Church of Scientology Helps Halfway House Restore Faith and Self-Respect

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.

“Most halfway house residents are striving to improve,” says Rev. Benson, “but many don’t make it. Drug reversion and recidivism runs around 70 percent in L.A. County. I believe education and faith are their only hope, and it takes education to build faith in yourself and self-esteem.”

With many of the residents of the halfway house struggling with drug-abuse issues, Rev. Benson searched for an effective program. He learned of the Truth About Drugs from Eden Stein, President of the Church of Scientology Pasadena, and received drug education training using the curriculum.

“Friday mornings are Truth About Drugs class,” says Rev. Benson. “The classes are lively, with residents discussing their own circumstances. We come together to learn about drugs and alcohol and their effect on the mind, body and soul. Residents love the class, and I am so happy to be able to offer it to them.”

“As we improve their self-respect and help them get back on their feet—find a job, even a career—they come alive and start to make a life for themselves. It begins by facing up to the truth and acting on the truth. We all know that the truth will set you free, and an important part of that is the truth about drugs.”

The Church of Scientology has published a new 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 read a copy of the brochure or to learn more about the drug education program the Church of Scientology supports, visit the Scientology website at 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 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.