Released on = January 2, 2006, 1:19 am

Press Release Author = Church of Scientology of San Diego

Industry = Education

Press Release Summary = The President of the Church of Scientology International,
Rev Heber C. Jentzsch, is challenging community groups to unite in a massive
campaign to educate people around the world on the real facts about drugs, in the
face of statistics from the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crimes World Drug
Report, showing an estimated 200 million people, or 5% of the worlds population age
15-64, consume illegal drugs.

Press Release Body = The President of the Church of Scientology International, Rev
Heber C. Jentzsch, is challenging community groups to unite in a massive campaign to
educate people around the world on the real facts about drugs, in the face of
statistics from the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crimes World Drug Report,
showing an estimated 200 million people, or 5% of the worlds population age 15-64,
consume illegal drugs.

Churches of Scientology internationally have printed and distributed more than eight
million copies of booklets on the subjects of marijuana, ecstasy, cocaine and
heroin. Supplementing this massive information program have been 224,220 drug
awareness billboards and posters, over 45 million fliers, 89,000 public awareness
events and more than 10,200 newspaper and television stories promoting a drug-free
message - all financed by the Church of Scientology and its members.

Pointing to the Church's experience for nearly two decades in community drug
education, Rev. Jentzsch said that many youth and young adults are misinformed about
drugs but that equipping them with the facts can reduce drug misuse. Scientologists
offer use of their drug education booklets to other groups and organizations because
they are effective said Rev. Jentzsch.

"Many people have stopped taking drugs or decided never to start as a direct result
of reading our booklets or attending one of our public awareness events but we need
to reach everyone," said Rev. Jentzsch. "If community groups join forces the
impact would be enormous," he added. "With a populace composed of 200 million
users and billions more to educate, it's time to move to an entirely new level."

In San Diego, the local Church has participated in various community festivals,
parades, and anti-drug rallies. Through the Church's Drug-Free Marshals program
local kids have taken the pledge to remain drug-free and have used the anti-drug
booklets to help their family and friends do the same. "This is an invaluable
program acknowledging youth for being drug-free and putting in their hands the tools
to educate themselves on the dangers of drugs. In the words of Humanitarian L. Ron
Hubbard, 'Save the child, and you save the nation,' that's absolutely true," said
Veronica Albano, Drug-Free Marshals coordinator for the Church of Scientology of San
Diego. "They are our future. Let's help them build it."

Over the past year, the Church estimates that close to 50,000,000 people have been
reached with its anti-drug message, with one hundred thousand children and
teenagers sworn-in as Drug-Free Marshals and more than 525,000 anti-drug booklets
and 5,600,000 fliers against drugs distributed internationally. For more
information visit www.scientology.org.
-oOo-

Web Site = http://www.scientology.org

Contact Details = 1330 Fourth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
619-239-2091