Getting to kids before they become “statistics”—this is the priority of the Church of Scientology of Kaohsiung, and explains why Scientologists are on board to back the Ministry of Justice announcement April 8 to make drug education a national priority.

On the heels of a Taiwan Ministry of Justice announcement that drug education must become a national priority, the Church of Scientology of Kaohsiung renewed its commitment to bringing about a drug-free Taiwan at a drug education open house and workshop April 17 held in honor of World Health Day.

The April 8 Ministry of Justice announcement followed the release of statistics—law enforcement authorities confiscated a record 4,339 kg of illegal recreational drugs last year. Some 3,000 kg was ketamine smuggled in from China.

The Truth About Drugs booklet on prescription drug abuse describes ketamine as “a dissociative anesthetic”—one that distorts perception of sight and sound and produces a feeling of detachment (disassociation) from the environment and self.

According to the booklet, ketamine is injected, consumed in drinks, snorted or added to joints or cigarettes. It creates a detached, dreamlike state where the user finds it difficult to move, lending itself to use as a date-rape drug.

Tragically, by the time law enforcement has to step in, the damage to the lives of drug users has already been done. That was the message a young man shared with 60 children and teens from two local schools gathered for the program. A former addict, he described how he became trapped by illegal drugs and the devastating effect this had on his life.

Tragically, by the time law enforcement has to step in, the damage to the lives of drug users has already been done

The local district police participated in the program, setting up booths where the youth could ask questions and get additional information. Several community groups were also on hand to learn about The Truth About Drugs initiative and how they could make use of these materials.

The Scientology Churches and Missions of Taiwan have been active in drug education and prevention for more than a decade. They have brought drug education to some 900 Taiwan schools reaching more than 300,000 students. This is one of the humanitarian programs for which the Church has been awarded the Ministry of Interior’s Religious Excellence award for 11 consecutive years.

The Church of Scientology of Kaohsiung is an Ideal Scientology Organization. Opened in December 2013, it serves as a home for the entire community—a meeting ground of cooperative effort to uplift citizens of all denominations.