Drug overdose deaths in Los Angeles County dropped 22% in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to data from the LA County Public Health Department. The number of drug-related overdose and poisoning deaths fell from 3,137 in 2023 to 2,438 in 2024, the lowest recorded since 2019. Fentanyl-related deaths declined 37%, while methamphetamine-related deaths dropped 20%.
Despite the progress, officials caution that the crisis is far from over. More than 70,000 people died from drug overdoses across the United States in 2024, and 2,438 deaths in LA County alone represent a significant toll. The question remains: what is driving the decline?
Education is emerging as a key factor. The Foundation for a Drug-Free World, a nonprofit supported by the Church of Scientology, has distributed hundreds of thousands of its Truth About Drugs educational booklets in Los Angeles County in recent years. According to the foundation, wherever a concentration of booklets has been distributed, drug-related issues have subsequently dropped. The materials, available in 22 languages, have reached 25% of all middle and high schools in the United States. Since early 2025, more than 22 million booklets have been distributed worldwide, with a total of over 183 million booklets distributed to date.
The booklets cover a range of substances, including fentanyl, cannabis, crack cocaine, crystal methamphetamine, ecstasy, heroin, LSD, and prescription painkillers. They are designed to provide factual information, allowing readers to make informed decisions about living drug-free. 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 to expand. During the ongoing FIFA World Cup games, played in 16 cities across Canada, Mexico, and the United States from June through July, volunteers are distributing the booklets at sports stadiums and community events. In Los Angeles, the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre International has been actively distributing the materials and plans to continue its efforts.
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.
