Forward: For a systematic, detailed, professional exposure of
Scientology's "Narconon" front group, visit the
Narconon Exposed web site.
Subject: Narconon's actual success rate is not nearly as high as crooks claim
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05230/555588.stm
Letters to the editor: 8/17/05
Narconon's success rate is not nearly that high
I couldn't read Helen Campbell's mention ("In Rebuttal: Scientology
Helps People" Aug. 15) of Narconon's success rate without responding.
She stated that Narconon has "a documented success rate of nearly 80
percent of graduates never returning to lives of addiction."
They have sometimes increased it to as high as 86 percent, without
independent verification. But source data from studies is often hard to
come by.
Independent researchers have concluded that the actual results of the
Narconon studies are far less flattering than you would be led to
believe. In a Swedish study, 6.6 percent of Narconon enrollees reported
they were drug-free for one year after they were in the program.
Numerous independent examiners have found similar results.
There is the issue of Narconon's detoxification program. Exercise is
advocated, though heart rates can change dramatically during
detoxification. Long periods in saunas are used; Narconon advocates
five hours when no more than 15 to 30 minutes is recommended. There are
mega-doses of vitamins recommended at a level that the state of
Oklahoma (the location of one Narconon center) has called, "potentially
dangerous ... according to the more credible medical evidence."
No method of treatment is foolproof, which makes it important to
acquire good and objective information about your options.
FRED HETZEL JR.
Editor's note: The writer is a social worker with experience in drug
and alcohol addiction.
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 Narcotivs
Anonymous's web site. Narcotics Anonymous's telephone number is
1 (818) 773-9999.
Return to The NarCONon exposure's main Index page.
Date: 17 Aug 2005 21:54:26 -0700
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Penn Hills
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