Facts about Narconon

Narconon is dangerous and ineffective: Scientology Inc. refuses to provide any evidence to the contrary, and the evidence showing it is dangerous and ineffective is easily and widely available. FBI documents seized from Scientology Inc. shows that Narconon was started by Scientology's "Guardian's Office." Narconon has already been *REJECTED* as UNSAFE and INEFFECTIVE by several USA government agencies.

The Narconon "treatment" has been universally condemned by the medical community throughout the world as both dangerous and worthless. The Oklahoma State Board of Health stated:

"Moreover, the multiple findings of fact heretofore entered by the Board establish that Narconon's program is not safe. "[....] The Board determines that the Narconon Program is not effective in the treatment of chemical dependency. "The Board concludes that the program offered by Narconon- Chilocco is not medically safe. "The Board has reviewed the proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law submitted by the Department and Narconon. Any proposed finding of fact and / or conclusion of law inconsistent with those entered by the Board is denied. "Certification is denied."

The State of Utah ceased sending new victims to Narconon once it discovered that Narconon is merely a recruiting front for Scientology. This story was aired on FOX News-13 Tuesday February 22, 2000 at 9:00PM MST and had several follow-ups during the week after.

Narconon's bogus "detoxification" process has been proven to be medical nonsense. Former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop had this to say about the Narconon treatment:

"It's dangerous. I don't think L. Ron Hubbard has credibility in the scientific world. The author's suggestions about detoxification can be detrimental to [one's] health."

Michigan Corrections Department psychologist John Hand called Narconon "So misleading as to be termed a 'con.'" Hand said, "They are phony, a front for the Church of Scientology. We found out in Michigan that most of the money that we were paying Narconon was laundered back into the Church of Scientology." [Detroit News Feb. 11 1980] The study of Narconon in the Michigan penal system concluded, "graduates of the Narconon program do not do as well as our [prison] population in general." They discovered that Narconon made things worse, not better, for those dependant on drugs.

Doctor Wolfgang Heckmann, who is the "Drugs Delegate" of Berlin, performed a study of Narconon's "success" and found that at its best, Narconon's "success" is "at most 10%". His report stated:

Finally, the question of the program's success is also of importance to assessing the quality of the institution. Looking at earlier statements by Narconon according to which the institution's average rate of success is far above the average, the list of names provided does not paint a very favorable picture. From their own figures, the rate of success is calculated to be, at most, 10%. In addition to that, the idea of social reintegration is understood differently by Narconon than elsewhere in that a not inconsiderable number of the people named as successes work as staff at Narconon, and some of those even live in the building. In addition, there are justified misgivings as to the credibility of the chances of success.

Dr. Heckmann found that in his study of 145 people subjected to the Narconon "treatment," only 10 claimed they were "off drugs" during a follow-up visit after "treatment." Dr. Heckmann also mentioned in his report to the Berlin Senate that Narconon is owned, run, and part of Scientology Inc.

Doctor James J. Kenney, Ph.D., RD, of The National Council Against Health Fraud stated that the Narconon treatment poses very serious health risks. The "treatment" involves ingesting dangerous amounts of niacin, which is hepatotoxic. He stated: "Health professionals who subject troubled people (many with psychiatric illnesses and / or severe emotional problems) to this unproven detoxification program are at best unethical and at worst guilty of health fraud." You may write to him to confirm this, at:

James J. Kenney, Ph.D., RD
National Council Against Health Fraud
1239 19th Street #8
Santa Monica, CA
90404

When those who require drug abuse intervention go to Narconon, they may expend their resources so that they are no longer able to seek out and acquire valid health services.

Narconon's "success rate" is 6.6%, which is no better than no drug intervention at all. One independent study of Narconon was performed in Sweden: this study observed 61 people who had been subjected to the "treatment." Of those 61 people, only 4 admitted they were not back to abusing drugs a year later--- a "success rate" of 6.6%. The study was performed in May of 1981, by social worker Peter Gerdman in Stockholm. Swiss doctors, such as Dr. Vigilli Venzin, stated emphatically that Narconon's "treatment" is "...absolute rubbish and medically questionable."

http://narconon-exposed.org is a good source of information about Narconon.

Thank you for your time and attention on this matter.