Church of Scientology Combats Drug Abuse

Online, November 25, 2012 (Newswire.com) - This week, the Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization and the Church of Scientology Tampa announced that they have joined in the worldwide launch of the next phase of the Church's 25-year-long campaign to combat drug abuse through their local distribution of a new publication, "Scientology: How We Help - The Truth About Drugs, Creating a Drug-Free World". The Church supports the "Foundation for a Drug-Free World" and their "Truth About Drugs" campaign.

Internationally, Foundation volunteers have distributed some 7.5 million "Truth About Drugs" booklets in the last 12 months alone, with the "Truth About Drugs" curriculum adopted by schools, youth groups and law enforcement programs in more than 80 nations, helping an estimated 10.5 million youth with factual information to live drug-free lives.

In Florida, more than 250,000 of the educational booklets have been distributed by volunteers while many youth agencies, schools and law enforcement personnel utilize the drug prevention programs. Still more are distributed by more than 100 businesses in the Tampa Bay area.

Clearwater, Florida's Julieta Gil Santagostino, leads a corps of more than 30 "Foundation for a Drug-Free World" volunteers who dedicate thousands of hours annually to the cause of fighting drug abuse. Julieta knows the importance of reaching kids before the drug dealers do. She grew up on the Mexican border city of Juarez, where drug cartels have terrorized residents for years and warfare over drug-trafficking routes has killed thousands.

"I saw what drugs did to Juarez," she says, "and I knew that was not something I wanted for anyone. I wanted to create a safe community in which children could grow up, and I want Tampa Bay to be that safe place."

Described by law enforcement officers, educators and community leaders as "astonishingly effective," "outstanding," and "the answer to the global epidemic," all components of the program are geared to interest and engage children and teens.

"Our Founder, L. Ron Hubbard, spoke out about the problems of drugs and drug abuse from the inception of Scientology," says Pat Harney, spokesperson for the Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization. "The Church has carried forward his message and has been dedicated to solving the problem of drug abuse for decades, drawing on its experience to create this program."

The Church publishes "Truth About Drugs" booklets, banners, posters, information packets and educator kits for the "Foundation for a Drug-Free World" making them available free of charge to health educators, law enforcement officers and other drug prevention specialists. For more information on this anti-drug initiative supported by the Church of Scientology or to read a copy of the brochure, visit the Scientology website.