Drug overdose deaths in Los Angeles County have fallen significantly, with a 22% decline in 2024 compared to previous years, according to the LA County Public Health Department. Fentanyl-related deaths dropped 37%, and methamphetamine-related deaths decreased 20%. The total number of drug-related overdose and poisoning deaths fell from 3,137 in 2023 to 2,438 in 2024, the lowest since 2019.
Despite the progress, officials emphasize that the crisis is far from over. Over 70,000 people died from drug overdoses across the United States in 2024. The decline in Los Angeles is attributed in part to prevention efforts, particularly education. The Foundation for a Drug-Free World, supported by the Church of Scientology, has distributed millions of its "Truth About Drugs" educational booklets. These materials have been handed out to hundreds of thousands of youth and adults in Los Angeles County in recent years.
According to the foundation, wherever a concentration of booklets has been distributed, there follows a drop in drug-related issues. The booklets have been provided free of charge for many years across the U.S. and worldwide. The foundation's award-winning educational materials have reached 25% of all middle and high schools in the United States. Since the beginning of 2025, more than 22 million booklets have been distributed globally, bringing the total to over 183 million in 22 languages.
The booklets cover a range of substances, including fentanyl, cannabis, crack, cocaine, crystal methamphetamine, ecstasy, heroin, LSD, and prescription painkillers. They provide facts to help individuals make informed decisions to live drug-free lives. The program is based on the research of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, who identified drugs as "the single most destructive element present in our current culture."
Distribution efforts continue during major events, such as the FIFA games being played in 16 cities across Canada, Mexico, and the United States from June through July. Groups are using these opportunities to hand out booklets to large crowds. In Los Angeles, the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre International has been active in distributing the materials throughout the community.
For more information, visit the Drug-Free World website at https://www.drugfreeworld.org/ or the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre International website at https://www.scientology.cc.
