FoundedOctober 2006 (2006-10)
TypeNon-profit (religious)
20-5812172
FocusDrug abuse prevention
Location
Area served
Worldwide
MethodAnti-drug booklets, public service announcements, drug awareness events
Key people
  • Ambra Calzolari
  • Jessica Hochman
  • Gail Carroll
  • Aris Gregorian
  • Maurithus Meiring
  • Shaleen Wohrnitz
[1]
Parent organization
Church of Scientology
Websitewww.drugfreeworld.org

Foundation for a Drug-Free World (FDFW) is a nonprofit organization operated by the Church of Scientology with a focus on the elimination of drug and alcohol abuse and its resulting criminality. It was established in October 2006 in Los Angeles, California.[2] There has been controversy about the claims made by FDFW and about its support by public organizations who were not aware of its link to Scientology.[3][4][5][6]

FDFW uses the self-produced Truth About Drugs campaign materials for drug education and has been described as "discredited pseudoscience"[7] and without "pharmacological basis" by health care professionals.[6][8] The program has been accused of scaremongering by health care professionals, for claims such as cocaine withdrawal can cause severe depression which can lead to the addict committing murder.[3]

Relation to Scientology and Narconon

In 2012, the Santa Ana Police Department distributed anti-drug pamphlets provided by FDFW for a Drug-Free World. A reporter called the contact number on the pamphlets and asked where to get help for drug abuse. He was directed to Narconon Arrowhead, the flagship rehab center of Narconon International, which is classified as a Scientology related entity by the Internal Revenue Service. The SAPD withdrew the pamphlets after the reported link.[9]

The "Drug-Free Marshal" program started in November 2008, at Las Cruces, New Mexico. Foundation for a Drug-Free World supplied the pamphlets, at the bottom of which contained a notice of copyright by Foundation for a Drug-Free World, Narconon and Association for Better Living and Education, all programs sponsored by the Church of Scientology. After the city mayor found out that the anti-drug program was created and bankrolled by the Church of Scientology, he apologized and ended the program.[10]

After an investigation by the State of California into the Narconon anti-drug education program, State Superintendent Jack O'Connell urged all California schools to drop the program for its inaccurate and unscientific information[11] in 2005, the year before Foundation for a Drug-Free World was founded

In 2017 in Santa Monica High School after a pupil's LSD related death, FDFW presented seminars to pupils in the school. But when made aware of the connection to the Church of Scientology, a number of parents complained and the program was halted. The church responded publicly in a press statement and accused Santa Monica High School of bigotry and religious discrimination.[3]

References

  1. ↑
    • "Legal notice". Foundation for a Drug-Free World. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
    • "Legal notice". Foundation for a Drug-Free World. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
    • Meiring, Maurithus (December 16, 2015). "Drug-Free World Africa Coordinator Honored at South African Men of the Year Awards Celebration". Retrieved April 17, 2023 – via Cision.
    • Sonqishe, Buli (July 6, 2016). "Drug Free World hosts seminar". Bedfordview and Edenvale News. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Who We Are". Foundation for a Drug-Free World. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 Weill, Kelly (May 14, 2017). "School Accidentally Hired Church of Scientology-Backed Group to Teach Drug Education". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on May 17, 2017. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  4. ↑ Daly, Greg (April 20, 2023). "Schools urged to be vigilant amid reports of targeting by 'cult'". The Irish Catholic. Archived from the original on April 4, 2017. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  5. ↑ Haglage, Abby (January 30, 2015). "Scientology Defends Its Anti-Weed Hokum". Daily Beast. Archived from the original on April 16, 2017. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
  6. 1 2 Mintz, Zoe (January 29, 2015). "Parents Outraged After Scientology-Sponsored Group Delivers Anti-Drug Messages At New York City Schools". International Business Times. Archived from the original on April 16, 2017. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
  7. ↑ Mathis-Lilley, Ben (January 28, 2015). "A Scientology-Run Anti-Drug Group Works Extensively in New York City Schools". The Slate. Archived from the original on April 16, 2017. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
  8. ↑ "What is the Foundation for a Drug Free World?". Church of Scientology. Archived from the original on May 29, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  9. ↑ Dulaney, Josh (May 16, 2012). "Anti-drug Pamphlets Linked to Scientology Gone From Santa Ana Police Department". Orange County Weekly. Archived from the original on October 14, 2018. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  10. ↑ Meeks, Ashley (December 8, 2008). "Mayor abandons anti-drug program affiliated with Church of Scientology". NewsOK. Archived from the original on March 25, 2017. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
  11. ↑ Asimov, Nanette (February 23, 2005). "Schools Urged to Drop Antidrug Program / Scientology-linked Teachings Inaccurate, Superintendent Says". SFGate. Archived from the original on July 15, 2013. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
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