There is no doubt about that Scientology is a commercial organisation with a flawed religious theme at its roots. In Germany this organisation is known as exactly that. There were numerious trials which Scientology have all lost despite its huge financial muscle. And as such it should be treated like any other organisation out there. Everything it does should be highly scrutinsed.
If this organisation was actively involved in my children's schools I would take court action if I had to.

Mat, Beverley,

There is too much willful ignorance and prejudice regardin Scientology. Generalisations such as "brainwashing" and "cultish influences" are nothing less than the name-calling found in the schoold playground.
If what you know about Scientology has come from newspapers or internet sites run by bitter haters then believe you me, you don't know what Scientology actually is, or stands for.
It is a sad symptom of the "groupthink" of current society that a group can be attacked for doing good work.
Scientology continues to grow despite this - mainly through word of mouth. And in this environment of sneer, believe me, you have to be thoroughly able to think for yourself to decide to join.

Stewart, London,

We have a drug epidemic in this country. If there is a system that gives workable results (instead of hooking the addict on a substitute drug instead) shouldn't this be supported?
We should look at the fact that drugs affect everyone - not just the addict. Next time you are mugged by a junkie needing cash for his fix - this might become a little more clear. We have to cease the senseless bickering and work together to handle the drug problem instead of scare mongering about some decent people who are trying to help.
.

Mark Gardner, West Sussex, United Kingdom

There's an e petition which can be signed by accessing the Downing Street website:

"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to ban the usage of Narconon in any publicly funded organisation."

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/StopNarconon/

Narconon is currently used in some U.k based schools and prisons. A study by the Sunday Times shows schools are often unaware of its links to the "Church" of Scientology. Narconon also promotes a number of unorthodox theories and treatments — based on Hubbard’s work — which experts say are not backed by scientific evidence. It is clear it should not be used as a drug rehabilitation method in any public organisation

Joe , Newcastle, UK

I think it is an absolutely apalling lapse on the part of the Met to be duped into handing out the material of this deplorable cult. I for one will be writing to my MP to find out how this has happened and to get reasurance that it will not happen again.

Claire Cornell, Dundee, Scotland

I'm concerned that the police are using these people as appropriate adults when a young person is arrested- this is the job of the Youth Offending team. I was a YOTnurse and drugs worker for 8 years and have never allowed this crucial role of the YOT to be used by religious organisations for their own ends. I am appalled at the Met Police for this!

Psychodiva, Calne, UK

I'm a Scientologist and I can tell you that all Scientologists are 100% drug free.

I would want that for children, that would be terrible.

John Pal, tampa, fl

It is all well and good to get drugs out of the schools, but letting the Scientologists have anything to do with the effort is like putting the fox in the hen-house. Everything the Scientologists do has but one goal: To recruit more Scientologists. Sooner or later, and probably sooner, the young people will drop by the "church" for a bit of tea and brainwashing. I say that in the interests of the children, Scientology should be kept far away from the schools. Did you know that Germany has practically banned this cult?

Mary Sue Lulza, Bel Air, California, USA

This is terrifying. With their mode of operation, Scientologists could suppress worrying developments such as this if they ever gained substantial power in the media.

I really think we must be ready and react instantly when cultish influences reach public life.

Jeremy, Bromley, Kent

Sir,

As an ex-methadone addict for over twenty five years, now working as a drug counsellor, I heartily concur that methadone is poison - personally I think it is only efficaceous for short term interventions - but scientology reduces methadone to the same level as homeopathic medicine: look what it did for Charles Manson, to name but one...these people and their false, insidious doctrine, should be kept out of our schools at all costs.

I do some work with young people as well as adults in my field, and realise how crucial it is that they receive appropriate information around drugs and alcohol, but this has to come from recognised drug agencies, not inappropriate religious sects. If Al Quaida wanted to educate young people in this country around drugs and alcohol, would that be encouraged in this way, I wonder?

Yours,

Julian Isaacs

Julian Isaacs, Plymouth, UK

What a disgrace!


Worried about Police Officers in the Free Masons...compared to the Scientologist Free Masons are saints....How dare the police force taken these crack pots into our schools, the officers concerned should be imprisoned straight away without trial, their property sized and handed over to a cult recovery group, all copies of this book should be burnt and its publishers and printers finded £1,000,000 a day until all the copies are destroyed........

Ian J, Ramsgate, UK

Actually, I think they are speaking of oxcotin, which is almost like heroin. Oxycodone is strong, but the oxycotin epidemic is/has been quite grave.

Kat Osman, Greensboro, NC

Scientology is a religion and a cult that is best avoided. Nevertheless, the more voices we hear about the dangers of taking drugs, the better; for far too long we have been inundated with liberal views subtly pushing the idea that drug taking does not harm the vast majority of users; a total distortion of the truth since all drugs have side affects, and no one can know for certain how they're going to affect anyone until the damage is done.

Methadone is a higly addictive drug, and the vast majority using it continue to use other addictive psycho active drugs.

Alcohol is toxic, there isn't an organ in the body it does not affect. Drop a penny into a small measure of whisky and see what happens.

Oxycoden is also a highly addictive drug, a synthetic heroin. The US Government is so concerned about it that it issued a special bulletin in November last year, warning about the abuse, criminal diversion and addiction arising from its use. Facts no ideology.

Peter O'Loughlin, Beckenham , England