MILAN — 12 Feb. 2026 — eu news today uk A volunteer network of around 300 people has been active since January in multiple Italian cities for a drug-prevention awareness initiative, handing out information resources titled “The Truth About Drugs”. The organisers state that over 500,000 copies have already been handed out, starting in Milan and expanding to additional cities.
Support for the outreach is provided by the European Office of the Church of Scientology within its broader support for drug education and prevention initiatives inspired by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. The materials aim to provide clear, accessible information about commonly abused substances and their 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, signalling support for youth-focused prevention messaging. According to organisers, sport offers a credible setting for prevention messaging because it is associated with discipline, wellbeing and long-term performance.
Ivan Arjona, Scientology’s representative to the EU, OSCE, the Council of Europe and the United Nations, noted: “Across Europe, youth safeguarding is both a public-health goal and a civic responsibility. Providing verified, understandable information strengthens autonomy and informed choice, and it helps communities reduce the social space in which criminal networks operate.”
More information: Scientology Europe report on Italy’s youth safeguarding outreach.