Posts Tagged ‘drug free’

Drug Rehabilitation Program Uses Holistic Methods to Help Addiction-Related Symptoms

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

While the majority of addiction treatment programs throughout the country have been using antidepressants and similar drugs to treat depression and other addiction-related symptoms manifested by their enrollees, the Narconon drug rehabilitation program has demonstrated its efficacy in dealing with these problems in a drug-free manner.

According to an article recently published in Newsweek, the number of Americans on antidepressants doubled from about 13.3 million in 1996 to 27 million in 2005. During that period the pharmaceutical marketing machines raked in billions of dollars, yet a researcher in the article was quoted as saying, “The belief that antidepressants can cure depression chemically is simply wrong.”

The researcher, Irving Kirsch, said that his study of both published and unpublished clinical trials of antidepressants found that 82 percent of patients benefit as well from a plecebo, making negligible the difference in taking an antidepressant. In addition, when someone weighs in the long list of toxic side effects from the mind-altering drugs, one could surmise that patients might be better off not taking the drugs in the first place.

Under alcohol and other drug addiction, depression is a natural symptom that most substance abusers feel at some point. This may be the result of the chemical alteration their body endures and the highs and lows associated, or due to the mental anguish and guilt of having committed many harmful acts to themselves and others during the addiction. Either way, they are very real feelings to these people that need to be addressed at source, not chemically camouflaged.

For over four decades, Narconon has been successfully using drug-free methods to deal with the real causes of such symptoms. One important component is to fully detoxify the body by eliminating stored chemical residues that alter its chemical balance. Through a unique and intense physical cleansing process based on research by American author and humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard, program participants are able to flush out old toxins with the aid of healthy, natural supplements, which they need in any case to begin to feel better. These include essential minerals, vitamins and oils.

In addition, Narconon’s responsibility-based approach uses cognitive learning to address behavior. Graduates of the program, whether on antidepressants before or not, do not feel the need to take any such medications after completion.

In the words of one of tens of thousands of Narconon graduates, “Before I came to Narconon, I had all the classic signs of major depression, my doctor wanted to put me on medication. But today I am happy to report I have been drug- and alcohol-free for 10 years and couldn’t ever imagine having to take a drug to try and feel better. I credit that new-found life to Narconon without question.”

For more information on Narconon’s drug-free approach, or to find a program near you, visit www.narconon.org today.

Here, find a video of the history of the Narconon program.

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Rehabilitation for Opiate Addiction Without Maintenance Drugs

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

The Narconon program provides successful drug-free rehabilitation for people addicted to heroin, oxycodone and other opiates without putting them on methadone or buprenorphine.

Los Angeles, CA - According to recent survey information from the Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), more than 350,000 people throughout the country entered some form of treatment or rehabilitation program listing an opiate as their primary drug. Opiate addiction has been a major problem in America for decades. The main difference has been what type of opiate, such as morphine, heroin, oxycodone, hydrocodone or other synthetic drugs. Over the years there has also been a push by the pharmaceutical industry to get opiate addicts onto their replacement drugs such as methadone, and more recently, buprenorphine.

Opiate addiction comes with very heavy withdrawal symptoms, and so many addicts are drawn to the idea of not having to experience them by taking a legalized substitute that feeds their bodies’ dependency, but hopefully with less behavioral consequences. It’s a genius sales tactic that has generated billions of dollars for the drug industry and methadone clinics, many of which are for-profit corporations instead of non-profit treatment centers.

The National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Servicess (N-SSATS) showed that on the day of the last survey there were more than 260,000 Americans who were being given methadone as a substitute drug. While methadone clinics made up just about ten percent of the total treatment facilities, they had the highest average number of clients to accumulate more than 22 percent of all people receiving services for substance abuse. In addition, more than one-third of programs that prescribed methadone didn’t even offer detoxification - they were strictly dispensaries for maintenance drugs.

Methadone has drawn more scrutiny in recent years with an alarming increase in the number of overdoses and related deaths. Some states are seeking to regulate the drug and its clinics, such as a bill in West Virginia that proposes methadone treatment centers to report and track take-home doses of the drugs. Others are just now seeing the social problems attached to the drug, such as police officers in Maine who reported a number of automobile accidents caused by methadone patients nodding off at the wheel while driving.

While the long-term maintenance plan for methadone is to eventually wean off it over an approximate 18-month time period, the majority of methadone addicts actually increase their dosages due to further tolerance and wind up going into detox and rehabilitation programs after all.

One program that has offered drug-free rehabilitation methods for opiate addicts for decades is the Narconon program, which is based on research and developments by the late American author and humanitarian, L. Ron Hubbard. Rather than putting heroin and other opiate addicts on replacement drugs or having them withdraw completely “cold turkey,” the Narconon program uses nutritional and light physical therapies to help ease withdrawal symptoms in their social detoxification.

The rest of the program includes a body cleansing process to rid the drug residues called the New Life Detoxification Program, which helps to eliminate physical cravings for the drug and rehabilitate mental clarity for the education, counseling and life skills portion of the treatment.

