Posts Tagged ‘drug education’

Narconon drug rehab and prevention directors attend worldwide conference in Dallas, Texas

Tuesday, May 4th, 2010

A Narconon® executive directors’ conference is never your normal corporate get-together. This year’s continued the tradition of fascinating news from exotic places. That Siberia and Egypt, Northern California and Taiwan report area drug abuse problems more in common than not manifests that there is still much to do to reduce alcohol and other drug addiction worldwide.

Siberian drug rehab center directorJust so at the 2010 Narconon Directors Conference recently concluded at the Hilton Hotel in Dallas. Phil Hart, the network’s executive director, welcomed the 100 attendees in English with simultaneous translations whispering into earphones in four languages. One purpose of the conference is to celebrate expansion of centers, regions, and continental networks. For the first year, Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) won a national expansion award, accepted by CIS director Sergei Baskevitch and also the Narconon Krasnoyarsk drug rehab director from the heart of Siberia (Above picture: Director of a Siberian drug rehab center at international Narconon conference). It wasn’t snowfall this year that might have delayed their arrival, but ashfall from the jet stream plume of the exploding Iceland volcano. Fortunately, that abated enough so that all Europeans made their flights.

Conference workshops focused on how best to achieve stably drug-free program graduates: A workshop on L. Ron Hubbard coursework on raising communication skills, another on how to raise the personal ethics code of responsibility of every recovering addict, another on workplace drug education. But the evolving world was mirrored in workshops on website and internet communication strategies.

Mexico drug rehab centers directorsYou can always tell, too, where the going is tough - Narconon is there to help. President Narconon International Clark Carr showed a video of Narconon “First Step” training sessions delivered across western Mexico to drug rehab centers outside the Narconon network, and to prisons, doctors and community leaders, all suffering under the violence of warring drug cartels. Victor Capaceta and Francisco Lozano, directors of a Mazatlan Twelve Step drug rehabilitation center, were presented an award for courage and tenacity in their work with 30 similar centers practicing newly learned Narconon tools in their communities (picture: Mazatlan drug rehab directors and supporters receive award for their courage at Narconon international conference). The Narconon First Step drug withdrawal and relapse prevention includes nutritional help, hands-on pain and anxiety reduction, and distribution of The Way to Happiness, a commonsense guide to better life choices, written by Mr. Hubbard. “Narconon has shown us that an addict can recover, really and truly,” said Victor, “and we are proud to join together as a team to stop the violence, to save lives.” The applause Victor got required no translation at all.

For more information on Narconon methods or Narconon drug rehab and education work in Mexico, please visit www.narconon.org.

More Info about drug withdrawal in Mexico.

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Ecstasy Use Increases Among American Youth

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

According to the latest National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), illicit drug use remained fairly steady for youth ages 12 to 17 in America, with the exception of hallucinogens such as ecstasy.

While statistically it was a minor ecstasy increase, the rise from 2007 to 2008 came after a holding pattern that had followed a sharp decline over the past several years. About 900,000 people over the age of 12 used ecstasy for the first time in 2008, the highest level since 2002.

In 2003, the National Center for Education Statistics wrote that 29 percent of all students in grades 9-12 reported that someone had offered, sold, or given them an illegal drug on school property in the past year.

Narconon® fully recognizes that the availability of drugs at schools continues to be a growing problem. Recently a concerned grandfather wrote to Narconon International regarding drugs at his granddaughter’s school saying, “Because of the seriousness of this problem, I wrote to the governor…explaining the problem and asking for his help. When that letter fell silent with no response or reply, I then knew the problem of ‘NO ONE CARES’ had reached the highest levels.

“Can you help? Can you provide some direction or assistance in stopping the constant daily influence of illegal drugs and substances at public schools on kids that elect to get a good education and remain drug free?”

Yes, Narconon can and is helping. To help combat student use of ecstasy and other drugs, the Narconon drug prevention program offers educational videos for classrooms as well as proven effective live presentations. Narconon drug education presenters reach more than half a million kids around the world face-to-face, live, each year and the videos are used in approximately 7,000 schools throughout the United States.

The full eight-module Narconon drug education curriculum was studied and the results published in the peer-reviewed journal Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention and Policy in 2008. According to the study, youth who received the Narconon drug education curriculum showed reduced drug use compared with controls across all drug categories tested at the six-month follow-up period. The program also produced changes in knowledge, attitudes and perception of risk.

For more information about Narconon drug education and prevention visit www.narconon.org today or call 323-962-2404.

