Taiwanese Scientologists Reach Out to Youth on Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

Determined to counter drug abuse in their country, members of the Church of Scientology Missions of Kaohsiung and Taichung promoted drug-free living on United Nations International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

Volunteers of the Church of Scientology Missions of Kaohsiung and Taichung marked United Nations International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking with activities aimed at countering drug abuse by helping youth learn the truth about drugs.

The motto of this year’s United Nations International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is “Make health your ‘new high’ in life, not drugs,” and Taiwanese Scientologists were eager to spread this message, particularly after a recent Taiwan Food and Drug Administration survey reported use of the club drug ketamine having escalated by a factor of 45 times since 2002. Dealers often sell ketamine and other controlled substances at bars and karaoke clubs that are especially popular during the summer, so the timing of this drug prevention event was critical.

In Taichung, volunteers also arranged the showing of Truth About Drugs public service announcements and distribution of some 5,000 copies of The Truth About Drugs educational booklet for students at eight elementary schools that day.

The Church of Scientology has published a brochure, Scientology: How We Help—The Truth About Drugs, Creating a Drug-Free World, to meet requests for more information about the drug education and prevention initiative it supports. To learn more or read a copy of the brochure, visit the Scientology website.

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.”

The Church of Scientology supports the Truth About Drugs, one of the world’s largest nongovernmental drug education and prevention campaigns. 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.