Tag Archives: International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

Scientology Churches and Scientologists Proud to Support Drug Prevention Across the Globe

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Active in drug education and prevention throughout the year, Scientology Churches and Scientologists go all out in support of the UN's International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

As they do each year, Scientology Churches marked this day by organizing conferences and training programs where they introduced officials and other concerned community leaders to Foundation for a Drug-Free World's educational materials, provided training, and coordinated actions to reach youth with effective, fact-based drug education before they become trapped in addiction.

Whether by setting up information booths in busy walking streets, organizing drug-free bike rallies and soccer tournaments, or completing a grueling 10-day 1,200-kilometers (745-mile) bicycle circuit through the Czech Republic, Scientologists pour their heart and soul into forwarding the message of the UN's annual World Drug Day campaign.

They provide drug education lectures in schools and pull out all stops to bring concerned individuals and organizations on board to greatly expand the number of youths reached with the truth about drugs.

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, "Prevention strategies based on scientific evidence working with families, schools, and communities can ensure that children and youth, especially the most marginalized and poor, grow and stay healthy and safe into adulthood and old age. For every dollar spent on prevention, at least ten can be saved in future health, social and crime costs."

Noting the role substance abuse plays in the disintegration of the social fabric, Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard wrote, "Research has demonstrated that the single most destructive element present in our current culture is drugs."

In the conviction that effective, fact-based drug education can help youth avoid the tragedy of drug abuse and its deadly consequences, the Church of Scientology sponsors Foundation for a Drug-Free World, the world's largest nongovernmental drug information and prevention campaign.

Foundation for a Drug-Free World was formed in 2006 to distribute educational materials and to develop new materials to meet the challenge of continually changing drug trends. The Foundation has grown to a network of some 200 chapters around the world. The Foundation provides the Truth About Drugs secular program and materials free of charge to drug educators worldwide.

"As long as people think drugs are a matter of personal freedom and don't see the harm in them, they are willing to try them," says Vlastimil Špalek, chairman of Drug-Free World Czech Republic who is featured in an episode of "Voices for Humanity" on the Scientology Network. "And once they start using, they're soon addicted. It is not good enough just to tell young people not to get involved with drugs. You have to give them a way to get the facts themselves, come to their own conclusions, and make their own decisions about whether or not to get involved."

Anyone wishing to see just how simple and effective it is to adopt the Foundation's drug education and prevention campaign is invited to watch episodes of "Voices for Humanity," a Scientology Network original series of short documentaries introducing changemakers from all faiths, cultures and nations as they extend help to their communities through Scientology-sponsored humanitarian programs.

Since launching with a special episode featuring Scientology ecclesiastical leader Mr. David Miscavige, Scientology Network has been viewed in 240 countries and territories worldwide in 17 languages. Broadcast from Scientology Media Productions, the Church's global media center in Los Angeles, the Scientology Network is available on DIRECTV Channel 320 and can be streamed at Scientology.tv, on mobile apps and via the Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV platforms.

LEARN MORE:

https://www.scientology.tv/series/voices-for-humanity/

https://www.scientologynews.org/press-releases/

https://www.drugfreeworld.org

MULTIMEDIA:

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/feYDc1T0GqM

Active in drug education and prevention throughout the year, Scientology Churches and Scientologists go all out in support of the UN's International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

Related link: https://www.scientology.org/

Church of Scientology Helps Nonprofit Strike Out Against Drugs

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- In the heart of Hollywood, the Church of Scientology Los Angeles joined forces with local nonprofit Strike Out Against Drugs in a musical tribute to drug-free living.

Visitors to the Hollywood Walk of Fame on International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking were treated to a different kind of rock concert this year. On a stage just outside the Scientology Public Information Center on Hollywood Boulevard, the nonprofit Strike Out Against Drugs organized the concert. And the message of those performing was: Learn the truth about drugs. Because knowing about something that can hurt you is half the battle of being able to defeat it.

Strike Out Against Drugs founder David Sanchez knows what he's talking about when he speaks about the importance of drug education. Introduced to marijuana by a neighbor at the age of 9, he soon progressed to heroin and crystal meth, and from there to a life of crime. By the time he was 18 he was serving time in jail and ended up doing so for a total of 22 years.

When he finally got himself off drugs in 2012, he opened a sober living facility called Beacon of Hope to help former addicts transition to a drug-free, crime-free life.