More news and Narconon info:
New club drug article: mephedrone drug

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Narconon network celebrates its 44th birthday

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

The Narconon drug rehabilitation program began on February 19th, 1966, based on a decision by Arizona State Prison inmate by the name of William Benitez. After reading a book by humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard, “The Fundamentals of Thought”, Benitez recognized there could be a whole new approach to curing himself and helping others get permanently off drugs - concentrate on your abilities, rather than your addiction. It sounds simple now, but it wasn’t to an inmate who had tried every other method to get off drugs way back in ‘66.

It worked. Benitez created a new program and helped dozens of others get off drugs in the prison, too. Following his release, he continued his mission by starting to deliver drug education presentations to students, one of the first persons to do so. It set an example now followed by Narconon® drug education specialists all over the world, reaching millions of youth. The Narconon drug education curriculum has even been studied and found to reduce drug use in all categories addressed. Benitez also founded the first Narconon residential treatment center in Los Angeles, from which have descended centers across the world, from Nepal to Cape Town, St. Petersburg to Oklahoma. Since 1995, when the network began to keep formal track, 30,000 persons have graduated the full four-to-six month life skills program.

Narconon Vista Bay in Santa Cruz proclamationNarconon centers worldwide celebrated this birthday in various ways. Many held special graduation events. Narconon Vista Bay in Northern California was presented a proclamation for its outstanding work by Gustavo Gonzalez, a representative of the County Board of Supervisors.

At Narconon Georgia in Atlanta, one of the first persons Benitez helped free from addiction back in Arizona, Gordy Weinand, sat his students down and told them stories from successes he’s known over the last 40 years. Rehab is always personal.

Narconon has had dozens of other accomplishments this year, such as opening its first drug rehab center in Costa Rica. It is doing pioneering work helping rehabs in Sinaloa and Sonora, Mexico to cope with the enormous drug crisis precipitated when drug cartels began warring there. Narconon Nepal in Kathmandu delivered drug education across the entire nation. Vittorio Poti, Mayor of Melendugno, Italy where there is the 100-bed Narconon Gabbiano attended its anniversary. Narconon Ghana celebrated UN Day Against Drugs with drug education events reaching 1000’s of youth. And thousands of addicts achieved stable drug-free lives this year, probably the hardest accomplishment of their lives so far. Their wins are only beginning.

We invite you to learn more about the Narconon program. Or you might like to help by volunteering. Visit www.narconon.org or email us at info@narconon.org

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Narconon International drug education seminar for beleaguered Mexico City parents

Thursday, February 18th, 2010

Narconon International president Clark Carr gave a three and a half hour drug education seminar to 100 parents and college age youth in Mexico City on February 10th, offering key data to explain why youth turn to drugs and also how to combat this perennial risk to youthful wellbeing. A recent national Mexican study of alcohol and other drug use indicated that alcohol is the worst problem, that 27,000,000 Mexicans between 12 and 65 drink, a quarter of those drinking heavily. Marijuana follows as the other gateway drug with abuse of pharmaceuticals from the house and internet also growing alarmingly, paralleling U.S. drug use.

Some parents said that there has been an increase in bullying and other youthful violence mirroring the increase in binge drinking by Mexico City youth.

But the explosion of youthful use of the internet is probably what is driving up the sale and use of pharmaceuticals, just as it is in the U.S. Carr told the parents that before they are going to talk to their children about drugs, they have to be willing to be honest about their own use, not just of the medicine cabinet but of alcohol.

There was lots of back and forth on how to recognize symptoms and the toxic effects of drugs, with the greater concentration on how talk to young people about drugs.

“More important than knowing about each separate drug,” Carr said, “is to know that drugs, including alcohol, are basically toxic and that it’s really the quantity of a drug used that creates its different effects.” Alcohol in moderation is a stimulant, and this is its popular, desirable effect. But the same alcohol used in excess begins to sedate, slow the person down both physically and mentally, and finally too much, too fast can put one into an alcohol coma or kill him. The conversation turned quite lively over whether or not “cerveza” (beer) is toxic. “It’s not that one beer is toxic,” said Carr, “but how much beer, how fast, for how long. Ethyl alcohol is toxic, yes. But the liver can detoxify alcohol when consumed in moderation.

The parents asked Narconon International for further training and drug education sessions in the future. For further information on Narconon drug education visit www.narconon.org.

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High Youth Drug Use Statistics Emphasize the Necessity for Effective Drug Education

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

The latest report on teen drug use has just been released. It provides clear evidence that more kids need to be reached with effective drug education. The University of Michigan carries out yearly an updated “Monitoring the Future” survey of 50,.000 middle and high school youth nationwide and then prints a report on drug use by America’s young people. The behavior and attitudes represented in this survey provide advance notice of adult drug use and addiction a few years down the road. Changes in trends over the years also let us know if we are doing better or worse in getting the message of drugs’ dangers to our children.

