Drug Rehabilitation &

How it Works

PHASE 1 – Drug Withdrawal

Certain   drugs   such   as   heroin   and  alcohol   cannot   normally   be   discontinued   without considerable physical discomfort. With a pre-medical evaluation, Narconon provides a safe, 24-hour care procedure for a drug free withdrawal.

Since its beginnings in the cellblocks of Arizona State Prison, Narconon has championed rehabilitation without resorting to alternative drugs. However, the early program established by William Benitez did not deal directly with the traumatic throes of drug withdrawal.

In response to this need, L. Ron Hubbard researched and developed methods to help addicts through the anguish of withdrawal without the use of potentially addictive drugs. In 1973, Narconon adopted this “drug-free withdrawal” procedure, using vitamin and mineral supplements along with special techniques to ease the mental and physical symptoms.
During   this   step   of   the   program,   the   individual   is   put   through   a   carefully   designed withdrawal   program   that   enables   him   to   come   off   drugs   without   experiencing   the   usual agonizing     withdrawal   symptoms.

Drugs    and   alcohol  deplete     the  body   of  vitamins    and
minerals. We utilize a specific nutritional compound, which helps to rebuild the individual physically.     Individuals    in  withdrawal     are  under    the  careful   supervision    of  Withdrawal Specialists 24 hours a day until the physical and mental discomfort associated with drug and alcohol withdrawal is no longer present.

In some cases it may be necessary for a student to complete a medically supervised wean-down (commonly called a “med detox”) at another facility before being admitted at a  Narconon center and starting the drug-free withdrawal step.

Such cases may include but are not limited to:     tapering off methadone and psychiatric medications, and withdrawing from long-term alcohol or other addictions that may induce seizures or medical problems during initial   withdrawal.    Medical   wean-down   is   not   part   of   the   Narconon   program   but,   when needed, is delivered by another facility of the student‟s choosing just prior to admittance to a  Narconon facility.

Narconon Therapeutic TRs Course
“TRs”  are  training  routines.  This  course  is  all  about  communication,  which  Mr.  Hubbard called „the universal solvent‟. It is comprised of drills and other practical steps that  enable students to improve their ability to confront situations in life through communication.

People with drug and/or alcohol problems typically have a difficult time being honest with themselves   and   others   about   what   they  may  see   as   an   unpleasant   subject.  When   forced   to confront   difficult   issues,   they   withdraw   from   friends   and   family.   There   are   eight   training routines  on  this  course  (called  “TRs”).  Each  TR  is  a  specific  drill   taking   into   account   the many different aspects of communication.

The TRs include the underlying step of being able to  be  comfortable  being  in  another  person‟s  space,  without  which  communication  cannot  occur. This therapeutic approach extroverts students by helping to develop focus whereby a person is capable of resolving problems with others easily and frankly.

New Life Detoxification Procedure
In  1978,  Narconon  adopted  Mr.  Hubbard‟s  second  and      truly    pioneering       innovation,       the    New       Life Detoxification       Program.     The    program      utilizes  intensive sweating in dry sauna, in combination with plenty of fluids and   nutritional   supplementation,   to   reduce   drug   residuals from   the   body.  Drug   residues,   including   medicinal   drugs, can remain in the body for years. These residues can trigger drug cravings and depression. A vital step in the successful rehabilitation      of  substance    abuse     is  flushing    out   these accumulated   toxic   residues   so   that   the   person   no   longer experiences   unwanted   adverse   effects   from   the   drugs   he has taken.

The   Narconon        New    Life   Detoxification   produces spectacular   results   by   removing   the   root   causes   of   future physical     restimulation.     One    of   the  cornerstones      of   our treatment       is  the    New      Life    Detoxification      program. Research has established that many types of drugs, such as cocaine,      heroin,    Valium,      PCP,     amphetamines      (crank, crystal,   meth,   ecstasy,   etc.)   alcohol   and   medicinal  drugs such as narcotic painkillers, tranquilizers and sleeping pills, can remain in the body for years.

Over   time,   these   residues   and   metabolites   of   these   drugs   can  become   stored   in   the   fatty tissues   of   the   body.   When   this   happens,   these   stored   residues   can   make   it   difficult,   if   not impossible, for the addict or alcoholic to remain drug-free.

These      residues     can   trigger    a  variety    of   symptoms,       including      drug    cravings     and depression.   These   cravings   and   the   obsessive   need   to   use   drugs   that   they   create,  are   so difficult to resist that the addict will do almost anything to get even the most illegal of drugs. The result is always trouble.

A vital step in the successful rehabilitation of substance abuse is flushing out these accumulated toxic residues. An exact regimen of medically supervised exercise, periods of time   sweating   in   a   dry   sauna   (while   drinking   large   amounts   of   water   and   taking   frequent cool-off and shower breaks) and nutritional supplements are used to rid the fatty tissues in the body of these drug residues. The results can be spectacular. In many cases, completion of this    portion    of  the   Narconon       program      results    in  greatly   reduced      cravings     for   drugs,    or elimination of these cravings entirely. Mental alertness and clarity of thinking improve while drug-induced depression often vanishes.

Phase 2

Phase II of the Narconon program includes effective therapies to restore abilities to focus on real goals and to return self-control to the addict. It helps a person snap out of traumatic events in which he may be stuck, and
increases his ability to deal with the realities of life.

Learning Improvement Course
This course provides the student with the ability to study and retain knowledge along with the ability  to recognize and overcome obstructions in the study  and learning process.

