Church of Scientology Sponsors Red Ribbon Week Forum on Strategies to Reduce Drug Demand

Jesse Morrow, Social Reform Director of the Church of Scientology
National Affairs Office in Washington, D.C., introduces those attending
the first annual anti-drug forum of the Truth About Drugs.

Honoring Red Ribbon Week and its message of prevention and education, The Church of Scientology National Affairs Office in Washington, D.C. co-hosted the first annual anti-drug forum of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World on October 22.

Held in Chestnut Hall in the new National Affairs Office in Fraser Mansion at Dupont Circle, the forum focused on effective strategies to reduce the demand for illicit drugs. It was chaired by Jesse Morrow, Social Reform Director of the Church of Scientology National Affairs Office.

Red Ribbon week is a national drug prevention and education week, held in the last week of October each year to honor the memory of DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, who was tortured and killed in 1985 by drug traffickers while working undercover in Mexico.    October is also National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, as designated in 2011 by President Obama.

The panel featured John Redman, Executive Director of Californians for Drug-Free Youth (CADFY), the group that created the first statewide Red Ribbon Week Campaign in 1985; Peggy Sapp, President of the National Family Partnership (NFP), the organization that initiated the first national Red Ribbon Week and sponsors the campaign; Courtney Bennett, Community Organizer for Wards 5 & 6 of the DC Prevention Center; and Imani Walker, Executive Director of the Rebecca Project for Human Rights.

The consequences of drug abuse affect everyone at all levels of society, whether or not they or their friends or families are directly involved. For example, drug abuse kills more than 37,000 Americans each year, more than the number of annual traffic fatalities. Teen deaths from drugs doubled in the first decade of this century. This year, the National Drug Control Policy Office reported that illicit drug use in America contributed to $193 billion in crime, heath-related costs and lost productivity.

In his presentation, Redman pointed out that much of the public discourse on legalization misrepresents the issue. He debunked myths that promote drugs as harmless, showing they are far more potent now than in the 1960s and 1970s.

Bennet’s presentation concerned synthetic marijuana, far stronger and more dangerous than marijuana. She covered its accessibility, the alarming effects of its use and its increased popularity among D.C. youth.

“Any successful drug prevention endeavor must include factual drug education at its base to empower individuals with the knowledge to decide for themselves,” said Morrow, “Once they have that knowledge, they make the right choice.”

The Church of Scientology National Affairs Office, opened Sept 12, 2012, at Fraser Mansion at Dupont Circle, was established to promote solutions to society’s greatest challenges. The historic building is configured to host a wide range of functions, from human rights symposiums and drug education workshops to panel discussions, press conferences and awards ceremonies.

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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 sponsors 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.

 
^{A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights, are the aims of Scientology.~~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion}

Church of Scientology urges community counter-attack against drugs

Scientology churches urge young and old to help save lives on United Nations International Day against Drugs Abuse and Trafficking

The Church of Scientology International is directing its churches and missions in 165 countries to join forces with the United Nations on June 26th in raising awareness on drug abuse. The International Day against Drug Abuse and Trafficking is based on U.N. General Assembly resolution 42/112 passed in 1987 to strengthen action and cooperation in eliminating drug abuse.

Scientology officials are asking members, neighbors, youth groups, officials and community organizations to first educate themselves about drugs and then pass it on. Through its community anti-drug outreach program, the Church developed pocket-sized youth friendly educational booklets on commonly abused drugs, which have been published by Foundation for a Drug-Free World since 2006. With the help of Church volunteers and community alliances, millions of the booklets have been distributed since 1995.

“Ask any drug addict and he will tell you he never planned to become addicted and if had he really understood the consequences of drug abuse, he would never have tried drugs in the first place,” said Rev. Bob Adams Vice President of the Church of Scientology International.

Community action against drug abuse is also positive gain for civic leaders struggling with dwindling budgets for drug prevention programs. Once common drug prevention services from the DEA, FBI and even law enforcement programs like DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) are being shaved and in many areas cut entirely.

Staggering figures of disease and death from drug use have been around for years, but the specific harm to individuals, families and society in terms of crime, health costs and productivity losses are harder to find. According to the the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime, teens and young adults are particularly at risk, with drug use more than twice as high as that among the general population. The UNODC says that peer pressure to experiment and the fact that people taking drugs tend to be either misinformed or insufficiently aware of the health risks involved.

“Our community drug-education program has been in very heavy demand since its inception,” said Rev. Adams. “Widespread drug education is the most effective weapon in the war on drugs and doing it is saving lives.”

To obtain free drug education booklets contact your nearest Church of Scientology or write to info@drugfreeworld.org.

^{A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights, are the aims of Scientology.~~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion}