Tag: drug education

Foundation Urges Greater Support of Drug Education by OSCE
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At an OSCE conference July 10-11, Foundation for a Drug-Free Europe stressed the importance of drug education in addressing the drug crisis affecting Member States.

Press Release
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updated: Jul 17, 2017
Vienna, Austria, July 17, 2017 (Newswire.com)
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At a conference in Vienna organized by Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) July 10–11, Foundation for a Drug-Free Europe stressed that drug education is an essential element in any effective drug prevention strategy. Attended by executives and staff of ministries of interior and police of the 57 OSCE Members States, the conference was called Combating the Threats of Illicit Drugs and the Diversion of Chemical Precursors,“The Nexus Between Illicit Drugs, Organized Crime, and Terrorism.”

Representing Foundation for a Drug-Free Europe (FDFE), Dr. Christian Mirre spoke to the importance of providing young people with factual information about drugs and alcohol. He described the Foundation’s network of more than 100 groups carrying out drug prevention activities across Europe, and the results they have achieved through delivering education that empowers adolescents, teens and young adults to make informed and self-determined decisions with regard to these substances.

Fifty-four Member State delegations, Partners for Co-operation, and 28 International Organizations, Academic and Business Circles and Non-Governmental Organizations participated in the three sessions along with members of the OSCE Secretariat and OSCE Institutions. Under discussion were the following themes:
- Links Between Illicit Drug Trafficking, Organized Crime and Terrorism
- Illicit Drugs as a Source of Financing Illicit Activities
- Cross-Cutting Issues
Dr. Mirre asked those attending to urge their respective governments to reconsider the budgets allocated to dealing with drugs and what he described as the disproportionately high funding of harm reduction, treatment and repression compared with funds allocated for prevention, specifically drug education.

The Foundation for a Drug-Free Europe coordinates a drug education initiative known as the Truth About Drugs. The program uses 14 youth-friendly booklets and public service announcements on the most commonly abused drugs, and a documentary also covering these substances. A network of volunteers distributes the booklets and provides lectures and seminars in cooperation with thousands of schools in over 180 countries. The materials help youth understand the short, medium and long-term consequences and negative effects of drugs.

The campaign has been embraced by hundreds of entities including city governments, schools, military and police organizations, sports clubs and community and religious leaders. Scientology Churches and Scientologists support the program, making its materials available free of charge to those wishing to use it to educate others on the truth about drugs.

The OSCE is the world’s largest security-oriented intergovernmental organization. Its comprehensive approach to security encompasses politico-military, economic and environmental, and human aspects. It addresses a wide range of security-related concerns, including arms control, confidence- and security-building measures, human rights, national minorities, democratization, policing strategies, counter-terrorism and economic and environmental activities. All 57 participating States enjoy equal status, and decisions are taken by consensus on a politically, but not legally binding basis.

For more information on the Foundation, visit the Scientology Newswroom .

Source: ScientologyNews.org
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July 17, 2017
Church of Scientology Hosts Drug Prevention Conference

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An open house on International Day Against Drug Abuse June 26 at the Church of Scientology Atlanta featured the Georgia Foundation for a Drug-Free World and motivational speaker James Brown.

Press Release
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updated: Jul 4, 2017

Atlanta, Georgia, July 4, 2017 (Newswire.com)
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The Georgia Foundation for a Drug-Free World and the James Brown Youth Empowerment Organization teamed up on International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking June 26 to bring a vital message to the people of Atlanta. And not a moment too soon.

That same day, police in nearby Marietta issued a warning that opioid abuse has reached epidemic proportions and is now a danger to the general public.

“There is an increasing amount of Fentanyl and Carfentanil recently showing up across America and it is now causing concern that residue inadvertently left behind in places later accessed by the public may cause accidental exposures and potential overdoses of unsuspecting victims,” said the Marietta police department in their statement.

Once a star high school athlete who served his nation as a naval officer, Mr. Brown began dealing drugs — a decision and action that irrevocably altered his existence. Ultimately he was robbed at gunpoint and shot in the neck, leaving him paralyzed from the neck down and fated to live the rest of his life confined to a wheelchair.

