The show was hosted by the chapter’s president, Julieta Santagostino and local teen, Connor Hillman who organized the event to increase awareness of the serious dangers of prescription drug abuse by teens and young adults throughout the Tampa Bay area. Said Santagostino, “With seven people dying every day in the State of Florida from the abuse and recreational use of these dangerous drugs, the situation has gone out of control. It is time to make a statement and at the same time ring the alarm bells. We decided to rock our message home.”
 
In between performances, the audience was given real facts on commonly abused prescription drugs, which cause five times more deaths than all illicit drugs combined. Each drug’s side effects were described as well as the long- term damage they will cause. Free information booklets on commonly abused drugs were made available as well so those attending could spread the information to their family and friends.
 
Artists performing at the concert included the Clearwater Academy Choir, Dustin McGahee, Hana-Li, John Gold, Lions After Dark and WD-HAN. Radio station Play 98.7FM supported the effort by awarding four free tickets to see Lady GaGa in her upcoming April 2011 concert. At the end of the evening, the artists gathered onstage and held signs that, put together, read, “Say no to drugs say yes to rock, life, family, friends, you”.
 
To highlight the importance of the issue, Tom Keating, President of the Ybor City Chamber of Commerce, presented a proclamation from Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, designating November 20th, 2010 as "Say No to Drugs - Say Yes to Rock Day".
 
The Foundation for a Drug-Free World is a nonprofit public benefit corporation that empowers youth and adults with factual information about drugs so they can make informed decisions and live drug-free. Event sponsors include the Church of Scientology Tampa, Clearwater Academy International, PostcardMania and all musicians, who volunteered to perform at the concert.
 
For more information on the truth about drugs go to: www.drugfreeworld.org.

And for the person with a drug problem, there are real solutions to addiction. Narconon, a drug rehabilitation program that utilizes the methods of L. Ron Hubbard, has a success rate of more than 75% (www.narconon.org).

The best solution, however, is not to begin using drugs in the first place.
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