Keynote Address at the Grand Opening of the Church of Scientology New York (cont.)
And let's start with
drugs. Today, more money is spent on street drugs, planet-wide, than
is spent on food, clothing, education, medical care or housing. The
total number of drug abusers is estimated at 200 million people.
Then there is the "war
on drugs." It's gone from 1.65 billion dollars in 1982, to
almost 20-billion dollars today. And yet the statistics continue to
climb.
Factually,
there is really only one solution: Stopping the demand, and
providing effective rehabilitation.
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
The Church’s anti-drug campaign is one of the most effective programs globally.
|
Today, the Church of
Scientology sponsors the largest anti-drug campaign on Earth. Through
education we go right to the people.
That
campaign extends across more than 50 countries. In Germany with
marches and concerts, through shops, kiosks and police stations in
France, at sporting events in Italy, handed out on the streets of
Greece, and in restaurants in the Netherlands, through street events
in England and Ireland, Canada, Russia, Japan, Brazil, New Zealand,
Spain and, of course, right here in the United States
of America.
In total, we reach tens
of millions every year. And yes, that is the first step in arresting
the decline, by reaching the next generation before they go down the
path of addiction.
Yet,
it is another matter entirely for those already affected.
Just try "saying NO" to the guy who is gripped every waking moment his entire existence driven by only one thing:
That craving for his next fix. Needed is real rehabilitation.
And despite what others might say it is not hopeless.
