Scientology: How We Help—Mobilizing Against Drugs in St. Petersburg, Russia
Volunteers from the Church of Scientology of St. Petersburg bring the truth about drugs to the youth of the city.
Each month, Truth About Drugs volunteers of the Church of Scientology of St. Petersburg conduct lectures in schools, hold scores of street events and distribute thousands of booklets and flyers to reach the youth of their city with factual information about drugs.
Their purpose: To reverse alarming drug trends in the country, where more than 100,000 people ages 15-35 died of drug abuse in 2011 and an estimated 1.8 million users inject drugs. As the majority of drug addicts are 16 ̵ 30 years old, the volunteers tailor their message to reach as many youth as possible.
To change attitudes about drugs, they work with sports teams and other groups that share their passion for a drug-free St. Petersburg.
A recent Truth About Drugs event created an indelible impression on thousands of people at Galereya Trading Center in the heart of St. Petersburg. The volunteers staged a flash mob, dancing to the music of Men In Black. Twenty-nine young men and women performed, while the announcer called out the names of famous musicians and actors who have died of drug abuse. Other volunteers passed out The Truth About Drugs booklets and placed hundreds of copies in nearby shops.
The Church of Scientology has published Scientology: How We Help—The Truth About Drugs, Creating a Drug-Free World, a brochure to meet requests for more information about the drug education and prevention initiative it supports. To learn more or to read a copy of the brochure, visit www.Scientology.org/antidrug.
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.