Rather than lie in bed feeling sorry himself, he decided to “accept God’s grace, to have life and have it more abundantly by making a difference,” not only in his life but in the lives of others, especially youth.

To carry out this mission, he shares his life story, both as a way to heal past wounds and to help others overcome their own challenges.

Searching for a program to help him carry out his purpose, Brown found the Foundation for a Drug-Free World and its award-winning Truth About Drugs initiative and contacted the Atlanta chapter to forge a partnership.

The James Brown Youth Empowerment Organization (JBYEO) is dedicated to mentoring and inspiring youth. Its mission is to effectively educate, encourage and empower children and young adults against engaging in risky behaviors, including but not limited to substance abuse and gang membership.

The Foundation for a Drug-Free World is an international nonprofit organization whose mission is to educate the world on the true destructive nature of illicit drugs and eradicate their use entirely.

The Church of Scientology and Scientologists support the Foundation for a Drug-Free World and make its materials available to educators, mentors, parents and community and religious leaders free of charge for their use in drug education and prevention activities.

According to the United Nations Office on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, “Every dollar spent on prevention can save governments up to ten dollars in later costs.”

Read the article on the Scientology Newsroom.

Source: ScientologyNews.org

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July 4, 2017
Taking Action Against Crime at the Community Level

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Residents in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood enjoyed the annual National Night Out block party at the Church of Scientology.

Press Release
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Aug 12, 2016

Seattle, Washington, August 12, 2016 (Newswire.com)
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The Church of Scientology Seattle and the Seattle chapter of The Way to Happiness Foundation celebrated this year’s National Night Out Against Crime with a block party featuring live entertainment and barbecue.

Seattle has had a long history of supporting National Night Out, an annual campaign that promotes police-community partnerships, bringing neighbors together in the name of safer and better places to live. It is designed to heighten crime prevention awareness, increase neighborhood support in anti-crime efforts, and unite communities.

“As block watch captains for our area, we were happy to have the opportunity to throw a party for the neighborhood and meet some of the local residents. It was great to have those conversations about making the community safer for everyone.”

Ann Pearce, Public Affairs Director of the Church of Scientology Seattle

In keeping with the purpose of the evening and to help spread the message of the rewards of living an honest life, volunteers handed out copies of The Way to Happiness, a nonreligious moral code written by author and humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard and based entirely upon common sense.

The theme of the evening was a precept from this booklet that undercuts crime: “Try to treat others as you would want them to treat you.”

The Church sponsors The Way to Happiness campaign to uplift neighborhoods in the Seattle community. The booklet provides a guideline to living a life based on self-respect and personal integrity—traditional values that go a long way to reducing crime.

The block party featured a live band, a unique 1924 Model T Ford truck where the barbecue was staged, a balloon artist and visits from city personnel and the Seattle Police Department.

And the highlight of the evening, at least for the under 12 crowd, was the arrival of a fire engine from Seattle’s Fire Department Station 8. Youngsters received badges from the firefighters and it wasn’t only the kids who clambered up onto the seats of the bright red fire truck.

To complement the message of The Way to Happiness, volunteers from another humanitarian campaign supported by the Church of Scientology were also on hand—the Seattle chapter of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World.

Drugs and crime are inextricably interrelated in today’s society. And the Drug-Free World materials present the unvarnished facts about commonly abused drugs in a youth-friendly format to help young people make the self-determined decision not to abuse drugs.

“As block watch captains for our area, we were happy to have the opportunity to throw a party for the neighborhood and meet some of the local residents,” said Ann Pearce, public affairs director of the Church. “It was great to have those conversations about making the community safer for everyone.”

The Church of Scientology and its members proudly share the tools for happier living contained inThe Way to Happiness. Over 4 million copies have been distributed in the last year alone.

For more information about The Way to Happiness visit: www.thewaytohappiness.org.

Read the article on the Scientology Newsroom.

Source: ScientologyNews.org

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August 12, 2016