Grassroots Teams Increase Drug-Education Outreach Across France

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PARIS, France — November 2025 — During the autumn months, Drug-Free World France volunteers stepped up their presence throughout France, delivering numerous drug-prevention initiatives 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 worked with parents, educators, shopkeepers, young adults and health professionals seeking clear, reliable information about the risks associated with narcotics and synthetic substances. ((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—puts forward factual and accessible materials as a basis for informed decision-making and responsible choices.

In early October, volunteers in Brittany visited a network of small shops, cafés and businesses, providing more than a thousand Truth About Drugs booklets in areas where merchants expressed both interest and appreciation for the materials. Several shop owners spoke with volunteers about the spread of synthetic drugs and the ways families are looking for clearer information. One volunteer recounted that a restaurant employer in the region had previously stopped consuming drugs after watching an educational video on synthetic substances and had subsequently communicated a drug-free workplace expectation to his entire staff. The volunteer highlighted this as an example of the positive ripple effects that fact-based prevention can produce.

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 took materials for public distribution, underlining the practical importance of clear prevention tools in everyday work. In several cafés, owners remarked that drug prevention Nice prevention resources were arriving “at the right moment,” citing local concerns about early exposure to drugs.

Further east, in towns in the Loire and Rhône-Alpes regions, volunteers spoke with numerous merchants who were willing to put the materials on display for customers and employees. 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 distributed tens of thousands of booklets over a short period. Shopkeepers of all types—from boutiques to larger retail outlets—set aside space for displays and, in many cases, requested extra booklets. 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 told volunteers that he had stopped using PTC a month earlier and encouraged them to continue their work, calling it “very important.”

In Paris, volunteers organised one of their most significant autumn actions in a neighbourhood where families regularly express concern about drug-related issues. Thousands of booklets were distributed to shops, and many residents took the opportunity to speak directly with volunteers. A psychologist who encountered the team took a complete display for her practice and indicated that she would include the materials in her work with clients. A couple picked up booklets for their daughter, who often travels with friends, calling them a practical tool for starting preventive discussions. Several local residents remarked that they were glad to see these resources available locally.

South-western France also saw sustained engagement, featuring a prevention stand in Bordeaux that drew regular attention from residents and local businesses. 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 stressed how important it was to provide adolescents and young adults with tools to understand the dangers linked to substances.

Other towns across the South-West, including Agen, saw volunteers distribute booklets to shops with owners keen to participate in ongoing prevention work. In Toulouse, volunteers continued a rhythm of outreach in districts where educators have regularly requested materials. In Nice, a street stand enabled exchanges with families affected by addiction, and several individuals asked to be contacted about participating in future activities, including one who expressed interest in joining the association.

As autumn drew to a close, additional outreach in eastern France saw several hundred booklets distributed in Belfort, where a social-housing worker requested an entire box of inhalant-gas booklets for families he believed would benefit. Local shops showed strong support, with several shopkeepers explaining that the brochures were taken rapidly and requesting more copies. In Marseille, further material was circulated in neighbourhoods where community demand for prevention tools has remained strong throughout 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 growing participation of local communities shows how much people value factual and accessible prevention. When individuals receive clear information, they feel empowered to take responsibility for their families and their neighbourhoods. Effective prevention contributes not only to public health but also to the dignity and cohesion of our societies across Europe.”

These efforts fit within the long-standing commitment of the Church of Scientology and its members to promoting education, drug prevention, human rights 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 conduct non-sectarian initiatives that foster informed choices 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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