Drug Addiction Answers

The Narconon program has been helping people get off drugs since 1966. Today, you can find Narconon centers in over 120 centers in  45 countries. Over the years, Narconon has received numerous recognitions and letters of acknowledgements for its work in communities around the world. Narconon’s work has also been covered in many articles and magazines.

So  here is what I found :

Narconon is a long term residential treatment program for drug and alcohol abuse  that is both  non-traditional and  non-12step. Narconon uses both  a Holistic and  Cognitive approach to addiction treatment. Narconon  is a non-profit drug rehabilitation program dedicated to eliminating drug abuse and drug addiction through drug rehab, drug information and drug education.

The program starts with a certified addiction counselor doing a complete assessment with the client  at which time it is determined if the client will do a drug free detox or if a medical detox is needed , both are available at all the US and Canada centers. This period usually is 7-10 days and handles acute drug and alcohol withdrawal symptoms and prepares the client for treatment. What makes Narconon so unique is that they don’t stop there , but instead use a extended detox program of exercise ,vitamins,amino acids, and dry heat sauna treatments . These treatment can last several weeks until the client is no longer experiencing any drug dreams or drug cravings . Once the client is free from drug cravings and is thinking clearly again they receive classes on study techniques and communication. Then there is a series of cognitive therapies designed to address underlying issues and restore ones control over his environment ,which I found very self-empowering. Then a class on how to disconnect from drinking and using buddies and how to re-connect with new friends and groups that are succeeding in life. Then more classes on Personal Integrity and Ethics the student is then  coached on cleaning up the damage of past and repairing crucial relationships such as family and work. Throughout the entire program clients receive individual counseling as needed as well as several reviews to make sure they are making progress and getting their needs met. On Sundays most centers arrange field trips , students are able to attend religious services if they wish or arrange family visits or go on a group activity usually fun in nature such as movies , bowling , beach , water parks or whatever may be available in that particular centers area. What I found very interesting is that at no time are students pushed to finish quickly (as in many centers that are trying to free up bed space) Instead the focus is strictly on each clients individual case ,allowing each student to progress at a pace they are comfortable with. In most cases this is a 3 -6 month period with the average completion being just under 4 months. This is then followed by several options for After-care and a case manager is assigned to track each student for 2 years  after graduation to track their success and intervene if the client is going off the course of his treatment. In cases where it is deemed necessary for a student to return to treatment the Narconon centers offer reduced or in some cases waived fees.

In all of the US and Canadian centers I reviewed I found friendly professional staff that all had a genuine purpose to help others recover from addiction. Most had been through addiction and recovery themselves and then trained to become certified in the field of addiction . Every center I reviewed had a licensed medical director and most even had an onsite nurses station.

Why are there sites critical of Narconon that try to steer me away from this type of help ?

Here is the Truth about Narconon :

William Benitez, an inmate of Arizona State Prison, founded the Narconon program in 1966.  Benitez came upon a book in the prison library by American author L. Ron Hubbard, and after reading this book and applying the principles it contained on increasing one’s abilities, he and dozens of other inmates were able to permanently end their addictions to heroin. The Narconon program has evolved from that simple beginning to a worldwide network of over 120 drug prevention and drug-free social education rehabilitation centers.  Through the tireless work of dedicated staff and volunteers, we have rehabilitated tens of thousands of addicts and brought the truth about drugs to millions of individuals.The Narconon program is a non-profit public benefit organization dedicated to eliminating drug abuse through prevention, education and rehabilitation.

And that is the answer , anything related to L.Ron Hubbard seems to draw some criticism and attacks ,even though this drug rehab technology currently has the highest success rate in the industry today. Not to mention that most  Narconon centers have a 501C3 status ….That literally means not for profit and not religious  . At no time do any Narconon staff proselytize or suggest any client look in to  any of L Ron Hubbard’s  religious technologies.   In fact Narconon has students of all faiths and all walks of life and welcomes anyone  wishing to attain permanent recovery.

Narconon also provides drug education and prevention programs which can be found at the following link :

Narconon International, the administrative and promotional international coordinating office in Hollywood, California, was formed up actually long after the network of individual Narconon centers had existed. With dozens of staff speaking many languages, Narconon International licenses new centers worldwide. Beyond providing managerial expertise to the network, its senior function is to monitor and support the highest level of technical and administrative excellence throughout the network. The International office has also spearheaded drug education delivery and other drug prevention events to hundreds of thousands of students and others in southern California. Supporting the office is Friends of Narconon International, whose staff have produced and distributed drug education videos and curriculum including The Truth About Drugs: What is it? and Marijuana: The Myth. The Narconon International Science Advisory Board has also sponsored research, outcome studies, and international peer-review conferences on L. Ron Hubbard’s sauna detoxification protocol, including conferences in Los Angeles in 1995, Stockholm in 1997, and Oklahoma in 2001.