BOARD DENIES CERTIFICATION FOR NARCONON,
®
20 Dec 91
By Michael McNutt, Enid Bureau
A state board Friday denied certification for a controversial
drug and alcohol treatment center, and gave the facility seven
days to move out its patients. The action ended a more than
year-long effort by Narconon Chilocco New Life Center to win
certification and likely will set up a court battle. Harry Woods
Jr., a lawyer for the facility, indicated he would appeal the
board's decision in Oklahoma County District Court.
Narconon officials earlier said they had invested more than
$3.5 million to renovate the campus. It's unknown how many people
work at the facility. The Oklahoma Board of Mental Health and
Substance Abuse Services voted 6-0 to deny certification for
Narconon Chilocco, which sought permission to operate a 75-bed
center north of Newkirk at the former Chilocco Indian School.
Board member Sue Ellen Read abstained from voting because she
was not at the board's October hearing where members heard more
than 12 hours of evidence. Board member Stewart R. Beasley Jr.
asked that 27 patients now at Narconon Chilocco be removed within
seven days because the program is basically unsafe. Their
well-being is at risk.
Board members said their decision was based on the safety and
effectiveness of Narconon Chilocco's treatment program.
Narconon's ties with the Church of Scientology
®
were not
considered, they said. The program relies on a sauna and exercise
plan, and until October billed itself as "drug-free."
But Dr. Ray Stowers of Medford, hired by Narconon Chilocco in
September, told board members that drugs were administered during
the detoxification part of the program....
Board members refused a request from Woods to allow Narconon
Chilocco to remain open until the matter is appealed and a court
decision is rendered. Hurst said it could take as long as two or
three years for a final ruling if the matter is appealed to the
Oklahoma Supreme Court.
Narconon-Chilocco, operated by Narconon International, has
been accepting patients since February 1990.
It applied for certification in August after state officials
sought a court order to close the facility.
Our main concern is with our 27 clients in the program,"
said Gary Smith, president of Narconon Chilocco. They all
selected Narconon for treatment and are doing well. A couple of
them are court-ordered to be here from other areas.
We will be appealing this in court. This is not a new
situation with the Department of Mental Health. We were forced to
go to court with them a year ago because of their insistence of
putting bias and prejudice into their reports, Smith said.
Lawyers for Narconon Chilocco then tied up the process in the
court system for about a year, forcing the board to hire an
independent inspector to evaluate the program.
Mental health department staffers were allowed to get back
into the certification process three months ago. Staff
recommended denial for Narconon Chilocco's application.
Board members made their decision after deliberating for about
three hours in closed session.
They heard about 4 1/2 hours of testimony, including that of
two for- mer students who said temperatures were as high as 200
degrees in saunas at the facility.
In October, board members listened to more than 12 hours of
comments about Narconon Chilocco, and met for three hours in
closed session before giving Narconon Chilocco until Friday to
correct 13 areas of concern.
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.
THE DAILY OKLAHOMAN, Friday, December 20, 1991
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.