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. 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 Scientology is a set of beliefs and practices invented by American author L. Ron Hubbard, and an associated movement. It has been variously defined as a cult, a Scientology as a business, business, or a new religious movement. The most recent ...

. FDFW uses the self-produced ''Truth About Drugs'' campaign materials for drug education and has been described as "discredited

pseudoscience Pseudoscience consists of statements, beliefs, or practices that claim to be both scientific and factual but are incompatible with the scientific method. Pseudoscience is often characterized by contradictory, exaggerated or unfalsifiable clai ...

" and without "pharmacological basis" by health care professionals. The program has been accused of scaremongering by health care professionals, for claims such as

cocaine Cocaine (from , from , ultimately from Quechua: ''kúka'') is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant mainly used recreationally for its euphoric effects. It is primarily obtained from the leaves of two Coca species native to South Ameri ...

withdrawal can cause severe depression which can lead to the addict committing murder.

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 Narconon International (commonly known as Narconon) is a Scientology organization which promotes the theories of founder L. Ron Hubbard regarding substance abuse treatment and addiction. Its parent company is the Association for Better Li ...

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. The "Drug-Free Marshal" program started in November 2008, at

Las Cruces, New Mexico Las Cruces (; "the crosses") is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of New Mexico and the seat of Doña Ana County. As of the 2020 census the population was 111,385. Las Cruces is the largest city in both Doña Ana County and southern Ne ...

. 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 The Association for Better Living and Education (ABLE) is a non-profit organization headquartered in Los Angeles, California, established by the Church of Scientology. It states that it is "dedicated to creating a better future for children and co ...

, 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. 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 in 2005, the year before Foundation for a Drug-Free World was founded In 2017 in

Santa Monica High School Santa Monica High School, officially abbreviated to SaMoHi, is located in Santa Monica, California. Founded in 1891, it changed location several times in its early years before settling into its present campus at 601 Pico Boulevard. It is a part o ...

after a pupil's

LSD Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), also known colloquially as acid, is a potent psychedelic drug. Effects typically include intensified thoughts, emotions, and sensory perception. At sufficiently high dosages LSD manifests primarily mental, vi ...

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.

References

External links

* {{Authority control Addiction organizations in the United States Scientology organizations Drug policy organizations based in the United States