Church of Scientology: Drug-Free Marshals Promote Red Ribbon Anti-Drug Week

The Drug-Free Marshals from the Church of Scientology Los Angeles pledged in hundreds of youth last Saturday to live a drug-free life in honor of the 21st celebration of Red Ribbon Week commemorating DEA (Drug Enforcement Agent) Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena.

Camarena was an 11-year DEA agent working under cover in Mexico on the way to breaking up a multi-billion-drug pipeline but in 1985 he was caught, tortured and murdered by Mexican drug traffickers. His death was an eye opener to the danger of drugs and the widespread dangers of the drug trade. In 1988, President Reagan and Mrs. Reagan along with the National Family Partnership coordinated the first National Red Ribbon Week.

The new Drug-Free Marshal’s and their parents armed themselves with The Truth About Drugs booklets, which educate by telling what harm drugs actually do. The booklets are published by The Foundation for a Drug-Free World along with 12 other booklets that inform on the most commonly used drugs, i.e. marijuana, alcohol, heroin, crystal meth, prescription drugs, inhalants and painkillers. Thousand of these were given out to youth and parents so they could learn the dangers of these drugs.

“We need to educate our children regarding drug and alcohol abuse. Drugs are a large part of our children’s lives from school, television, or movies so if we don’t tell them the truth, you can be sure that the drug-dealers are selling them their lies. By early intervention we can prevent drug abuse, which also leads to violence,” said Edie Reuveni, President of the Church of Scientology Los Angeles. “Studies show a direct link between youth involvement in drugs and gang violence. As humanitarian, L. Ron Hubbard said ‘When children become unimportant to a society, that society has forfeited its future’ so unless we educate them and take responsibility for them we all lose.”

The Drug-Free Marshal’s program, sponsored by the Church, was started in Los Angeles in 1993. Since that time more than 5 million youth worldwide have pledged to be drug-free and to help family and friends do likewise.

For more information about Drug-Free Marshals visit www.drugfreemarshals.org or call 323-953-3200.

^{Happiness and strength endure only in the absence of hate. To hate alone is the road to disaster. To love is the road to strength. To love in spite of all is the secret of greatness. And may very well be the greatest secret in this universe.~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology relgion}

The Truth About Drugs

Global drug abuse has led to what can inarguably be described as a world awash in blood and human misery. In reply, the Church of Scientology sponsors the largest non- governmental anti-drug information and prevention campaign on Earth.

Global drug abuse has led to what can inarguably be described as a world awash in blood and human misery.

In reply, the Church of Scientology sponsors the largest non-governmental anti-drug information and prevention campaign on Earth.

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 commensurately drop. By statistical survey, it has thus far prevented some 500,000 young people from recreational drug use… or worse.

There is still, however, much more to be done. Thus, the Church of Scientology offers its publications (which neither contain nor advocate any Scientology beliefs) to like-minded anti-drug coalitions, government institutions, civic groups and schools. This includes:

The Truth About Drugs series of 13 educational booklets—covering the major "drugs of choice" and presented in a way to educate on the serious ramifications of their abuse.

A study guide, activities manual and educator's classroom kit give teachers, law enforcement and community groups effective tools to educate youth and enable them to make correct decisions on this subject.

And a new series of documentary videos, totaling one and a half hours in length, to accompany and complement The Truth About Drugs series of booklets, with an individual chapter for every "drug of choice."

Overview of results:

• More than 700 million people have been reached with The Truth About Drugs message, 491 million people in the last 12 months alone, through print, TV, radio, billboards, hand distribution of The Truth About Drugs booklets and the Foundation for a Drug-Free World Internet site (www.drugfreeworld.org).
• Over 206 million people have viewed the Truth About Drugs Public Service Announcements in the last 12 months.
• Just over 23 million The Truth About Drugs booklets have been distributed in 20 languages to at-risk youth and in drug hot spots throughout the world—3.6 million in the last 12 months.
• Drug-Free Marshals have promoted to nearly 3.4 million children to live drug-free lives through their events and Drug-Free Pledge signings internationally.
• Over 450,000 information mailings have been sent to groups and organizations concerned with the global drug problem, inviting them to order publications and implement the Truth About Drugs Education Program.
• Over 350,000 people have visited the Drug-Free World Internet site in the last year and ordered more than 718,000 booklets.
• The international Truth About Drugs campaign is active in 79 countries from Argentina to Zimbabwe, with 166 drug prevention groups in 130 cities worldwide.
• Foundation for a Drug-Free World has partnered with 78 governmental, law enforcement and educational agencies and institutions internationally.

^{Happiness and strength endure only in the absence of hate. To hate alone is the road to disaster. To love is the road to strength. To love in spite of all is the secret of greatness. And may very well be the greatest secret in this universe.~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology relgion}