He and most of the men in his facility started on drugs when they were kids, which is why he is so passionate about reaching kids before they become statistics.

"I had to find an organization that was like-minded, that had the will and the want to get out there and make a change in the community," Sanchez says in an episode of "Voices for Humanity" on the Scientology Network. "Drug-Free World has the facts about drugs, the truth about drugs."

Learning that the Church of Scientology Los Angeles is active with the program locally, he visited the Church and they provided him with all the materials and assistance he needed to get his drug prevention program off the ground.

Sanchez delivers drug education in local schools. And he brings former addicts with him to talk to kids about what drugs are and what they do. "We are real people telling our real stories," he says. And he finds the Foundation for a Drug-Free World's youth-friendly materials get through to kids that the smartest thing they can do is to make the firm decision not to experiment with drugs.

To make his initiative available to anyone, anywhere in and around Los Angeles, Sanchez bought and refurbished a minibus, turning it into a mobile drug prevention theater where he shows the Foundation for a Drug-Free World public service announcements and "Truth About Drugs: Real People, Real Stories" documentary. He parks the bus at events, festivals-anywhere people gather.

To date, David Sanchez has reached over 1.5 million people with its anti-drug message and has changed the lives of countless kids.

"If I can keep one person, one kid, from having that type of lifestyle," says Sanchez, "then I've done my job, and I'm very proud to be able to do that."

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, "Prevention strategies based on scientific evidence working with families, schools, and communities can ensure that children and youth, especially the most marginalized and poor, grow and stay healthy and safe into adulthood and old age. For every dollar spent on prevention, at least ten can be saved in future health, social and crime costs."

Noting the role substance abuse plays in the disintegration of the social fabric, Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard wrote, "Research has demonstrated that the single most destructive element present in our current culture is drugs."

Foundation for a Drug-Free World was formed in 2006 to serve as the primary distributor of educational materials and to develop new materials to meet the challenge of continually changing drug trends. The Foundation has grown to a network of some 200 chapters around the world. Thanks to the support of the Church of Scientology and Scientologists, it provides the Truth About Drugs secular program and materials free of charge to drug educators worldwide.

Voices for Humanity is a Scientology Network original series of short documentaries introducing changemakers from all faiths, cultures and nations as they extend help to their communities through Scientology-sponsored humanitarian programs.

Since launching with a special episode featuring Scientology ecclesiastical leader Mr. David Miscavige, Scientology Network has been viewed in 240 countries and territories worldwide in 17 languages. Broadcast from Scientology Media Productions, the Church's global media center in Los Angeles, the Scientology Network is available on DIRECTV Channel 320 and can be streamed at Scientology.tv, on mobile apps and via the Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV platforms.

LEARN MORE:

https://www.scientology.tv/series/voices-for-humanity/david-sanchez.html

https://www.scientologynews.org/press-releases/

MULTIMEDIA:

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/95biwRmra1k

In the heart of Hollywood, the Church of Scientology Los Angeles joined forces with local nonprofit Strike Out Against Drugs in a musical tribute to drug-free living. Visitors to the Hollywood Walk of Fame on International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking were treated to a different kind of rock concert this year.

Related link: https://www.scientology.org/

5 Actions That Can Save Lives from Drug Overdose

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Scientology Churches provide tools anyone can use to help in the face of the drug overdose crisis. In honor of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, learn and use these tools and help turn the tide on the drug overdose crisis.

There are five simple things anyone can do to take effective action against overdose deaths.

Parents, educators, community leaders and individuals - using these resources - can save lives.

Take these simple steps:

* Understand how drugs work and what they do by reading the Truth About Drugs booklets available through the website of Foundation for a Drug-Free World.

* Attend the Foundation's International Day Against Drugs Online Conference.

* Enroll on free online drug education courses on the Foundation's website. See how easy it is to learn the truth about drugs. Educate yourself and use this information to feel confident about speaking to others on this vital subject.

* Make the decision to use what you've learned to help your family, friends and community as a drug prevention volunteer.

* Order your drug prevention materials. They will be shipped to you free of charge.

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, "Prevention strategies based on scientific evidence working with families, schools, and communities can ensure that children and youth, especially the most marginalized and poor, grow and stay healthy and safe into adulthood and old age. For every dollar spent on prevention, at least ten can be saved in future health, social and crime costs."

