Alberta natives warned about U.S. drug program
Scientology course potentially dangerous,, says Oklahoma report
By Bob Beaty
Calgary Herald
A drug treatment program backed by a controversial church is trying
to sell Alberta natives addiction-cure services that medical experts
have warned are unsafe and ineffective.
As many as 10 Alberta reserves have been approached by Narcorion, a
U.S.-based program associated with the Church of Scientology.
The program - which costs about $18,000 US and prescribes daily saunas
and megavitamin doses - has been rejected by a U.S. state board of
health because it "may endanger the physical or mental well-being
of (its) clients."
Brendan Moore, a former Scientologist and director of the Calgary-based
Cult Information service Inc., said Narconon recruits members for
Scientology.
While none of Alberta's 45 .native reserves have signed up for the
program, Moore fears it is only a matter of time. "It makes me
shudder thinking of taxpayer's dollars going into this," he said.
But Los Angeles-based Scientology spokeswoman Gaetane Asselin said just
because Narconon used Scientology principles, it didn't mean every
Narconon client became a Scientologist.
"It's such an old (criticism), it is boring. It's terrible,"
Asselin said.
"People for many years have just tried to stop us from helping
others to be drug free."
In most of the United States, drug treatment programs must be certified
by state authorities or sanctioned by nationwide industry associations.
In Canada, nothing would prevent a reserve from funding its own Narconon
program, said Garth Corrigal of Edmonton, regional director of Health
Canada's medical services branch.
But if the reserve asked Ottawa to fund such a program, the chances of
approval were slim because cash was scarce, Corrigal said. In addition,
the program would have to be recognized by medical or therapeutic
associations in Alberta.
Of the 34 alcohol and drug rehabilitation centres Narconon claims to
have in 12 countries, the best known in North America is a 75-bed
facility on the Chilocco Indian reserve in Oklahoma.
Narconon applied to the state's board of mental health for certification.
In a report, the board found Narconon requires its patients to sweat up
to five hours per day for 30 days and take high doses of vitamins and
minerals.
The doses were so high the board concluded it could be potentially
dangerous to the patients."
The board noted that most drugs were removed from the body through the
liver, kidneys and lungs. "Although minute quantities of some
drugs may be found in sweat, the amount represents a small fraction of
drug elimination," the board ruled.
The board warned sauna therapy could pose "significant health
risks to intravenous heroin addicts."
It also stated that by restricting patients to seeing their doctors,
family, lawyers, clergy and other such contacts only at limited,
specified times, Narconon was endangering their physical and mental
well-being.
But the board decision didn't stop Narconon. Bob Lopsinger, publisher
of an Oklahoma weekly paper, said Narconon was given approval to set
up a facility through a nationwide industry association.
Gary Smith, Narconon's Los Angeles-based acting chief executive officer,
said the Oklahoma board refused to hear testimony from a clutch of
experts supporting Narconon's program and as a result its findings
were flawed.
Smith claimed the Chilocco facility had treated as many as 400 drug
addicts and more than 70 per cent remained drug-free since it opened
in the early 1980s.
Scientologist and Narconon volunteer Steve Koochin of Edmonton said he
had always disclosed - in dealings with tribal leaders - that Scientology
supported Narconon. He added no Alberta tribe had subscribed to the
program.
Chris Shade, administrator of the Blood Tribe's department of health,
said a tribe member convinced him to send a medical student to
Narconon's Chilocco facility to check the program out.
The student found out about the Narconon-Scientology connection.
"That is when I started to backpedal fast," Shade said.
Marvin Fox, director of the Tsuu. T'ina Nation Spirit Healing Lodge near
Calgary, wrote the Herald that Narconon's program "is worth while
looking into." After being told about the Oklahoma findings, though,
he said his or any other reserve would have to carefully examine it.
Scientology was founded by American science-fiction writer L. Ron
Hubbard to create a new civilization that is "without insanity,
without criminals and without war."
Despite that goal, 11 top U.S. Scientologists - including. Hubbard's
wife - were sent to prisons in the early 1980's after, being convicted
of burglarizing and wire-tapping more than 100 private and government
agencies.
The name "Narconon"® is trademarked to the Scientology
organization through one of their many front groups. The name
"Scientology"® is also trademarked to the "Church"
of Scientology. Neither this web page, nor this web site, nor any of the
individuals mentioned herein assisting to educate the public about the
dangers of the Narconon scam are members of or representitives of the
Scientology organization.
If you or a loved one needs help -- real help -- there are
a number of rehabilitation programs you can contact. The real
Narcotics Anonymous organization
can get you in touch with real people who can help you.
Click [HERE] to visit Narcotics
Anonymous's web site. Narcotics Anonymous's telephone number is
1 (818) 773-9999.
Return to The NarCONon exposure's main Index page.
Forward: For a systematic, detailed, professional exposure of
Scientology's "Narconon" front group, visit the
Narconon Exposed web site.
Calgary Herald, March 29, 1994
The views and opinions stated within this web page are those of the author
or authors which wrote them and may not reflect the views and opinions of
the ISP or account user which hosts the web page. The opinions may or may
not be those of the Chairman of The Skeptic Tank.