In the latest report, released in December 2009, overall drug use statistics have risen slightly, largely because of a rise in marijuana use. Perhaps more dangerous, due to their rapid addictiveness is the stably high rate of prescription drug abuse among students in their senior year of high school.

The rate of “Narcotic Use, other than Heroin” has more than doubled since 1992. Out of every hundred students, thirteen of them have abused a drug such as OxyContin, Vicodin, Lortab or methadone. These drugs are renowned for their ability to send people into drug rehabilitation facilities for treatment. Concerning Vicodin, 8th, 9th and 10th graders stated that their use rates were three percent, eight percent and ten percent respectively. OxyContin use did not increase in the last year, but remains at five percent of 12th graders.

Other prescription drugs being abused far too often are amphetamines, sedatives and tranquilizers. Trends within each category of drug also shifted, with Adderall, the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Drug, starting to replace Ritalin as a drug of abuse.

What is really startling is that it doesn’t take a drug dealer for most of these kids to get the prescription drugs they are abusing. Better than half the children got the drug for free from a friend or relative. Another third bought it from the friend or relative. About 20 percent took it without asking, mostly from relatives. That means when they go to Aunt Jane’s house and use the bathroom, they might be looking for a few pills they can lift without being obvious, or they might check the purse or the bedside table when no one is looking.

An essential component in the fight to save our children from drugs is effective drug education. The Narconon drug prevention curriculum is being used around the world to educate young people so they understand for themselves why they should say “No.” Avoiding unworkable scare tactics and applying effective education that consults student understanding concering the lasting damage done by drugs, Narconon drug educators have reached more than three million school children with their message.

One way Narconon drug education effectiveness is monitored is by surveying student ‘change in opinion about using drugs’ and also checking for lowered drug use after receiving the curriculum. Consistently, our surveys have demonstrated our approach produces results. Drug use falls. Students tell us they have thrown away drugs or told other students to stop using them. There is also a peer-reviewed formal study of the Narconon high school drug education curriculum published online (www.substanceabusepolicy.com/content/3/1/8).

Informing the minds of our youth so they can reason more clearly on the subject of alcohol and other drugs is a vitally important way to curtail addiction down the road. Children who never start abusing drugs will never become addicts in need of drug recovery.

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Narconon Centers Educate Thousands during Red Ribbon Week

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

Coordinated efforts of the highly successful drug education and rehabilitation program bring the truth about drugs to students across the country

Narconon Arrowhead drug education - elementary school
Los Angeles, CA – Narconon International’s management office in Los Angeles worked with its drug rehabilitation and education centers throughout the country in a combined effort to speak with thousands of students and other community members during Red Ribbon Week.

The National Family Partnership’s (NFP) Red Ribbon Week is considered the nationwide observance of drug prevention activities and is held during the end of October each year, which began in 1988. Narconon staff and volunteer activities stretched the span of the country to participate in helping kids stay away from drugs.

In California, Narconon Vista Bay received a proclamation from the Mayor of Seaside City and delivered drug prevention presentations to hundreds of students in the local area. In Oklahoma and Texas, Narconon Arrowhead drug education staff visited several schools and presented to over 1,500 elementary, middle and high school students.

Narconon Vista Bay Red Ribbon Week 2009

Narconon Georgia held a large event for Red Ribbon week at Woodruff Park in Atlanta complete with live music and educational literature for the many who attended, ranging from government workers, to tourists and students, who combined to promote a drug-free world.

Narconon of Georgia annual Red Ribbon Week event

Narconon Freedom Treatment Center in Michigan held an open house and helped educate people in the local community about the true dangers of drugs and addiction, while Narconon Hawaii provided prevention seminars to local ninth- and tenth-grade students and had them sign a drug-free pledge. One student was quoted as saying, “My thoughts changed because I feel that taking drugs can only lessen your chances of being successful and making life harder for you to live. Staying away from drugs can help me live an easier life and make better choices.”

Narconon Hawaii drug education

In southern California Narconon San Diego was out in the community with participants signing drug-free pledges and Narconon Drug Prevention and Education in Los Angeles spoke with more than 2,000 students throughout Southern California just that week.

Drug education and demand reduction activities are vital to stopping addiction before it starts, and Narconon is proud to have worked with millions of young people throughout the world over the last four decades to help them learn the truth about drugs and what they do to a person’s mind and body.

