Kern County Kids Learn the Truth About Drugs
In October 2013, Kern County volunteers from the Church of Scientology helped youngsters decide to live drug-free lives.
Randsburg is a quiet little town in Kern County, at the southern end of California’s Central Valley. The town sprang up and thrived for a few years after gold was discovered nearby in 1895. Tourists seeking a glimpse of the “Old West” visit the Randsburg general store, ice cream parlor and the old jail and browse through the mining museum, local antique shops and art galleries.
It seems untouched by the passage of time.
But concealed in shacks and garages in the nearby desert is one of the most destructive elements of the 21st century: meth factories. According to the National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC) National Drug Threat Survey (NDTS) of 2010, “Ice methamphetamine production and abuse pose the greatest drug threats in the Central Valley….” And 22 of the 28 Central Valley law enforcement officers surveyed see meth as the drug that poses the greatest danger in their jurisdiction.
To protect youth from the disastrous effects of abusing this and other drugs, in October a team of Scientologists decided to bring the truth about drugs to local youth and tourists.
They distributed copies of The Truth About Drugs, a booklet that helps young people understand what drugs are and how they affect the user. The booklet provides former addicts’ personal perspectives on each of the substances covered. The chapter on meth quotes a young man named Brad: “I tried it (crystal meth) and BOOM! I was addicted,” he says.
The volunteers also handed out anti-drug cartoons for kids to color and invited them to sign a pledge to live drug-free lives.
Scientologists on five continents work in their communities throughout the year to empower others with the truth about drugs. The Church and its members are dedicated to eradicating drug abuse through education.
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.
The Church of Scientology supports The Truth About Drugs initiative, one of the world’s largest nongovernmental drug education and prevention campaigns.
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 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.”