug-prevention specialists, government officials—the Foundation for a Drug-Free World reaches everyone, providing tools to help the community:
STORE OWNER, BELGIUM
“This booklet is effective because it is informative and factual, and it is not giving moral lessons. It does not say that it is bad to take drugs or not to do it. But, on the contrary, it gives factual data from people that came off of drugs or from scientific studies that are reliable.”
BREAKER (BREAKDANCER), FRANCE
“We all have our creativity naturally and don’t need drugs to feel good. I personally get my ‘high’ with dance and music, not with drugs. Providing education through fliers and booklets, we inform people so they can avoid addiction.”
VOLUNTEER, DENMARK
“A man who has been addicted to drugs for 12 years came to the Drug-Free World Mobile Exhibit. He opened up and explained how he hates being addicted to pot. He feels trapped by it. He said that our prevention message is fantastic and if he could go back in time and encounter our message then, he would never have started smoking in the first place.”
YOUNG MARINES, KANSAS, USA
“I provided a kit to my local police department. They were very excited about the materials. They are going to share them with many school counselors. Please know that our Young Marines chapter is providing monthly training to our youth utilizing your materials. I cannot thank you enough.”
SCHOOL COUNSELOR, WASHINGTON, DC, USA
“We use them [the Truth About Drugs materials] primarily for our students serving consequences [undergoing disciplinary actions]. They have been a resource for those students and to guide discussions about these topics. This has been very helpful, and I often review the materials to learn more myself. Thank you again for this free resource!”
FACTS
DRUGS IN NUMBERS
What are the cold hard facts of drug abuse around the world? Here are the numbers:
292
MILLION
people use
drugs worldwide.
228
MILLION
people use cannabis around the world, which is the most widely used drug.
3.2
MILLION
people died in the last year due to alcohol and drug use.
3,708
TONS
of cocaine were produced in the last recorded year (2023).
50
PERCENT
of Americans aged 12 and older have used illicit drugs at least once.
E-COURSES
ON THE TRUTH ABOUT DRUGS
Our free Truth About Drugs e-courses are the perfect way to get the facts on drugs anywhere at any time. These online courses cover all of the most commonly abused drugs.
This series of interactive courses has been designed so you can learn the Truth About Drugs at your own pace.
Find out what drugs are, what they are made of, their short- and long-term effects and view real stories from real people about each of the most popular drugs of choice.
