PRESS RELEASES
Church of Scientology Activities
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE •
With Tennessee’s drug abuse problem at a crisis stage, Scientologist Julie Brinker is ramping up a grassroots movement to stem drug abuse before it begins
Tennessee is facing a crisis—drug abuse.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA •
Scientologist and dentist Joel Benk is a drug prevention activist helping to curb soaring prescription drug abuse by making the Truth About Drugs available to colleagues, educators and law enforcement professionals
It was no surprise to Dr. Joel Benk, DDS, that the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy is calling prescription drug abuse “the nation's fastest-growing drug problem.”
TAMPA BAY, FLORIDA •
Scientologist Maxine Chapman became a drug prevention activist after The Truth About Drugs gave her daughter the tools to help a friend
TAMPA BAY, FLORIDA •
Scientologist Julieta Gil Santagostino and 30 volunteers work year-round to educate Tampa Bay teens about the horrors of prescription drug addiction
With teen prescription drug abuse reaching crisis levels in the Tampa Bay Area, volunteers from local Scientology Churches have now expanded their community outreach through the Truth About Drugs program.
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS, CALIFORNIA •
Launching a drug-free holiday season, volunteers from Scientology Churches in greater Los Angeles brought the Truth About Drugs to the 12th annual Say No to Drugs Holiday Classic.
More than 3,000 athletes competed in the 12th annual Say No to Drugs Holiday Classic Race at Universal Studios last week and came home with a complimentary copy of The Truth About Drugs booklet in their gift bags.
FRANCE •
For more than 20 years, Scientologists have spearheaded drug education and prevention in France
Last week, thousands of fans attending a techno concert in Marseilles came away with something they would never expect to get there—a lesson in the dangers of drug abuse.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA •
This year, giving the Truth About Drugs to children and teens could be the best gift ever
As parents prepare for the holidays this year, offering the truth about drugs to the children, teens, and young adults in their family could be that gift that keeps on giving year-round and in the years to come.
The holidays are a time of joy—but not for those addicted to drugs as it tears apart families and friendships.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA •
With a recent survey by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA Columbia) showing 44 percent of high school students say drugs are sold at their schools, public service announcements of Scientology-supported drug education and prevention campaign take on even greater relevance.
LOS ANGELES •
With 10 percent of teens surveyed admitting they abuse over the counter medications, the Truth About Drugs program, supported by the Church of Scientology, offers hope to stem problem
EUROPE •
With recent European financial cutbacks threatening to impact drug prevention in Europe, Scientologists found a creative way to effectively draw attention to the dangers of abuse
To promote drug education, Scientologists from France and Belgium joined forces in June 2012 in a transnational bicycle race in observance of the United Nations International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA •
Rev. Nicholas Benson uses the Truth About Drugs to help “shadow people” recover from the slavery of addiction.
Residents of a halfway house in Pasadena, California, are making important strides toward recovery, thanks to Rev. Nicholas Benson and the Truth About Drugs drug education and prevention initiative.
Rev. Benson, senior pastor of the Summit Evangelical Free Church and President of the Ministerial Association of Pasadena and Altadena, took on managing a local halfway house nine years ago.
TEL AVIV, ISRAEL •
The Center of Scientology of Israel spotlights drug prevention as an urgent priority
The Center of Scientology of Israel held an event on United Nations Universal Children’s Day where it released a new brochure, Scientology: How We Help, The Truth About Drug—Creating a Drug-Free World. City and national officials, community leaders and youth activists participated
TAIWAN •
With youth the target of Taiwan drug dealers, local Scientologists bring the Truth About Drugs educational initiative to schools throughout the country.
A review by the Ministry of Interior of Taiwan of illicit drug use points to “large-scale assaults by well-organized drug traders.” To develop their market, drug dealers have targeted the nation’s youth. “These perpetrators unceasingly induce youths into using drugs and eventually drug addiction by maintaining steady supply,” the analysis states.
JAPAN •
Concerns about rising drug use prompt Japanese Scientologists to double their drug education and prevention efforts
According to this year’s World Drug Report of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Japan has fewer drug users than most other countries.
But Japanese officials and national police are still concerned. In August, Naoto Takeuchi of Japan's National Police Agency expressed apprehension over “an alarming increase of drugs coming from North Korea” and how this could impact society.
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA •
The Church of Scientology celebrates the season with a four-foot gingerbread replica of the historic Fort Harrison
Clearwater, Florida, boasts one of Pinellas County’s largest gingerbread houses, now open for viewing at the historic Fort Harrison. A month in the making, the gingerbread house is a scale replica of the fully restored 1926 iconic hotel, now the Fort Harrison religious retreat, from the 10th floor terrace to the front portico.
LONDON, ENGLAND •
With world attention on London Olympics, Scientologist leverages spotlight to focus attention on narcotics fight by distributing one million anti-drug booklets
RUSSIA •
Scientologists promote drug-free living to help keep Russia’s next generation from falling into the trap of drug addiction
In a November 2012 interview, Viktor Ivanov, Head of Russia’s Federal Drug Control Service, said that more than 100,000 people aged 15-35 died of drug abuse in Russia in 2011. An estimated 1.8 million Russian users inject drugs—the highest of any nation in the world. According to a United Nations study, Russia has the world’s highest per capita heroin use. And the majority of drug addicts are 16-30 years old.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA •
With painkiller abuse at epidemic levels, Truth About Drugs targets audiences with blunt messages about dangers of prescription drugs
In November 2011, the Centers for Disease Control Director Thomas Frieden told media: “Overdoses involving prescription painkillers are at epidemic levels and now kill more Americans than heroin and cocaine combined.”
VENEZUELA •
Scientologists spread drug education and prevention throughout the country based on the Truth About Drugs, described in new publication released November 13 by Church of Scientology and Scientologists
The Venezuela drug scene has senior citizens worried. According to the World Health Organization, drug abuse in the country has escalating by 30 percent in the last 10 years, with reports of children as young as nine consuming narcotics.
WASHINGTON, DC •
Community workers in nation’s capital attend Truth About Drugs seminar at Church of Scientology National Affairs Office.
Religious leaders and directors of community betterment foundations immersed themselves in drug prevention training in November at the Church of Scientology National Affairs Office in the newly restored Fraser Mansion in Washington, D.C.