We didn’t talk about the Aims of Scientology, spiritual technology or the quest for total freedom. But we did spend hours discussing the Church’s social betterment and humanitarian campaigns, initiatives that I later realized had been touching lives across the globe for decades.
What I learned left me both amazed and inspired. Since that time, I have marveled at the immense scope, generosity and sheer impact of these initiatives, the cumulative statistics of which are staggering. These campaigns have not just helped individuals—they have transformed entire communities and, in some cases, whole countries.
The Foundation for a Drug-Free World, the largest nongovernmental drug education program in the world, is one such initiative. It has reached more than 1 billion people with the Truth About Drugs campaign, arming them with factual information to make informed decisions to live drug-free lives. And with the steady rise in overdose deaths—more than 130 Americans losing their lives every day due to opioid overdoses alone—there has never been a more urgent time to amplify this message.
“What other material can you stand up and say: by using this, it will save children’s lives?”
The Foundation’s educational materials, which are freely distributed, give young people the tools they need to navigate one of the greatest challenges of their generation. The result? Children and teenagers, equipped with real knowledge, are steered toward a healthier and brighter future. All of this is made possible through the generous donations of Scientology parishioners, ensuring that the message of drug prevention reaches those who need it most.
One story tells the whole tale. In 2012, the 14-year-old son of Lance Dyer, a former US Army Ranger, tragically took his own life after a single encounter with synthetic marijuana. Since then, Lance has dedicated himself to ensuring no other family has to suffer the same loss. He founded the Dakota Dyer Foundation and has partnered with the Foundation for a Drug-Free World to educate communities on the dangers of synthetic drugs.
“The Foundation for a Drug-Free World is the single most informative educational organization when it comes to drug education, drug awareness for our youth and young adults on this planet,” Lance says. “I can reach kids with this material, because it speaks directly to our youth. They get it. They don’t leave it laying on the bleachers or throw it in the trash can. This material is tailored for them.”
Lance tells Freedom that if anyone asked him if the Church’s drug prevention initiative saves lives, he would answer: “Unequivocally, yes. And I don’t say that as a metaphor or as a punch line at a party. I say it based and rooted in fact: Where we have put Drug-Free World material into the school systems, we have seen drug encounters—whether that is overdoses, deaths, children having drugs with them or being exposed to drugs in the school systems—dramatically reduced.
“The Church of Scientology makes all of this material available for free for our most financially challenged inner-city schools up to our most affluent prep schools—and everyone in between. Every child can be educated with this material,” Lance says. “What other material can you stand up and say: by using this, it will save children’s lives?”
“I feel a certain amount of accomplishment—a certain amount of satisfaction—knowing that there are parents who did not have to go through what my wife and I went through—who are still with their children today because of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World.”
But the Church’s commitment to social betterment doesn’t stop at drug prevention. United for Human Rights, along with its companion campaign, Youth for Human Rights, is another powerful global initiative sponsored by the Church and its members. Despite the fact that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted 76 years ago, millions remain unaware of the 30 fundamental rights it guarantees, with ignorance of human rights being one of the most pressing issues facing our world today.
“These materials … definitely get students’ attention.”
The Church of Scientology is on a mission to change that. Through its award-winning content, United for Human Rights has provided human rights education in 196 countries and territories. The Bringing Human Rights to Life curriculum, free for all educators, is now a globally recognized tool, empowering students and young people with the knowledge not just to understand their rights, but to advocate for human dignity and social justice in their own communities—creating ripples of awareness and turning students into human rights defenders who can initiate real change.
The Youth for Human Rights curriculum “is the only thing my students ask and plead for,” one middle school teacher explains. “These materials … definitely get students’ attention. I’ve noticed how much more aware my students are of each others’ feelings and they have begun, some for the first time, to have an awareness of their own rights as human beings.”
The Way to Happiness, a book that is far more than just words on a page, forms another cornerstone of the Church’s humanitarian efforts. Authored by L. Ron Hubbard, the book serves as a guide—a universal code of moral conduct that transcends cultural and religious differences. With millions of copies distributed worldwide in 118 languages, The Way to Happiness offers practical, actionable principles that anyone can follow to turn their lives around. Its 21 precepts, ranging from “Take Care of Yourself” to “Respect the Religious Beliefs of Others,” provide constructive solutions to everyday problems like bullying, conflict resolution and peer pressure.
“We believe this is a life-changing program that can improve moral decline in our society, community and country as a whole by educating people to be of high integrity,” a Johannesburg pastor wrote. “We have seen this program as a tool that can help reduce crime in our country and make us better people with a bright future.”
Over the last six years, I have watched the number of copies of The Way to Happiness in circulation skyrocket to over 140 million. The success stories are countless. From small towns to sprawling cities and from schools to workplaces, the book has helped to promote compassion and personal integrity. It has become a blueprint for building a better world—one based on respect, kindness and ethical conduct.
So where does that leave us? When I reflect on these campaigns and the dedication of those behind them, especially David Miscavige, the ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion, I come back to a few simple questions: Who doesn’t want a drug-free world? Who doesn’t want basic human rights for all? And who doesn’t want a little happiness in their lives?
The answer, of course, is no one.
And in Scientology, I have seen a community of people actively working toward making these ideals a reality. Across borders, across cultures, across differences, they extend a hand—bringing help, hope and a vision of a better future for all.
In the words of Lance Dyer, who only encountered the Church after working with Foundation for a Drug-Free World: “If you want to know about the Church, walk through the door and find out. You will discover the most dedicated, laser-focused, humanity-based group of people you will ever run into in your life. Scientologists do everything in their power to make this planet a better place for humanity and to leave it in better shape than they found it for our youth and young adults. In my opinion, a life calling doesn’t get much better than that.”
Looking back, I may never know if my English teacher, Little League coach or next-door neighbor were Scientologists. But what I do know is this: They embodied the same qualities I’ve come to associate with the parishioners of the Church of Scientology over the past six years. They were always there to help, offering guidance with patience and kindness. They were tolerant of my youthful mistakes, generous with their time and wisdom and relentlessly optimistic about the future.
Scientologists are these kinds of everyday heroes. They don’t wear name tags identifying them, but their actions speak volumes. They share a vision of a better world, driven by a quiet confidence that positive change is not only possible—it’s inevitable.
