Church of Scientology Backs UN Drug Demand Reduction Strategy

Active in drug education and prevention throughout the year, Scientologists around the world participated in United Nations Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

According to this year’s United Nations World Drug Report, drug-abuse kills some 200,000 each year and creates a “heavy financial burden” internationally. In a concerted effort to counter this epidemic, in the weeks leading up to the UN Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking June 26 through the first week of July, Scientology Churches, Missions and groups around the world, working with like-minded individuals and groups, organize, sponsor and contribute to drug awareness activities to prevent drug abuse before it begins.

The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was created by the UN General Assembly in December 1987 to encourage all sectors of society to work together to tackle drug abuse and addiction. Scientologists commemorated the day by organizing and sponsoring conferences, lectures and symposia, participating in cross-country running and cycling races, meeting with elected officials and manning drug education booths and kiosks.

In Tokyo, the Church helped organize a drug education symposium where legislators networked with representatives of civil society and journalists, sharing information on effective drug prevention strategies.

Sydney Scientologists set up drug information booths on busy streets, where visitors watched the Truth About Drugs documentary, Real People—Real Stories, and took home copies of The Truth About Drugs series of drug education booklets to share with friends and families.

Russian Scientologists ran hundreds of miles in a two-week anti-drug “marathon” from Nizhny Novgorod to Kaluga, on to Ivanovo, Yaroslavl and Orel and ending in Moscow. Along the way they lectured in schools and colleges and distributed thousands of copies of the Truth About Drugs series of drug education booklets. Moscow Scientologists also distributed copies of drug education booklets and fliers in street events on June 26, the same day that St. Petersburg Scientologists participated in a local anti-drug bicycle race.

Danish Scientologists ran in an anti-drug marathon and distributed drug education booklets in Gammeltorv (Old Market), the oldest square in Copenhagen.

French Scientologists, cycling from Paris to Brussels, were met by Belgian Scientologists at the border. Together, they rode on to Brussels, meeting with mayors and aldermen along the way to provide them factual data on the importance of drug education in reducing abuse. Meanwhile, the Dutch “Say No to Drugs” marathon team took off from Amsterdam and, arriving in Brussels, joined the cyclists in an anti-drug bicycle tour through the center of the city, ending on the UN Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking at the headquarters of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions which hosted their anti-drug conference.

On June 12, Czech Scientologists began two weeks of running and cycling through the country for the 10th annual anti-drug “Cyclorun.” They educated youth on the truth about drugs in every town and city on their route.

Scientologists in Milan, Italy, held a “Say No to Drugs” soccer championship, and Scientologists from Padua carried out a bicycle tour through Cadoneghe, Noventa Padovana, Arquà Petrarca, Abano Terme, Montegrotto Terme and Battaglia Terme.

In New York, the Church of Scientology hosted the fifth annual Drug-Free Heroes Awards Ceremony.

In preparation for June 26, at a conference in Tennessee, Scientologists made drug education materials available to judges, court administrators, law enforcement officers, social workers, and treatment providers who deal with the backwash of drug abuse in state adult felony drug courts, DUI courts and juvenile drug courts.

As part of the International Faith-Based Coalition, the Church of Scientology of Sacramento helped bring the drug-free message to Oak Park, California, a community notorious for drug trafficking. At their press conference, religious leaders declared June 26 an “Oak Park drug-free day.”

In researching the destructive effects of drugs, Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard wrote, “The planet has hit a barrier which prevents any widespread social progress—drugs and other biochemical substances. These can put people into a condition which not only prohibits and destroys physical health but which can prevent any stable advancement in mental or spiritual well-being.”

Scientologists live drug-free lives and work throughout the year to prevent drug abuse and addiction. Since last year’s UN Day against Drugs and Illicit Trafficking, Scientologists have distributed some 3.4 million copies of drug education booklets and organized, sponsored and participated in more than 3,000 drug prevention activities in their communities.

To learn more about the drug prevention initiative sponsored by the Church of Scientology or to participate, visit the Scientology website .

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The Church of Scientology sponsors the world's largest nongovernmental drug education and prevention campaign. It has been conclusively proven that when young people are provided with the truth about drugs—factual information on what drugs are and what they do—usage rates drop commensurately.


^{I like to help others and count it as my greatest pleasure in life to see a person free himself of the shadows which darken his days.— Scientology Founder, L. Ron Hubbard}