Scientology Churches in France Against Drug Abuse and Addiction

Published May 14, 2010

Scientology churches take effective action to ban drug abuse from their cities, and help youth decide to Say No to Drugs.

Every week, Scientology churches and missions in cities around France organize drug-education and prevention activities. Targeting drug abuse and addiction, Scientologists in Paris, Marseilles, Angers, Clermont, Bordeaux, Lyon, Nice and Avignon hand out thousands of drug prevention booklets to helping the youth of their cities “Say No to Drugs.”

One recent weekend saw Scientology volunteers descend on the Place La Fontaine des Innocents in Paris, as well known these days for its cannabis dealers as for the 16th century fountain that gave it its name.

The owners of a nearby restaurant, who want to see an end to the drug trafficking in their neighborhood, helped the Scientologists set up their anti-drug headquarters in a corner of their establishment, where they could store their booklets and DVDs and dash inside when the city’s famous spring showers threatened. It addition to handing out thousands or booklets, the team dropped in on 25 local shopkeepers, giving them sets of booklets so anyone could pick up copies.

Also teachers came to the booth to get booklets for the children at their schools and several medical doctors took copies to set out in their waiting rooms.

Some of the youth who came looking for drugs, left with a booklet instead. In fact, the only complaints came from dealers and their would-be clientele, annoyed that someone would interfere, and intimidated by the local police who stood by to make sure the volunteers were safe.

Pointing to some of the kids who were reading the booklets, one of gendarmes thanked the Scientologists, saying this information will help them avoid the tragedy of addiction.

Scientology volunteers also converged on Aulnay sous Bois, the Paris suburb where riots broke out in 2005. The Scientologists handed out 2000 Truth about Drugs booklets to shoppers, shopkeepers, parents and teens.

Scientology volunteers chose a football match to spread the anti-drug message to the youth of Marseilles. Huge signs and banners made it clear that their two tents were dedicated to facts about drugs. One Scientologist delivered four drug-prevention lectures to dozens of children and teenagers. Throughout the day the volunteers played anti-drug public service announcements –a series of award-winning videos distributed by the Foundation for a Drug-Free World. These edgy 30- to 60-second films counter pro-drug hype and bring home to kids the harm drugs cause.

A group of firefighters came by and wanted everything the volunteers could give them to help kids stay off drugs. They invited the Scientologists to deliver a series of drug-prevention lectures in social centers in the suburbs.

Teachers, parents, school nurses, city and regional councilmen were among those who came by to get their own copies of the booklets and express their support and appreciation for what the volunteers were doing.

In Angers, the Scientology volunteers set up a booth in the center of town and distributed hundreds of booklets and Say NO to Drugs balloons.

It was a similar scene in Clermont, where every week, the Scientologists set up a booth at the Sunday morning market. Banners announced that here is where people could find the truth about drugs. A nurse from a local college came by for a drug prevention kit, a social worker, a college director, and a drug counselor picked up their own sets of materials.

In Bordeaux, the Scientology team distributed hundreds of booklets at a booth in the city’s most prominent walking street. And Scientologists from Avignon, Nice and Lyon handed out booklets as well.

The Scientology Handbook, based on the works of Scientology founder, L. Ron Hubbard, states: “To say that drugs have become the major affliction of society is not stating the situation too strongly. No sector of life is untouched by this epidemic. Crime and violence are the most obvious byproducts, but amorality, aborted educations and, indeed, ruined lives are no less serious and just as widespread.”

Scientologists are so committed to helping youth live drug-free lives. For more information on the Scientology religion and the scope of their anti-drug program, and to watch the anti-drug public service announcements visit the Scientology web site.

Linda Wieland writes for the Scientology Press Office in Los Angeles, CA.

Scientology Churches in France Against Drug Abuse and Addiction

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