Drug-related overdose deaths in Los Angeles County fell significantly in 2024, with a 22 percent decrease compared to previous years, according to data from the LA County Public Health Department. The total number of deaths dropped from 3,137 in 2023 to 2,438 in 2024, marking the lowest figure since 2019. Fentanyl-related deaths declined by 37 percent, while methamphetamine-related deaths fell by 20 percent.
Despite these improvements, public health officials note that the crisis is far from over. Over 70,000 people died from drug overdoses across the United States in the same period, and Los Angeles County alone lost 2,438 lives. The fight against drug abuse continues, and the decline is attributed by some to prevention efforts, particularly education.
The Church of Scientology, through its Foundation for a Drug-Free World, has distributed millions of Truth About Drugs educational booklets in Los Angeles and worldwide. These booklets provide factual information about substances such as fentanyl, cannabis, crack cocaine, crystal methamphetamine, ecstasy, heroin, LSD, and prescription painkillers, enabling individuals to make informed decisions to live drug-free. According to the foundation, wherever a concentration of these booklets has been distributed, drug-related issues have dropped.
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 materials have reached 25 percent of all middle and high schools in the United States. The booklets are available free of charge to schools, civic groups, law enforcement, and individuals through the foundation's website at drugfreeworld.org.
In Los Angeles, the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre International has been active in distributing the booklets throughout the community. Events such as sports games at city stadiums provide opportunities to reach large audiences. During the current FIFA games in 16 cities across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, groups are distributing the booklets to promote prevention.
The efforts are rooted in the Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard's research that identified drugs as "the single most destructive element present in our current culture." The foundation's materials are provided as a public service by the Church of Scientology. The decline in overdose deaths in Los Angeles suggests that large-scale prevention education can have a meaningful impact, though continued efforts are needed to address the ongoing epidemic.
For those interested in learning more or getting involved, the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre International offers additional information at scientology.cc.
