June 30, 2015
Knowing no socioeconomic backgrounds, drug abuse has become a pervasive problem. With illicit drug use on the rise, Consumer Energy Solutions has sought to take matters into their own hands and curb the problem through participation in the Foundation for a Drug-Free World’s educational programs.
According to Drugabuse.gov, illicit drug use in America has been increasing. In 2013, an estimated 24.6 million Americans over the age of 12 (or 9.4% of the U.S. population) had used an illicit drug in the past month – an increase from 8.3% in 2002. Marijuana use accounts for a majority of the increase, and is the most commonly used illicit drug. (1) Noting a problem with illicit drug use in the community, Consumer Energy Solutions (http://www.consumerenergysolutions.com/) (CES) decided to take matters into their own hands and decided to integrate participation in the Foundation for a Drug Free World’s anti-drug programs into their corporate structure—creating “CES for a Drug Free World” activities and events.
CES found that within the community, there was a great deal of agreement that the illegal use of drugs crossed all socioeconomic lines and barriers of every level of society. CES believes that the scourge of drug use is a universal issue, meaning it knows no social barriers and unites people from every strata of life.
“People from all levels of society are intimately connected to the ‘drug problem’ one way or the other,” said CES Community Relations Director Lynn Posyton. “They know someone whose son is on drugs, their child is doing drugs, their cousin or nephew is in trouble, the kid across the street, their employee, or their employee’s child.”
CES decided to seek out a solution to the pervasive problem through the curb of the growth of drug use via education as a means of prevention, leading to the company’s support of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World in order to combat the problem. Other anti-drug programs can depend on propaganda and scare tactics, but CES has found that Foundation for a Drug-Free World’s campaign is both purely informative and effective.
The Foundation for a Drug-Free World seeks to empower youth and adults with factual information about drugs so they can make informed decisions and live drug-free. Through a worldwide network of volunteers, 50 million drug prevention booklets have been distributed, tens of thousands of drug awareness events have been held in some 180 countries and Truth About Drugs public service announcements have been aired on more than 500 television stations. (2)
CES takes their support of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World one step further by participating in events that generate goodwill in the community. As the representative of Consumer Energy Solutions, Posyton reaches out to like-minded groups in order to spread the anti-drug message. Groups Posyton has reached out to and delivered the anti-drug message to include the Boys Club of America, Admiral Farragut Academy, many church groups, the Florida Sheriffs Association and National Sheriffs Association, to name just a few. Posyton has signed up hundreds of School Resource Officers from NASRO (National Association of School Resource Officers) and FASRO (Florida Association of School Resource Officers) for the complementary Truth About Drugs Education Package. Our local PASCO County Sheriff’s office welcomes CES for a Drug Free World at their community events. Posyton also represents CES for a Drug Free World each year during the Great American Teach-In where she delivers drug education presentations at local area middle schools.
Posyton, a mother of four and former PTA President herself, notes that the problem of drug use in the community was highlighted when she spoke to the CES sponsored AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) basketball team. The team, comprised of 17 and 18-year-old inner city youth, viewed the Foundation for a Drug-Free World presentation and then were asked what drugs they could buy at school. “The boys responded with drugs including ecstasy and painkillers to the surprise of their coach who had been unaware that this level of drug use was going on in his community,” says Posyton. “He couldn’t believe this was going on right under his nose.”
Pat Clouden, CEO of CES, notes that a key in the success of CES as a company has been integrating the promotion of social betterment activities into the company’s business model. “When the community thrives, we thrive,” says Clouden.
About Consumer Energy Solutions, Inc.:
Headquartered in Clearwater, FL, Consumer Energy Solutions, Inc. (CES) is one of the nation’s foremost full-service energy consulting companies, with over two million residential and 300,000 commercial customers across the United States and Canada, including many Fortune 500 companies. Founded in 1999 by Patrick J. Clouden, CES transitioned in 2004 from selling primarily to residential customers to selling primarily to businesses. The company’s long-standing relationships with the largest independent energy suppliers in the U.S., coupled with its unparalleled knowledge of the industry, give CES customers access to the most competitive electricity and natural gas rates available in their area. CES is dedicated to educating its customers about the choices available to them as energy consumers, and to helping them, in a volatile energy market, to balance short-term savings against long-term risk. The company’s mission is to assist its commercial clients in better managing their energy costs so as to add to their bottom line. CES is an industry leader in providing its clients with effective strategies and solutions to reduce energy costs. References are available upon request. For more information, visit www.consumerenergysolutions.com.
