On Monday, May 24^th 2010 at The World Federation Against Drugs, Calvina Fay, executive director of Drug Free America Foundation, presented the prestigious Moxie Award to the Executive Director of United Nations on Drug Control, Antonio Maria Costa.

Director Costa has spent his career working on important issues such as drugs, organized crime (like human trafficking and corruption), and terrorism.

Director Costa has demonstrated great leadership on drug policy with effective methods and transparent messages, said Calvina Fay. He has always been very clear in his expectations and intentions and has supported policies and practices that are scientifically-based.

To have ‘moxie’ is to have the ability to face difficulty with spirit and courage and to have skill and know-how.  Director Costa has definitely shown that he has moxie in the face of being constantly attacked by advocates of drug legalization and normalization.  He bravely stood his ground and pushed for sound drug policies that were in the best interest of the families of our global community, concluded Fay.

Drug Free America Foundation’s Moxie Award was established in 2006 to honor those who demonstrate outstanding courage and leadership in preventing substance abuse and keeping the world’s children safe from the harms of drugs.

Past recipients include then Governor Donald R. Carcieri of Rhode Island, State Representative Toni Boucher of Connecticut, Connecticut Speaker of the House James A. Amann and The Honorable Robert Selander in Oregon.

Drug Free America Foundation is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting drug use, drug addiction and drug trafficking and to promoting effective sound drug policies, education and prevention.  Drug Free America Foundation is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.