Press Release
Scientologists Mobilize Across France in Grassroots Anti-Drug Campaign
In August, volunteers from the Church of Scientology’s Drug-Free World campaign carried out a nationwide grassroots effort across France, distributing over 10,500 educational booklets, engaging hundreds of shop owners and educators, and gathering youth pledges to stay drug-free. Operating without government funding, the initiative reached major cities and rural towns alike — from Marseille and Toulouse to Brittany and Normandy — at a time when drug-related deaths and emergency visits are on the rise. By bringing prevention directly to streets, schools, and communities, the campaign filled a critical gap in France’s drug strategy, offering a clear and urgent message: “Just say no to drugs.”
PARIS — While French health officials continue to prioritize “harm reduction” policies — from supervised injection sites to cannabis decriminalization debates — a different kind of drug prevention intervention is unfolding on sidewalks, in shops, and outside schools across the country.
Led by volunteers from the Church of Scientology under its Drug-Free World banner, a nationwide august campaign distributed more than 10,500 educational booklets, engaged hundreds of merchants and educators, and collected dozens of youth pledges — all centered on a simple, unfashionable message: Just say no to drugs.
The campaign, which ran throughout August, reached Marseille’s northern neighborhoods, Brittany’s coastal towns, Toulouse’s public squares, and Paris’ Opera Garnier — turning everyday spaces into impromptu prevention zones.
It is an effort that operates largely outside state funding or institutional endorsement. Yet in a country where drug-induced deaths reached 614 in 2022 — a figure described by the French Observatory for Drugs and Drug Addiction (OFDT) as “continuing an upward trend since 2010” — and where emergency room visits for cocaine use nearly doubled between 2011 and 2021, according to Sante Publique France, the campaign’s persistence — and its reception among educators, health professionals, and local merchants — suggests it is filling a gap that official policy has yet to fully address.
A Campaign Built on Boots, Not Bureaucracy: The August rollout was methodical, decentralized, and hyper-local.
On August 19 in Marseille, volunteers distributed 600 booklets and secured agreements with seven local shops to display materials. A week later in La Fleche, in western France, 847 booklets went out — 30 businesses signed on, and a schoolteacher took three copies to use in classroom prevention sessions.
In Sochaux, a former industrial town in eastern France where economic decline has coincided with rising substance use, 400 booklets were handed out on August 24.
By August 28, volunteers in southwestern France had placed 1,000 booklets with 53 merchants — pharmacists, cafés, tobacco shops — effectively turning storefronts into community outposts for drug education.
The campaign’s centerpiece in Marseille on August 30 drew 750 booklet distributions, with dozens signing the “Drug-Free Ambassador” pledges — including two girls, ages 8 and 10, whose father walked them through each commitment point — and two recorded audio testimonials. One woman, now in her 30s, told volunteers she first encountered the material as a teenager: “My mother left the booklet in the bathroom. I read it out of curiosity. That was 15 years ago — but it stayed with me.”
The campaign’s “Impaired Vision Goggles,” which simulate the motor and cognitive effects of cannabis use, proved particularly effective. A young couple who initially dismissed them as a gimmick tried the exercise — and left shaken. “We couldn’t walk straight or catch a ball,” one admitted. “It made us rethink everything.”
In Toulouse the same day, at Place Jeanne d’Arc, volunteers distributed 280 booklets and engaged specialized educators, retired ambulance drivers, and young adults with direct experience of drug-related loss — including one man whose friend began smoking cannabis at 14 and later died by suicide.
A tattoo artist and YouTuber took a full set of materials for her studio and her channel. “I’m going to make videos about this,” she told volunteers. “Thank you for being here.”
Paris: Where Policy Meets the Public
The most resonant stop came on August 30 in front of the Opera Garnier, where a mobile exhibit — organized by Drug-Free World France coordinator Nadine Vigneron — drew a good number of substantive conversations, distributed hundreds of booklets, and handed out DVDs and educator kits.
Among those who stopped: a criminal lawyer and president of a social association who requested bulk orders; special education teachers seeking classroom tools; and a psychologist from Sainte-Anne Hospital.
Speaking with volunteers, he said: “In my clinical experience, around 90% of the cases I treat developed mental health challenges after using drugs. Your prevention work is not just valuable — it’s essential.”
Mothers shared stories of children trapped in addiction without access to treatment. Young adults — some current or former users — asked questions, listened, and left visibly affected.
“A very inspiring work” Vigneron said. “This exhibit is high quality. Very noticeable. We’re bringing it to Nantes on September 20.”
The Final Push: 7,000 Booklets in One Day
The campaign’s largest single-day effort came on August 31, when volunteers blanketed Brittany and Normandy with 7,000 booklets distributed across 131 businesses — embedding prevention materials in rural pharmacies, seaside boutiques, and village cafés. Just door-to-door, hand-to-hand delivery.
The Data Behind the Drive
The campaign’s urgency is grounded in measurable trends:
According to the French Observatory for Drugs and Drug Addiction (OFDT), 13.4 million adults in France have tried cannabis. Of those, 1.6 million use it regularly. Cocaine-related emergency room visits nearly doubled between 2011 and 2021, per Sante Publique France. France recorded over 600 drug-induced deaths in 2022, with opioids involved in the majority, according to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA). Globally, 296 million people used drugs in 2021, and only one in five with drug use disorders received treatment, per the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.
Why It Matters
“On the ground, this campaign, inspired by the works of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, creates an impact that is neither abstract nor marginal“, said Ivan Arjona-Pelado, Scientology representative to the EU and the UN. “Teachers are using the materials. Shop owners are displaying them. Psychologists are endorsing them. Young people — including those who have already experimented — are stopping by to ask questions.“
In a policy environment where “harm reduction” dominates thanks to vested interests, and prevention is often relegated to after-school PSAs, this campaign offers something increasingly rare: a direct, unapologetic message that drug use carries serious, irreversible risks — and that avoiding it entirely is not only possible, but preferable.
“Whether that message scales beyond pamphlets and goggles it is up to each citizen and government officials, but I can guarantee you that Scientologists are putting their energy, time and passion so that it happens“, stated Arjona, “and now, in towns and cities across France, it’s being heard“.
Here’s a revised closing paragraph, smoothly bridging from a press release focused on drug prevention activities to a broader message about Scientology’s religious recognitions and humanitarian impact:
These recent drug prevention initiatives are part of the Church of Scientology’s longstanding commitment to creating a better world through practical solutions. Across the globe, Scientology-sponsored programs address some of society’s most urgent issues — from substance abuse and criminal rehabilitation to literacy, human rights education, and disaster response. This work, spearheaded and boosted by Scientology’s Ecclesiastical leader Mr. David Miscavige, has earned the Church and its founder, L. Ron Hubbard, numerous humanitarian recognitions for their tangible contributions to the well-being of communities worldwide. At the same time, Scientology’s religious status has been officially recognized by governments and courts in countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, Australia, Mexico, Colombia, Macedonia, among many others (scientologyreligion.org). Together, these acknowledgments reflect both the spiritual mission and the real-world impact of Scientology — a faith dedicated not only to spiritual advancement, but to practical action for a drug-free and ethical society.
Media Contact
Organization: European Office Church of Scientology for Public Affairs and Human Rights
Contact Person: Ivan Arjona
Website: https://www.scientologyeurope.org
Email: Send Email
Address:Boulevard de Waterloo 103
City: Brussels
State: Brussels
Country:Belgium
Release id:33794
The post Scientologists Mobilize Across France in Grassroots Anti-Drug Campaign appeared first on King Newswire. This content is provided by a third-party source.. King Newswire makes no warranties or representations in connection with it. King Newswire is a press release distribution agency and does not endorse or verify the claims made in this release. If you have any complaints or copyright concerns related to this article, please contact the company listed in the ‘Media Contact’ section
About Author
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Digi Observer journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
Is 2025 the Year Crypto On-Ramps Became Real Financial Infrastructure?
The first half of 2025 has revealed a seismic shift in the crypto ecosystem. Once considered speculative access points, crypto on-ramps are now emerging as core components of global financial infrastructure. In Paybis’ latest H1 2025 report, the company highlights how deep-rooted regulatory clarity, a move toward real-time bank rails, and surging institutional flows are redefining the on-ramp landscape.
From the phased implementation of the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regime to the U.S. GENIUS Act offering federal clarity on stablecoins, these changes aren’t just boosting volumes they’re laying the groundwork for how digital assets are used in cross-border payments, treasury functions, and enterprise settlements.
Investor Takeaway
Іnstitutional flows now make up 82% of Paybis’ settled volume. This is no longer a retail-dominated story crypto rails are becoming vital for corporate finance and compliance-led adoption.
What Macro and Regulatory Drivers Are Shaping This Evolution?
Two macro forces are transforming crypto on-ramping into a critical financial backbone:
Regulatory Convergence via MiCA and GENIUS Act: MiCA’s phased rollout in Europe (EMT/ART rules effective from June 30, 2024; CASP licensing effective December 30, 2024) has become a global benchmark. The U.S. followed suit with the GENIUS Act (July 2025), establishing full-reserve requirements and monthly attestations for stablecoin issuers.
Real-Time Banking Rails Replacing Cards: Instant account-based systems are now outpacing cards in major economies. Brazil’s Pix handled over R$26 trillion in 2024, India’s UPI processed ₹25 lakh crore in July 2025 alone, and the U.S. RTP network hit $481 billion in Q2 2025. The EU now mandates pricing parity between instant and traditional credit transfers, incentivizing larger transactions.
Investor Takeaway
Real-time payment systems like Pix and UPI are pushing on-ramp providers toward account-based rails. This shift is compressing card-driven margins and favoring FX-spread-driven models.
How Are Institutional and Retail Behaviors Changing?
Retail Patterns: More Self-Custody, Higher Transaction Sizes
Median transaction value climbed to $604, tracking Bitcoin’s rise from $61K to $93K.
74% of first-time Paybis users opted for self-custody wallets like Ledger Live and Rabby over exchange deposits.
Institutional Adoption: Embedded, Automated, Scalable
Corporate onboarding times dropped by 37%.
Stablecoin swaps are increasingly embedded in Treasury Management Systems (TMS) via APIs.
White-label integrations captured 19% of total market volume, up from 7% YoY.
Investor Takeaway
Retail is going wallet-first, while institutions are embedding crypto into core treasury workflows. On-ramp providers must optimize both fronts: UX for wallets, APIs for corporates.
Which Regions and Rails Are Driving Growth?
Regional volumes are heavily shaped by local payment infrastructure and inflationary dynamics:
This growth correlates with the expansion of high-speed settlement networks and inflation-driven stablecoin demand, especially in Latin America and SSA.
Investor Takeaway
Stablecoins are displacing fiat in high-inflation markets. Look for growth in regions with both regulatory clarity and real-time payment adoption.
How Does Paybis Compare in the Competitive Landscape?
Paybis is outperforming competitors in institutional penetration:
Pricing pressure is fiercest in small-ticket retail, where headline rates dropped ~22% YoY. In contrast, large corporate deals remain relationship-driven, with minimal fee erosion.
Investor Takeaway
Institutional flows remain sticky and margin-resilient. Firms like Paybis that bundle services and optimize treasury flows are best positioned to preserve spreads.
What Does Paybis’ Growth Reveal About Market Structure?
User Growth: +90% YoY in unique verified users.
Volume Growth: +179% YoY in total settled volume.
B2B Dominance: 82% of volume came from business clients.
This growth wasn’t margin-dilutive Paybis’ shift toward OTC and enterprise flows offset tightening spreads. Key enablers included service bundling, custom settlement windows, and multi-rail support via vIBANs.
Investor Takeaway
Paybis’ success is built on infrastructure, not hype. Multi-rail banking and low-friction onboarding now matter more than brand or ad spend.
What’s the Outlook for H2 2025 and Beyond?
Regulatory Divergence, Not Convergence: Global talks on harmonization (IMF, BIS, FSB) remain non-binding. National rules on reserves, attestations, and issuer structures will likely remain fragmented.
Bank-Issued Stablecoins Rise: Projects like JPMorgan’s Kinexys and the Regulated Liability Network are gaining steam, but remain private and restricted.
Layer-2 Activity Grows, But L1 Still Dominates for Enterprises: While Base, Arbitrum, and OP are growing transaction count, most stablecoin settlement value remains on L1 and off-chain bank rails due to liquidity and compliance.
Green On-Ramps Remain Aspirational: ESG and carbon accounting frameworks are fragmented, delaying institutional commitments to “green crypto.”
Investor Takeaway
Prepare for regulatory fragmentation, not a global standard. Institutions need to comply locally while innovating globally multi-jurisdictional agility is key.
Conclusion: From Front-Ends to Infrastructure
The message from Paybis’ H1 2025 report is clear: crypto on-ramps are evolving into regulated FX gateways, powered by stablecoins, real-time banking rails, and API-first design. Retail demand is real, but it’s enterprise flows and compliance-ready infrastructure that are setting the pace.
As the industry enters H2 2025, winners won’t be defined by who has the best marketing or widest reach. They’ll be the providers who’ve already laid the groundwork for a regulated, instant, and institutional-grade crypto economy.
Investor Takeaway
Crypto’s next cycle won’t just reward token pickers it will reward infra builders. Focus on firms with deep banking rails, regulatory foresight, and B2B traction.
Company name: Paybis
Contact name: Innokenty Isers
E-mail: support@paybis.com
Website: https://paybis.com
Country: USA
About Author
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Digi Observer journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
New York, USA, 11th September 2025, Argentum AI (AAI) has unveiled a new decentralized computing platform aimed at bridging the gap between surging global demand for AI computation and the vast reserves of idle computing capacity around the world. By directly connecting those in need of processing power with those who can supply it, AAI promises to dramatically reduce costs by up to 85% compared to traditional cloud providers while fostering a transparent, community-driven ecosystem for cloud infrastructure.
In today’s cloud computing market, a handful of providers dominate, leading to exorbitant prices, hardware shortages, and underutilized resources. AI startups and researchers often struggle to access affordable high-performance compute, even as many servers and GPUs sit idle in data centers and homes. This mismatch between soaring demand and unused supply has created an inefficient, fractured market where buyers overpay or go without, and hardware owners see expensive machines sit idle. AAI was conceived to solve this “exchange problem” by establishing an open marketplace where any provider – from a large data center to a home PC owner – can offer compute power directly to those who need it. In this network, every task request is published for multiple providers to bid on, yielding real-time competitive pricing instead of the fixed, often inflated rates of traditional clouds. By leveraging decentralization, AAI maximizes the use of untapped capacity and prevents any single supplier from monopolizing the market, leveling the playing field for providers of all sizes.
What sets AAI apart from earlier peer-to-peer cloud efforts is its strong emphasis on a human-centric, trust-based design. While blockchain smart contracts automate transactions behind the scenes, the platform avoids opaque “black box” algorithms and corporate gatekeeping, opting instead for on-chain transparency and community governance to ensure fairness. Users will be able to review provider reputations and performance metrics, and even help shape marketplace rules via decentralized governance (e.g., quadratic voting by token holders), giving the community confidence that the system is equitable and not dominated by hidden interests. This user-first approach is intended to build trust among participants and lower the barrier to entry for newcomers to decentralized technology.
“AI innovation is global — compute is not. Argentum AI is solving that gap by creating the world’s largest decentralized compute marketplace.” — Andrew Sobko, CEO of Argentum AI
For efficiency and usability, AAI also employs artificial intelligence as a “smart mediator” in the network. A sophisticated AI scheduling agent dynamically matches each incoming job to the most suitable provider, taking into account cost, performance, reliability, and even energy efficiency to ensure tasks are executed quickly and cheaply. This intelligent automation optimizes resource use beyond what static cloud systems can offer, yet it is deployed with human oversight – users retain control and a clear view of how decisions are made for their workloads. In practice, that means AAI’s users can both benefit from AI-driven optimizations and maintain full transparency and choice in how their tasks run, combining the best of automation with personal control.
Overall, AAI’s vision is to marry the best aspects of decentralized technology with a user-friendly, trust-first philosophy. The result is a win–win proposition: requesters of computing power enjoy vastly lower costs and shorter wait times for AI processing (a game-changer for AI development speed), while providers of hardware earn income from equipment that would otherwise sit idle. “It’s a win-win solution that solves the pain points of both sides at once,” the AAI whitepaper notes, underscoring how the platform serves where both the centralized cloud and previous solutions have fallen short. With global demand for AI computation at an all-time high and trust in centralized cloud giants on the decline, the timing is ideal for AAI’s community-driven model to take hold. By unlocking latent computing capacity on a global scale, AAI aims to usher in a more decentralized and fair future for cloud infrastructure – one where computing power is accessible, affordable, and controlled by its users rather than a few big players.
Media Contact
Organization: Argentum AI
Contact Person: Nik Entwistle
Website: argentum-ai.com
Email: Nik@agencytk.com
About Author
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Digi Observer journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
Dallas, Texas — Gold Coast Dental has officially expanded its presence into Texas with a new office in Dallas. The practice brings its commitment to patient-centered, community-based dental care to North Texas, making high-quality treatment accessible to families and individuals in the region.
Gold Coast Dental in Dallas provides a complete range of services, including orthodontics, pediatric care, cosmetic dentistry, implants, and emergency treatments. To encourage preventative care, new patients are welcomed with complimentary dental examinations, X-rays, and consultations. Same-day appointments and multilingual staff are available to ensure care is convenient and inclusive for the city’s diverse population.
“Our Dallas expansion marks an exciting milestone,” said a spokesperson for Gold Coast Dental. “Patients searching for a ‘dentist near you in Dallas’ can now access the same trusted care that has supported families across California. We’re dedicated to making dental visits approachable and stress-free.”
Leadership and Vision
Gold Coast Dental is led by Chief Executive Officer Alan Boval, who brings more than 30 years of experience in business management, real estate, and technology. Boval earned his MBA from the University of Southern California and a BA in Business Economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara. His career includes leadership roles at Toyota Financial Services, Thomson Reuters, and Better Blocks LLC.
Note: While Gold Coast Dental has expanded into Texas with its Dallas office, the organization also proudly operates 19 dental clinics across California, serving Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and Santa Barbara counties.
Resources
Alongside in-office care, Gold Coast Dental offers a dental blog that shares patient-friendly insights on oral health, dental treatments, and the latest advancements in dentistry. This platform is designed to inform both patients and the wider Dallas community.
Media Contact
Organization: Gold Coast Dental Corporate Office
Contact Person: Alan Boval
Website: https://goldcoastdental.com
Email: Send Email
Contact Number: +15622421411
Country:United States
Release id:33787
The post Gold Coast Dental Expands to Dallas Texas appeared first on King Newswire. This content is provided by a third-party source.. King Newswire makes no warranties or representations in connection with it. King Newswire is a press release distribution agency and does not endorse or verify the claims made in this release. If you have any complaints or copyright concerns related to this article, please contact the company listed in the ‘Media Contact’ section
About Author
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Digi Observer journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
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