Forward: For a systematic, detailed, professional exposure of
Scientology's "Narconon" front group, visit the
Narconon Exposed web site.
orkeltatte@hotmail.com (orkeltatte@hotmail.com)
February 2004
Medical and psychiatrical standpoints on why Narconon shall be denied
permission to manage the rehabilititation of drugaddicts.
Appendix to the appeal from the community board of Wellfare.
Facts
The Narcononprogram does not differentiate between the different types
of addiction problems. The same method is used on all addicts without
being able to produce any scientifical evidence that all addiction
problems can be fully and acceptably treated with one and the same
method.
When trying the request of permission to start this treatment, the
burden of proof , whether the Narconon program is fulfilling the
demands and requirements or not , to should be upon the applicant.This
should especially be the case ,in matters of risks, sequrity and
efficacy to the individual.
Narconon has not been able to show that the program are either secure
or efficient. To the contrary , their are a signifiquant body of
scientific evidence showing the Narconon program to be dangerous as
well as unefficiant.
The applicants documentation fails to show how the Narconon program
prevents the risks of late abstinence phenomenom such as seizures,
deliriums, and / or hallucinations. These conditions are potentially
lifethreatening.
Drug elimination
The Narconon program requires that clients shall sweat in five hour
long saunabaths each day , seven days a week. Narconon states that
this extreme sweating are required to free the body of drugs and
chemicals stored in the fat tissue.
This statement is in total lack of scientific evidence. ( see
investigation from Prof. Folke Sjökvist, expert advisor to the
National Board of Health and Wellfare. 1996-11-26)
Vitamines
The Narconon program includes overdosing of vitamines and minerals.
The use of the stated doses , are according to medical expert opinion,
potentially dangerous. Liverdamages and acut liverfailure are
mentioned as such risks.
The doses are above the recommended maximum doses by the National
food administration.
Drug addiction and psychiatric illness
Simultaneous drugaddiction and psychiatric illness are common.
Depending on he drug in question, different serious psychiatric
symtoms can be camouflaged and produced respectively , other symtoms
will be shown and augmentated during he abstinence phase.
Psychiatric competence is therefore vital when treating people with
drug &endash; and alcohol addiction. The documents in application
fails to show how this competence shall be upheld to the benefit of
the clients. Psychiatric competence are completely lacking in the
named staff personel.
It is stated in the application that the targeted group of treatment
are drugaddicts without any serious psychiatric illness. Nothing
emerges however in the application , how the selection of the targeted
group can be secured.
Physical exertions in combination with saunabathing
The Narconon program includes physical exertions "to stimulate
bloodcirculation" followed by the 5 hour long saunabaths at high
temperatures. Combined , these activities exposes the clients to
serious physical and mental healthrisks. The procedures exposes the
individual to risks of dehydration and heatdamages.
The sauna program can lead to hyperthermia and disturbances in the
electrolytic balance (eg heat stroke and disturbed bodily saltbalance)
that can lead to serious disturbances in the hearts electrical
activity system with the risk of fatal sudden cardiac arrest.
Misleading information on competence
Statements in application about cognitive therapy cannot be proved by
CV:s on staffmembers in application. Cognitive Therapy can only be
performed by those with adequate education and training in this
therapy method.
The fact that Narconon staff and management are in total lack of any
adequat education in caregiving , especially regarding the work with
drugaddicts , is a security risk regarding the physical and menatl
health of the clients.
Other risks
The strict personal limitations and rules put upon the clients in the
Narconon program , restricting he clients possibilities contacting a
physician , familymembers, socialworkers and other to the client
important people , are another hazard to the clients physical and
mental health.
The clients rights and possibility to read all that are documentated
about them, must be secured. The routines within Narconon on the
"ethic files" of heir clients , needs claryfication. The clients right
and possibility to take part of those files must be guarantied and
secured as must the possibility to the client, at any time , contact
supervising authorities. The legal security of the client may
otherwise be illegally compromized and restricted.
No part of the Narconon program during the stay at the facility or
during the followup , contains followup of pathological bloodtests or
other medical problems. This is not according to law as stated in the
regulations from the National Board of Health and Wellfare (SOSF
2003:20) nor is it in accordance to praxis in the treatment of
drugaddiction.
Summary
It is our firm and unanimous judgement that :
- The Narconon program in its parts and as a whole puts unacceptable
risks upon the physical and mental health of their clients .
- The content of the program with saunabaths, physical excertions
,overdosing of vitamins and minerals , are to be viewed as
potentially hazardous healthrisks and not as a certified effective
treatment to augmentate drogelimination.
- All named staff lacks proper and adequate education and competence
as stated in national regulations and laws in conjunction with
the work they are supposed to do.
- Specialized psychiatric competence are required to secure the
selection process of the target group of drugaddicts and to
minimize the risks of violence at the facility.
- Referals to outside organiztions such as the PITA Group I/C .
National Board of Addiction Examiners together with personal
"certificates" on staff from any of these organizations , are
irrelevant. The relations between Narconon and these organizations are
at best obscure.The organizations in question are not a part of any
federal or governmental supported activity. Certifying
treatmentcentres or caregiving facilities , are illegal in this
country accordding to the National Board of Health and Wellfare.
Per Thorslund
Vagn Liest
Bo- Kenneth Knutsson
Olof Blix
Ulf Brettstam
Hans Gränefelt
orkeltatte
"There are no higher religion than truth"
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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 Narcotivs
Anonymous's web site. Narcotics Anonymous's telephone number is
1 (818) 773-9999.
Return to The NarCONon exposure's main Index page.
Court appendix in appeal against Narconon
16 Mar 2004
Chiefpsychiatrist
Psychiatric clinic
Värnamo Hospital
Chiefpsychiatrist
Psychiatric clinic
Hoegland Hospital
Manager
Psychiatric clinic
Hoegland Hospital
Senior psychiatrist
Addiction unit
Jonkoping Ryhov
Assist.Chiefpsychiatrist
Psychiatric clinic
Hoegland Hospital
Hospital Manager
Hoegland Hospital
( Veda scriptures )
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