Helping Reverse Drug Abuse in Taiwan Before it Begins

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.

As a result of this trend, youth are on average, becoming addicted to drugs at younger and younger ages, with cases of drug abuse reported among children as young as 9.

Using the Truth About Drugs program, Church of Scientology Missions throughout Taiwan are working with school administrators and educators to proof up children and teens up against this onslaught. The booklets and videos communicate the facts about drugs to youth, enabling them to make their own decisions to remain drug-free.

Scientologists who volunteer with the Truth About Drugs initiative bring drug education directly into the classroom. They have provided drug education lectures to hundreds of thousands of children and teens in more than 700 schools.

Truth About Drugs public service announcements, designed to dispel the most common pro-drug myths, have played on 60 television stations reaching millions of viewers, and more than 600,000 Truth About Drugs booklets have been distributed.

The work has not gone unnoticed. In recognition of the dedication of these volunteers, the Taiwan Ministry of Interior has recognized the Church of Scientology with its Religious Excellence Award.

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 learn more or read a copy of the brochure, visit the Scientology website at 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.