Using the resources from Foundation for a Drug-Free World, volunteers in countries across the globe are reaching their communities with this vital information. See how effective this initiative is by watching episodes of Voices for Humanity on the Scientology Network.

Scientology Churches are marking International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking with programs to bring these drug-prevention tools to their communities. They will also provide free training in the use of the Truth About Drugs materials and will assist you in any way they can to help you succeed in this vital endeavor. Contact your nearest Scientology Church for details.

Noting the role substance abuse plays in the disintegration of the social fabric, Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard wrote, "Research has demonstrated that the single most destructive element present in our current culture is drugs."

Foundation for a Drug-Free World was formed in 2006 to serve as the primary distributor of educational materials and to develop new materials to meet the challenge of continually changing drug trends. The Foundation has grown to a network of some 200 chapters around the world. Thanks to the support of the Church of Scientology and Scientologists, it provides the Truth About Drugs secular program and materials free of charge to drug educators worldwide.

LEARN MORE:

https://www.scientology.tv/series/voices-for-humanity/

https://www.scientologynews.org/press-releases/

MULTIMEDIA:

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/D-HYTlUZc0o

Scientology Churches provide tools anyone can use to help in the face of the drug overdose crisis. In honor of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, learn and use these tools and help turn the tide on the drug overdose crisis.

Related link: https://www.scientology.org/

Why the Church of Scientology and Scientologists Support Drug Prevention

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- This weekend on International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, and throughout the year, the Church of Scientology International and Scientologists help youth make the self-determined decision to live drug-free. Why? Because drug prevention works. And it saves young lives.

After a year marked by soaring drug overdose and drug-related violent crime, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime chose a theme for International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, June 26, that resonates with Scientologists who live the motto throughout the year-Share Facts on Drugs: Save Lives.

Scientology Churches provide drug education specialist training, sponsor chapters of Foundation for a Drug-Free World, and work with local educators, police, churches and nonprofits to reach youth on this vital subject.

One teacher who uses the program shared why he recommends the Foundation for a Drug-Free World's Truth About Drugs program to anyone wishing to help kids on this urgent subject. "Exposure to this program could be the one thing that prevents them from traveling the road to addiction."

Another, who has used Drug-Free World materials as part of her curriculum for years, describes them as "a powerful tool to inform students and teachers of the dangers of drug use and abuse."

A police officer told the Foundation, "I teach a course on street drugs and drug-free education as part of my law enforcement/criminal justice program to high school juniors and seniors," and he wants to spread the word and to be listed as a Drug-Free World chapter.

On the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking campaign website, the UN "invites everyone to do their part, by taking a firm stance against misinformation and unreliable sources; while committing to sharing only the real science-backed data on drugs and save lives."

The award-winning Truth About Drugs initiative:

* Is available in 26 languages in 96 countries.

* Its public service announcements and The Truth About Drugs-Real People, Real Stories documentary air on 850 TV stations.

* More than 135,000 people have completed the free online drug education eCourse on the Foundation for a Drug-Free World website at www.drugfreeworld.org.

* The Foundation has reached some 13 million students through more than 30,000 schools, institutions and groups that use the Truth About Drugs curriculum.

To make these materials available to anyone wishing to tackle the drug crisis, the Church of Scientology International Dissemination and Distribution Center in Los Angeles, California, produces and ships out Truth About Drugs booklets, DVDs and education packages free of charge to parents, educators, law enforcement, community groups and nonprofits.

In honor of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the Scientology Network featured a full day of drug prevention films and documentaries. Scientology Churches held drug prevention open houses. And Scientologists, working with drug-prevention advocates in their communities, took part in rallies and set up drug information stands to make this vital information broadly available.

The Founder of the Scientology religion is L. Ron Hubbard and Mr. David Miscavige is the religion's ecclesiastical leader.

For more information, visit the Scientology Network or the Scientology Newsroom: https://www.scientologynews.org/press-releases/

*PHOTO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/21-0628s2p-cos-prev-300dpi.jpg

*Caption: Churches of Scientology and Scientologists support Foundation for a Drug-Free World and promote drug education and prevention in their communities throughout the year.

This weekend on International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, and throughout the year, the Church of Scientology International and Scientologists help youth make the self-determined decision to live drug-free. Why? Because drug prevention works. And it saves young lives.

Related link: https://www.scientology.org/