The Narconon Controversy

Narconon is presented as a non-religious therapy strategy that focuses on dealing with the causes of drug dependence along with the addiction in itself.

Narconon was founded on the views and writings of Scientology creator L. Ron Hubbard and looks at the roots of drug addiction from an addict's standpoint in order to efficiently cure the drug dependence.

This form of management does not use any medicines of any type to ease the pain of withdrawal but provides drug rehabilitation, education, and avoidance therapies.

Much of Narconon's programs are taught in college classrooms using materials written by the Narconon professionals. The texts are designed to supplement the university's existing drug deterrence program. Proponents of the Narconon system assert a 70 percent success rate with combating drug addiction compared to a 30 percent rate in most alternate therapy programs.

Hubbard claimed to have developed the program after doing extensive research and studies on drug dependence roots and how to combat the ailment successfully without the use of meds. The premise of the Narconon model claims that addicts can resume routine, salubrious, creative lives when they work with the skills they are enrolled in in the strategy.

The system can be taught to an out-patient or at an in-patient Narconon sanctioned hospital. Generally, the Narconon system takes four to six months to work effectively. Participants are said to be going 'back to school' to become re-programed on medications, the dangers of drug addiction, and drug recovery. All of this is done without the benefit of pharmaceutical help.

Like the rest of Scientology's faith, Narconon has its opponents who say that the data that is presented isn't continually scientifically sound even if the program claims it is. They say that Narconon distorts facts so that it upholds their conclusions and doesn't give the entire picture. Some see the program as a form of brain-washing and see the entire venture as part of a recruitment crusade for the Church of Scientology!

Narconon has, over the ages, been the subject of a series of inquiries and has been entangled in various legal suits, most of which have centred on its association with the controversial church. There have also been claims of corruption, of drug trafficking within Narconon rehab facilities, and even of plagarism!

Perhaps most significant challenge of all though is the charge that the Narconon procedures simply do not work, as evidenced by the grim deaths of a number of persons in Narconon rehab programs.

Drug addiction is a horrible scourge - not a soul would want to deny this. But in the case of Narconon, many imagine that the supposed cure is worse than the illness!

For more information on Narconon and drug dependence visit http://www.addictiontodrugs.org/the_narconon_controversy.php