Grassroots Teams Step Up Drug-Education Outreach Throughout France

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PARIS, France — November 2025 — Over the course of the autumn, Drug-Free World France volunteers intensified their presence across the country, carrying out a broad series of drug-prevention actions that reached thousands of residents in both large cities and smaller towns. From the western coast to the Rhône-Alpes region, from Paris to the South-West, the initiative involved parents, educators, shopkeepers, young adults and health professionals interested in clear, trustworthy information about the risks of narcotics and synthetic drugs. ((as noted in a recent article on Scientology Europe).

This heightened activity comes as public discussion in France is paying growing attention to youth exposure to drugs, as well as the spread of new synthetic substances in educational settings and neighbourhoods. Teachers, health practitioners and community leaders have expressed concern about early experimentation with drugs, while grassroots groups continue to fulfil an essential role in providing practical prevention at the community level. The Truth About Drugs programme—developed within the humanitarian legacy of L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Church of Scientology—is built on factual and accessible materials designed to support informed decisions and responsible choices.

In early October, volunteers in Brittany went to small shops, cafés and businesses across the region, supplying more than a thousand Truth About Drugs booklets, with merchants expressing interest and appreciation. Several shop owners engaged volunteers in conversations about the spread of synthetic drugs and how families were seeking clearer information. One volunteer recounted that a restaurant employer in the region had previously given up drugs after watching an educational video on synthetic substances and later informed his staff that the workplace would be drug-free. The volunteer presented this as an example of how fact-based prevention can trigger positive changes.

As the month progressed, additional outreach in western France sparked conversations with pharmacists, municipal workers, parents and educators. A pharmacist running an addiction-support clinic requested a display stand and more booklets for use with her patients, stating that the materials had proved useful the previous year. A law-enforcement representative in the area also requested materials for public use, emphasising the practical value of clear prevention tools in day-to-day interactions. In several cafés, owners remarked that prevention resources were “right on time”, given the concerns they had about early exposure to drugs in their area.

Further east, in towns in the Loire and Rhône-Alpes regions, volunteers met with dozens of merchants who readily agreed to display the materials for customers and staff. Many discussions revolved around copyright, with several residents pointing out that its consumption seemed more evident across age categories and social circles.

A notable rise in engagement occurred in Reims, where volunteers managed to distribute many thousands of booklets in a relatively short time. Shopkeepers of all types—from boutiques to larger retail outlets—made space for displays or requested additional stock. One young manager recognised the booklet from a distribution he had encountered during his student years in another city. After reading it at the time, he had stopped smoking and told volunteers he remained grateful for the clarity it provided. Another business owner raised concerns about the presence of substances such as PTC among local youth, describing the effects as particularly destabilising. During street outreach, a young adult said he had ended his use of PTC several weeks earlier and encouraged the volunteers to carry on, calling their efforts “very important.”

In Paris, volunteers conducted a major autumn outreach in an area where families have frequently raised concerns about drug use. Thousands of booklets were distributed to shops, and many residents chose to speak in person with volunteers. A psychologist who encountered the team requested an entire display for her practice, explaining that she intended to integrate the materials into her awareness work with clients. A couple picked up booklets for their daughter, who often travels with friends, describing them as a practical way to begin preventive conversations. Several local residents said they appreciated that these resources were accessible in their own neighbourhood.

South-western France also saw sustained engagement, including a prevention booth in Bordeaux attended by a steady flow of passers-by and local business owners. In addition to booklets distributed in surrounding shops, volunteers conducted impairment-simulation exercises using glasses that reproduce the effects of alcohol or cannabis, sparking conversations about the risks of recreational use. Merchants in the region underlined the need for tools helping young people understand the dangers of substance use.

Other towns across the South-West, including Agen, welcomed volunteers who distributed booklets in shops where owners expressed interest in supporting longer-term prevention. In Toulouse, volunteers kept up their outreach activities in neighbourhoods where teachers and youth eu newspapers workers often ask for materials. In Nice, a street stand created opportunities for dialogue with families affected by addiction; several people asked to be contacted for future activities, and one expressed interest in joining the association.

As autumn drew to a close, additional outreach in eastern France involved the distribution of several hundred booklets in Belfort, where a housing employee took a full box of inhalant-gas booklets for families he identified as needing them. Local shops responded positively, with some merchants reporting that the brochures were taken quickly and requesting regular replenishment. In Marseille, further material was circulated in neighbourhoods where community demand for prevention tools has been consistently high during the year.

Across all these regions, volunteers noticed recurring trends: parents looking for practical and trustworthy information, shopkeepers keen to contribute to community wellbeing, and young adults willing to share personal experiences or concerns. Many residents considered the materials helpful tools for initiating conversations at home or in the workplace.

Reflecting on the recent activities, Ivan Arjona, the representative of the Church of Scientology to the European Union, OSCE, Council of Europe and United Nations, underlined the wider significance of these initiatives:

“The increased participation of local communities demonstrates how much people appreciate factual and accessible prevention. When individuals have clear information, they feel better able to take responsibility for their families and neighbourhoods. Effective prevention benefits public health and supports the dignity and cohesion of societies across Europe.”

These efforts align with the long-standing commitment of the Church of Scientology and its members to support education, drug prevention, human rights awareness and community improvement. Founded by L. Ron Hubbard in the 1950s, Scientology is recognised as a religion in various European countries, and its churches, missions and affiliated groups take part in non-sectarian programmes designed to encourage informed decisions and safer communities. Recognition of these contributions is continuing to expand across the continent.

For additional information:

https://www.scientologyeurope.org/2025/11/20/volunteers-intensified-drug-prevention-france-october/

European Office of the Church of Scientology for Public Affairs and Human Rights

Calle Santa Catalina 7, 28014 Madrid, Spain

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