The   student   learns   data   on   three   common   barriers   to   study. He/she   learns   how  to   use   a dictionary   so   that he/she   fully  understands   any   material   being   studied,   how   to   do   realistic demonstrations of concepts and how to spot and handle any  gradient difficulties in his/her study. The Learning Improvement Course literally teaches the student how to incorporate the rest of the Narconon program into daily living for the rest of his/her life.

The Communications and Perception Course
Addicts use drugs to change the way they feel – their perception of reality. Drugs can and   do   numb   the   addict   and   provide   him   with   a   false   escape   from   unwanted   feelings   and sensations.   When   not   on   drugs,   addicts   typically try to ignore or alter their feelings. The problem with drugs is that when they wear off, the addict becomes introverted and feels worse than before.

Past experiences and upsets can stick with him,    making     it  difficult  for   him   to  deal   with reality.    This   course    utilizes   exact    procedures, which   focus   the   student‟s   attention         onto   the present,     as   opposed     to   being    stuck    in   past experiences? It improves the student‟s perception  of   his   environment,      and   gets   the  student    into better    communication       with    others.   This   course improves  one‟s  ability  to  better  control  his  life  and     be   more    ably    “causative”     over    his/her environment instead of being affected by it.

Objective Exercises
This is a form of dynamic therapy unique to the Narconon program. The purpose is to “unstick” the addict’s attention from events and traumas that can cause him to be obsessed with the past. Drugs, as a type of painkiller, can make one numb to the present realities of life. An addict   becomes   unable,   because   of   his   drug   abuse,   to   be   comfortable   with   the   everyday
emotions and experiences of life. He/She then tends to withdraw from the present. Since the present is unbearable, he tends to dwell on past sorrows and upsets, or to live in a fantasy world of the future. Because he is not living in the here and now, he sacrifices the ability to control his life. He/She cannot achieve future goals, have stable relationships, or deal with responsibility.

Phase 3

Phase III rehabilitates the addict’s sense of self-esteem. It is a cleansing experience that sets him/her free from the chains forged by past misdeeds. After completing this phase of the program, the student has a restored
sense of self-worth and will find it much easier to confront problems in life by knowing how to handle them effectively.

Ups and Downs in Life
Addicts   and   alcoholics   are   often   especially   vulnerable   to   negative   influences   in   their lives. In this part of the program, students learn the characteristics of social and anti-social personalities in order to evaluate objectively and choose those people in their lives who need to be avoided. Information that enables the evaluation of these constructive and destructive behavioral  characteristics, along with the appropriate methods  of handling them, is a major part of being able to remain stable and off drugs.

Personal Values and Integrity Course
One of the first things addicts and alcoholics sacrifice in getting and using their particular drug is their own sense of personal integrity. The life-style that goes along with addiction is one that almost always involves lying to friends or family, and almost as often involves the commission of illegal acts. After a time, it can seem as if the addict never knew any other way   to   live.  The   restoration   of   personal   integrity   is   not   a   moral   issue;   it   is   a   matter   of survival. It is a fact that until one can confront and be honest about one‟s past; a person will be haunted by it. Until these types of misdeeds are dealt with, the addict will continue to be plagued with:

• Unwillingness to communicate

• Withdrawal from family and friends

• Unhandled hostility towards those who try to help him or her

• Feelings of resentment towards authority

• A sense of being uncomfortable around ethical people

• Inability to have stable relationships

Phase 4

The Changing Conditions in Life Course
Making tough decisions about life can be   difficult   for   anyone,    but  the   inability   to make      these    decisions     can   be    deadly    for addicts.     This   course    gives    the  student   the exact   formulas   to   use   to   evaluate objectively and    improve     conditions     having    to   do  with himself, his family, the groups he belongs to, and    other   areas   of  life.  He   learns   that  any condition     can   be   changed     for  the   better  as long     as  it  is  correctly    addressed.     On   this course     the  student    takes   specific   actions    to repair   past   and   present   conditions   in  his life, and    is  given    the  tools   with    which    he   can continue to improve conditions and situations in the future.

The Way to Happiness Course
It would be nice to be given a “How to Live Life” instruction manual when we are born,  but for most of us, we simply feel our   way through by trial and error.   Ignorance about or failure to abide by the common moral precepts of our society can lie at the root of many of the addict‟s life problems. This course introduces the student to a common sense moral code  that he can use in living a new drug and alcohol-free life.

Phase 5

This review phase is designed to confirm that maximum gains were achieved at each step of the program.

Final Program Review
This is comprised of two essential components tailored to meet the needs of each student.

1.)     A comprehensive review to ensure the student has thoroughly completed all phases of the program.

2.)      Additional course work is assigned based on specific student needs to prepare the student to deal with life situations after graduation from the program. This includes such issues as marriage, the parenting of children, problems of work, how to resolve conflicts, basic information on money management and other life issues.

It  is  the  complete    incorporation     of  the  Narconon     program     steps  listed   above   which produce a drug-free, productive and ethical individual. Although each action of the Narconon program produces significant gains, it is the combined effect of all these steps collectively which result in full and permanent recovery. Thirty years have shown this true. Narconon can
proudly claim and has demonstrated with thousands of case histories that addiction can be ended.

Follow-up Program
A comprehensive long-term follow-up program is designed and implemented to assist the student through the first year of recovery. This is accomplished through regular contact with the student and family members. Narconon counselors assess student stability and progress after   his   discharge   from   the   program.   The   student   may  be   required   to   return   to   Narconon
should   he/she   face   life   situations   that   may   threaten   his   sobriety.   The   student   will   receive special   assistance   in   addressing   these   life   issues   so   he   or   she   may   maintain   a   drug   and alcohol-free life.