Scientology Churches turn World Health Day April 7 into a week of
activities to counter drug abuse, working with civic, community and religious
leaders to create a groundswell of community support for drug prevention and
education.
With the World Health Organization reporting 3.3 million
alcohol-related deaths each year, 15.3 million people addicted to drugs, and
120 countries suffering from HIV caused by injected drug use, Scientologists are
marking World Health Day with an entire week of activities April 7-14 to rally
their communities to counter drug abuse.
“Our goal is a drug-free world,” said Fabio Amicarelli, coordinator of the social reform activities of the Church of
Scientology International. “Drug abuse is so pervasive in our world, it is only
by community groups working together at a grassroots level that we can handle
the epidemic. But more than 25 years of experience has proven to us that we
save lives every time we reach out to youth with factual information about
drugs.”
While Scientologists are active in drug education throughout the
year, on World Health Day in April and the International Day Against Drug Abuse
and Illicit Trafficking in June, they pull out all stops, organizing open
houses, drug education seminars, conferences, and workshops featuring
educators, law enforcement officers and community leaders—the leading
proponents of drug prevention in their zones.
This week’s programs include training in the Truth About Drugs
initiative, with materials based on nearly three decades of hands-on work helping
youth understand the consequences of using
the most commonly abused substances. Study of these materials helps
young people make their own firm, self-determined decisions to live drug-free.
An overview of the week’s activities include a conference at the Church of Scientology of Johannesburg, where Bishop Ogbu of Impact Africa Network spoke of the role of
churches in fighting drugs. The World Health Day program in Pretoria, South
Africa, concentrated on the relationship between drugs and crime.
The Nashville Church of Scientology
held a forum with community police representatives, and local non-profit groups
who work with children to plan a series of events to address the drug problem
in surrounding communities.
The Founding Church of Scientology in Washington, D.C. held a drug
prevention open house, and the Church of Scientology of Buffalo, New York, held
a community-based forum, where a racecar driver explained why he promotes the
Truth About Drugs program through his racing.
The National Director of MAD DADS (Men
Against Destruction, Defending Against Drugs and Social-disorder) was the guest
speaker and the World Health Day Open House at the Church of Scientology of
Twin Cities, Minnesota.
In Denver, Colorado, the keynote speaker was an officer of the Rocky Mountain HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas)—a
program created by U.S. Congress to provide help in critical drug-trafficking
regions in the U.S. He gave an overview of the impact the state’s legalization
of marijuana has had on Colorado and beyond.
At the Church of Scientology of Los Angeles, a retired deputy
sheriff, a specialist on the subject of synthetic drugs, gave an in-depth
presentation on these substances, their effects, and how dealers skirt the law
by creating new versions of drugs through minor chemical alterations that make
them no longer “technically” illegal.
Those attending the forum at the Church of Scientology of Pasadena
were briefed on proposed anti-drug legislation.
In Phoenix, the highlight was the personal story of a woman who
described her teen years separated from her incarcerated heroin-addicted mother
and how she and her mother have turned their family’s tragedy into a program to
help others.
In Seattle and New York representatives of the police departments
spoke of the results they have seen from the use of the Truth About Drugs
Program.
The Scientology Organization of Mexico presented a “Colloquium on the Problem and Solution to Drugs in Mexico”
attended by local and national law enforcement agencies who have adopted the
program. It included a presentation on the results of having trained more than
2,000 policemen on the Truth About Drugs program and the use the officers have
made of these materials in their work in the community.
There were also open house events, conferences and community round
tables in Canada, Italy and Russia, with additional programs planned for the
coming days in Taiwan, Australia and Israel.
The Church of Scientology supports The Truth About Drugs drug
education and prevention initiative.
Inspired by the words of L. Ron Hubbard, Founder of the
Scientology religion, that “a being is only as valuable as he can serve others,”
Scientologists wholeheartedly support these programs. Participation and
collaboration in these initiatives is invited and welcomed from all who seek to
improve conditions for themselves and others.
For more information, visit the Scientology website at www.Scientology.org/how-we-help/voice-for-humanity.
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