Pubdate: Thu, 27 Mar 2003
Source: Guardian, The (UK)
Copyright: 2003 Guardian Newspapers Limited
Contact:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardian/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/175
Author: Stephen Bates, The Guardian
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

CULT CHURCH CENSURED ON DRUG ADS

A Church of Scientology advert claiming that its programmes had "salvaged" 
250,000 people from drug abuse has been censured by the Advertising 
Standards Authority as unproved, following a complaint by the Church of 
England.

The ruling related to a poster coinciding with a campaign run two years ago 
by the church. In effect it claimed that the church had saved all those who 
had completed its drug programmes.

It did not mention that its definition of drug use included an occasional 
alcoholic drink or prescription medicine, and exposure to chemical toxins.

The ASA judgment said: "The authority accepted that the ... programmes .. 
had enabled many people to overcome a dependency on drugs but was concerned 
that the advertisers had not proved that all those enrolled were dependent 
on street or prescription drugs at the time of enrolment, or that as many 
as 250,000 drug users had stopped ... as a direct result of Scientology's 
intervention."

A Church of England spokesman said: "The truth is Scientology makes claims 
for their dangerous cult which they can neither prove nor substantiate. 
Drug users trying to kick the habit are vulnerable. This makes them perfect 
prey for cults."

Graeme Wilson, the Scientologists' spokesman, said: "The success of the ... 
programmes to help drug addicts ... has been acknowledged by the ASA 
following an investigation which lasted longer than a year."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom