Drug Detox and Rehab Treatment

Narconon's Drug Detox and Rehab Treatment

Narconon is a drug treatment program founded by William Benitez in 1966 while he was incarcerated at the Arizona State Prison. Based on the writings of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, Benitez formed an organization that now boasts over 100 centers worldwide.

According to Narconon International Drug Prevention and Rehabilitation, their methods have a 75 percent success rate in treating persons with drug addiction. Narconon does not use drugs to treat addiction. Instead, the program focuses on treating the person as a whole. Narconon has divisions devoted to drug prevention and education, peer leadership training for students, and workplace drug prevention and training. Additionally, they have a juvenile center in Utah where students ages 13-17 can receive drug treatment if order to do so by the court system.

The Narconon Drug Rehabilitation Program, First Step Program, and New Life Detoxification Program are used to treat addicts who want to make a change in their life for the better.

Narconon Drug Rehabilitation Program

Before entering the drug rehabilitation program, addicts are asked to complete a full medical review and get a medical doctor’s permission to begin the program. No drugs or medications are used, but nutrition and nutritional supplements are stressed. This program usually takes four to six months to complete.

Sessions are frequently taught by instructors who have been through the Narconon program. Sessions focus on educating a “student” on how to live his/her life. “Graduates” of the program are expected to begin their lives anew. They are considered fully recovered and no follow-up care is provided.

Narconon First Step Program

This is a drug-free method of withdrawal, done under a voluntary basis. People come to a workshop with a sober/drug-free friend or family member who will assist them in their withdrawal effort. They learn about nutritional supplements, communication exercises, and self-help assists.

The addict gradually steps down his/her drug use at home, with the help of his/her support person. He/she calls in or comes to a designated meeting place as way to monitor the withdrawal. The main four steps in this process are:

• Nutrition—learning about and using vitamin and mineral supplements to ease the pains of withdrawal and replenish lost nutrients
• “Assists”—learning to prevent and lessen physical pain
• Objective procedures—directing the person’s attention to the environment around them; moving past physical and emotional pain
• Communication skills—learning to communicate more effectively

Narconon New Life Detoxification Program

The drug detox program developed by Narconon is based on the thought that drug residue stays in the fatty tissues of the body. Narconon believes that with treatment, this residue can be removed. The New Life Detoxification Program combines exercise, sweating in a sauna, and using nutritional supplements to reduce drug and alcohol symptoms and cravings. This method is thought to produce clearer thinking and higher energy levels.

Other Narconon Resources

More information about all these programs can be found at the Narconon International website. Additionally, Narconon provides information on specific alcohol and drugs. An online bookstore has information and materials available for purchase. Addicts can also search for a center located near their residence.

Criticisms of Narconon

With every drug detox and rehab treatment program, there are criticisms and problems. Not every program is right for everyone. Some criticisms of Narconon put out by Narconon Exposed include:

• Full effectiveness of research on success rates may have been skewed
• L. Ron Hubbard’s medical information is not readily endorsed by medical doctors
• The practice of hiring former Narconon addicts for training is risky
• Very close ties to the Church of Scientology

In 2005, California state school superintendent Jack O’Connell advised state schools to drop the Narconon program in their districts after finding that it subtly taught Scientology beliefs during drug prevention presentations. Further evaluation by doctors found inaccuracies in the program. Many people believe it does not represent current medical facts and theories.

Any drug detox and rehab treatment program should be evaluated by a potential patient before beginning the program. Consulting with a family physician and asking specific questions regarding the research backing a program will aid in choosing the correct treatment.

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