By Cindy GladdenRecord Staff WriterDuring his early years at the Missouri Highway Patrol Ed Moses of Warrenton was a “long hair, full-bearded hippie” hanging out with dealers and addicts in some of the most drug-infested areas of Missouri.Lt. Moses spent 35 years serving in the patrol’s Narcotics Investigations Unit. His passion is to keep kids off drugs. He has trained academy students, served on drug abuse prevention boards, been involved in a chaplain program and was the director of the D.A.R.E. program in 11 states and the Virgin Islands.Even after retiring in 2005, Moses continues to work tirelessly toward the same goal.On Nov. 19, Moses’ passion received the President’s Volunteer Service Award at the Missouri Substance Abuse Prevention Network’s annual Prevention Conference in Lake Ozark.Moses has a lot to say about drugs. As a rookie patrolman in Troop C, which covers St. Louis and Jefferson County, he witnessed firsthand the destructive transformation drugs caused young people. Because of a keen interest in science, Moses initially wanted to become involved in criminal investigation.“After working five years undercover and seeing wonderful kids go down the tubes a step at a time, Kathleen (Moses’ wife) and I decided instead of investigating the aftermath, it would be better to prevent it,” he said.Moses said that every child born in this country is at risk. He feels that parents need to do a better job of protecting their children and that education is critical to battling drug abuse.“The kids saw the drugs, but not the harm,” he said. “The adults saw the harm, but not the drugs. We have to change that.”He contends that the drugs of today are not understood well by the consumer.“The new pot is nothing like Woodstock weed,” he said. “There is a huge change in the marijuana market. In the 1970s, it was 1 to 5 percent (THC level). The strongest tested at Woodstock was eight-tenths of a percent. Today, on average, it is 13.7 percent.”Moses said he just got a sample of marijuana from Franklin County that was 15.98 percent.He feels that if the general public knew this, no laws would ever be passed to legalize marijuana. It is his opinion that this information is kept from the public’s eye for that purpose.As Moses travels around the state speaking to nearly any group who invites him, he shares statistics, testimonials and the science of drug abuse. With a wealth of information and personal experience, Moses continues to hammer his message to anyone who will listen.“My goal is to not lose any more children. Our brains were not built to lose our children,” he said.Kathleen remembers what it was like to be the mother of their children while her husband was working undercover. The children were too young to know what was going on, but being in public with her husband was a challenge.“When we would walk into church we never had trouble finding a seat because everybody would move because they didn’t want to sit by us because he looked so bad,” she said. “But I’d go with him anywhere.”The couple recounted a time when Ed helped out at an event during his undercover years. He was allowed to serve coffee, but people were not comfortable with his presence. Moses remembers how a little boy announced to his dad that Jesus was there. Ed quipped he wasn’t Jesus. He was Moses. That did little to comfort people who heard the exchange.A Devastating ExperienceHis most devastating experience and one that really gave him the drive to change his focus to education was working undercover at a rock concert held in Sedalia in 1974.“It was devastating to see what was going on there,” said Moses. “I saw kids dropping like flies. Trading babies for drugs. Destroying the brain, destroying the mind of who you were and people using you in any degree that they wanted. People were raped, robbed, beat and destroyed and no one cared.”In spite of being exposed long term to the drug culture, Moses said there was “zero chance” for him to fall prey to the culture. He believes drugs change who you are and damage children in so many ways.“I have four Fs. Faith, family, friends and then the force,” said Moses. “I would not be tempted one iota to do drugs. I know what the consequences are. I will never do it.”Kathleen said it was quite an honor and surprise for her husband to receive the president’s award.“He’s gotten a lot of awards,” she said. “He really is a humble person. He also feels it’s not just one person that makes the difference. It’s about parents. It’s about leaders. He’s a very humble man.”Moses enjoyed the fact that the presidential award was begun by George Bush, a Republican, and carried on by Barrack Obama, a Democrat. Moses also received recognition from Nancy Reagan and was called to the White House to receive the award.As a message to kids, Moses said he has never seen kids have more fun than being drug free. What he would tell them is this:“You’re taking a short-term award for long-term payback and you can’t get to the level of high or euphoria than you can attain for yourself naturally,” said Moses. “You will never meet an honest drug dealer. You’ll never find a happy drug abuser. What you are doing it for is what you are going to lose.”Moses continues to educate law enforcement, leaders, parents and children. He will continue the fight to keep Missouri kids drug free.

Cindy Gladden Photo. PRESIDENTIAL AWARD — Ed Moses, Warrenton, recently received President Obama's Volunteer Service Award which was established to recognize and honor contributions made to communities which encourages others to take action. Moses has spent more than 35 years educating others about the dangers of drug use. Moses is pictured with his wife Kathleen.