According to a study of Narconon’s drug education program published in the Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention and Policy peer-reviewed journal, “…youths who received the Narconon drug education curriculum showed reduced drug use compared with controls across all drug categories tested. The strongest effects were seen in all tobacco products and cigarette frequency followed by marijuana. There were also significant reductions measured for alcohol and amphetamines. The program also produced changes in knowledge, attitudes and perception of risk.”

For more information about Narconon education and rehabilitation programs, visit www.narconon.org. To learn more about Red Ribbon Week visit www.nfp.org.

Narconon Vista Bay Red Ribbon Week
Narconon Vista Bay receiving a proclamation from Seaside City Mayor

Narconon Hawaii say no to drugs pledge
In Hawaii, 9th and 10th grade students sign poster pledging to live a drug-free life.

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Narconon Nepal rehabilitation center blankets country with drug education

Thursday, April 2nd, 2009
Over 5,000 join Narconon for a anti-drug march and rally through downtown Kathmandu.

Over 5,000 join Narconon for a anti-drug march and rally through downtown Kathmandu.

Kathmandu’s Narconon® rehabilitation center produces drug-free lives, but they have also reached out to over seven million people through TV, radio and newspapers. Their staff and students have given live drug ed talks to more than 500,000 persons in schools, the armed forces, and other venues. They held the first-ever 5,000 person anti-drug march through the new main street of Kathmandu, ending with a huge rally.

When he was Senior Supt for the Chief of Police for Kathmandu, Basanta Raj Kunwar learned about Narconon methods. He asked for our help to bring the program to Nepal. His Pratigya Foundation staff trained at a center in Melbourne and others were interned at home in Nepal. Their drug rehabilitation center has since saved hundreds of lives and is constructing new facilities in the hills outside Kathmandu.

Anti-drug rally in Kathmandu

Anti-drug rally in Kathmandu

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Drug Education Updates from Colombia

Friday, March 20th, 2009
Attendees at the Happy Days TV show, Colombia

Attendees at the 'Happy Days' TV show, Colombia

Updates of some recent drug education and community activities in Colombia:

On the Jan 15th, twenty members of the national military received information on the truth about drugs including prostitution and drugs and suicide related to drugs.

On Jan 18th and 19th, thirty people from Narconon Colombia were asked to speak about the Narconon® program on the TV channel CARACOL. The program is called Sabados Felices (Happy Saturdays). This program was aired nationally and internationally.

Also in January, the administration of the city of San Antonio Tequendama gave a recognition to Narconon Colombia for its participation in the project Winter Victims.

Since the beginning of the year, the Colombian team delivered drug education presentations to national police and schools in several cities such as Saocha Cundinamarca and San Antonio de Tequendama.

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Narconon Drug Education Programs on TV

Tuesday, February 24th, 2009

Through Narconon drug education programs on TV, millions of children and adults have been reached with the truth about drugs in recent months.

Narconon New England continues to reach out to the public at large with a series of drug education presentations that have aired in 91 cities and towns to 1.4 million subscribing households throughout New England. Many people have responded to this show by phone.

Narconon drug education on Ukraine TV

Narconon drug education on Ukraine TV

Also, in the Ukraine, Narconon staff were guests on over 10 television shows about the drug problem in their country and how the Narconon program is helping to solve it. In addition, the drug education presentations of Marina Gribinova, both live and on video, have now reached millions of school children throughout the country.

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The Truth About Drugs Reaches Millions in Latin America

Monday, February 16th, 2009
Narconon Mexico drug prevention

Narconon Mexico drug prevention

Narconon Colombia’s major anti-drug campaign, “Evoluciona sin drogas y alcohol”, conducted over the past year, included community events from Bogotá to Bucaramanga and distribution of over 1.2 million booklets and other drug education information. To reach the largest number of people possible, they also ran a public information campaign on more than 100 local and regional radio stations.

Narconon Mexico (www.narconon.org.mx) continues to set the standard for drug prevention. After providing drug education to Pedro Escobedo school children this past year, the Commander of the Federal District requested training for his police officers. The police had told him of their difficulty handling addicts. Narconon’s drug education training not only helped the police understand drugs but also how to deal with individuals under the influence – a real challenge and dangerous to get into without understanding the way drugs affect emotions, perception, responses, etc.

Narconon Mexico staff also conducted a drug prevention campaign in the town of San Ciro de Acosta with such excellent results that the coordinator for the region has invited them to return and deliver programs to adjoining towns.

© 2009 Narconon International. All Rights Reserved. Narconon and the Narconon logo are trademarks and service marks owned by the Association of Better Living and Education International and are used with its permission.

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