Narconon has over 140 groups and centers in dozens of countries throughout the world, with many facilities from coast to coast in the United States. The overall success of the program in returning people to becoming responsible, ethical and productive citizens has led to continued growth, which is spearheaded by the Narconon International office in Los Angeles.

For more information about this life-saving drug-free rehabilitation program or to get help for a loved one in need, visit www.narconon.org today.

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Holiday Extravaganza at Narconon in Canada

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

Holiday Extravaganza at Narconon in Canada

Narconon drug rehabilitation program graduationThe holiday season has arrived; not only are we celebrating the end of another successful year of saving lives, but we are ending it with a bang.  For the fourth time this year, Narocnon Trois-Rivieres will broadcast a live graduation on the Internet, December 18, 2009 at 4pm EST.

This will be a very special event celebrating living a drug free life, especially over the holiday season. We will be commending all of our students on the program and graduates of the Narconon program.  Their individual courage and dedication in achieving a drug free and happy life is something to be celebrated.

The event will show case some guest speakers, musical talent, and the first local Narconon choir, whom have all volunteered their time to help celebrate living drug free. We are pleased to be able have a very young and talented French Canadian singer, Lea Morgane, who will be singing a variety of different songs for our listening pleasure. To watch the live graduation on December 18, at 4pm EST, you can visit http://www.narconon.ca/live

We hope you enjoy the show, and have a wonder holiday season and a prosperous new year.


Drug rehabilitation program special graduation

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Narconon Southern Europe: Saving Lives for 27 Years

Tuesday, February 17th, 2009
Narconon Southern Europe celebrates 27 years of saving lives

Narconon Southern Europe celebrates 27 years of saving lives

Over 300 graduates, staff and friends celebrated Narconon South Europe’s 27th anniversary in Milan at a glittering event in December 2008.

Gio Citterio, Executive Director, gratefully acknowledged all staff for their dedication and hard work and for helping Narconon Southern Europe achieve its highest-ever number of drug-free lives in 2008. The evening ended with the 100 graduates in attendance gracing the stage to resounding applause. Who knows the good works and valuable contributions these graduates will continue to make, or what may have been the alternative to their now ethical, productive, drug-free lives?

This is what Narconon’s results are all about.

Narconon South Europe staff training center was also deeply thanked by the 34 center staff who completed their job training in 2008.

The attendees were briefed on Narconon delivery expansion in the South Europe area. Recipients of Narconon’s special social contribution awards included the Cosenza Director General of ASL (Azienda Sanitaria Locale) and Narconon graduate Danilo De Stefanis. Together these two have obtained the donated use of a beautiful building for Narconon Albatros. We thank them heartily and hope others will follow their example. It is through teamwork that Narconon will continue to save more and more lives.

Nearly 100 Narconon graduates on stage

Nearly 100 Narconon graduates on stage

Narconon Southern Europe www.narcononsudeuropa.org

© 2009 Narconon International. All Rights Reserved.

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Drug-free programmes are more effective than drug substitutes

Wednesday, February 11th, 2009

Many residential treatment centres worldwide including UK’s Narconon Hastings are sticking to the drug-free route rather than cheaper, but meritless heroin blockers. The goal is recovery, not ‘maintenance.’

“I tried methadone. I tried Subutex. I tried Valium. Neither solved my addiction and they were much harder to come off,” says Michelle, a graduate of the Narconon Hastings programme. “I never bought into the message of ‘learning to live with my addiction,’ taking my daily substitute drug. I wanted to be off drugs. I wanted my life back so I could be a part of my family once again and be worthwhile and valued as a person to myself and others. Only a real, intensive residential programme, like Narconon, can help you achieve that.”

Michelle is not the only person who feels this way. Even Professor Neil McKeganey, Director of Glasgow’s Centre for Drug Misuse, was quoted recently describing the national trend towards drug substitution as “a shameful dereliction of our responsibility…we failed the majority of drug users by keeping them locked into addiction.”

But residential treatment is so much more expensive, some argue back. Really? A University of Glasgow study recently found a 7X better chance to be drug free 3 years after residential rehab than methadone. Many addicts who have enrolled with Narconon report that they did other illicit drugs at the same time they were doing methadone or other substitutes. The drug solves nothing between the ears, they say. It chemically blocks opiate cravings, but that is not the cause of the addiction – that’s only the painful result.

It appears that in the last 15 months 15 out of 100 drug rehabilitation centres have closed in UK. This is because they were dependent on government subsidy. Those rehab centres that are supporting themselves charging fees for service are surviving, if with financial difficulty, because they are filling a real need.

Narconon Hastings, for example, is part of the international Narconon network which has produced over 27,000 drug-free graduates over the last decade. They have always set stably drug-free as their target objective – not living with your addiction, but freedom from. Recent post-programme monitoring of graduates by US Narconon centres, according to www.drugbulletin.org, reports that after a one-year follow up, better than 70% remained drug-free.

So there is good news. UK citizens and tax payers should ask for nothing less. Loved ones’ lives and our communities’ welfare are at stake.

For further information on Narconon Hastings and the Narconon programme, visit www.narconon.org or call (44) 1424 420 036.

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