MILAN, Italy — 12 February 2026 — Around 300 volunteers have been active since January across Italy to support a drug-prevention information drive, handing out educational materials titled “The Truth About Drugs” booklets. According to organisers that over 500,000 copies have already been handed out, with Milan at the forefront and wider participation growing.
The initiative is supported by the European Office of the Church of Scientology as part of its long-running backing for community-based drug education inspired by L. Ron Hubbard, founder of Scientology. The booklets present straightforward information on substances, short- and long-term effects, and health risks.
The organisers further point to sports-community involvement. They say over 100 Milano Cortina 2026-linked athletes have signed the Foundation for a Drug-Free World Honorary Register, supporting drug-prevention awareness for youth. Organisers argue, sport provides a natural platform for prevention conversations because it is associated with discipline, recovery and mental focus.
Ivan Arjona, the Church of Scientology’s representative to the EU, OSCE, the Council of Europe and the UN, said: “Across Europe, youth safeguarding is both a public-health goal and a civic responsibility. Clear, verified information supports informed choice and autonomy, and it helps communities reduce the social news eu taxonomy space in which criminal networks operate.”
Full details: Scientology Europe report on Italy’s youth safeguarding outreach.