Scientology Cure and Drug Addiction

The doctrines used by the Church of Scientology attribute many of the illnesses and diseases of today to be caused by mental conditioning. Treatments and cures used within Scientology run counter to those practiced within the medical establishment, but instead are administered from a mental and spiritual standpoint. Narconon is a branch of Scientology that specializes in the treatment of drug addictions.

• Drug Paraphernalia

Scientology

• Scientology is a belief system that was developed in 1952 by science fiction author, L. Ron Hubbard. He authored and published a book entitled "Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health" that addresses how the mind impacts the health of the individual. Since then, Scientology has developed into a secular religion that incorporates the mind and spirit as the source of physical health and well-being. As part of its organizational approach, a drug-addiction treatment program called Narconon proposes its own rehabilitative process for recovery.

Narconon

• Narconon is an international network of over 120 drug rehabilitation centers. A former Arizona State Prison inmate named William Benitez developed the Narconon program, basing its treatment approach on L. Ron Hubbard's "Dianetics" book. Hubbard maps out a drug rehabilitation technology that addresses the individual's current addiction, as well as the underlying mental and emotional issues. The Narconon Oklahoma-based facility is accredited by the United States Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, which is a leading authority on drug-rehabilitation programs.

Purification Rundown Technology

• The Scientology cure for drug addiction is packaged into a series of courses that are designed to lead the addict through the recovery process. These courses entail detoxification procedures that include vitamin and mineral supplementation coupled with specialized "assist" techniques as developed by L. Ron Hubbard. An additional detoxification module works to eliminate any drug residues and toxins contained within the body's fatty tissues. These residuals are believed to induce the cravings experienced by addicts who have stopped using drugs. Exercise, sauna and nutritional-supplement regimens are also administered within this module.

Auditing Process

• A core component of the Scientology method, known as "auditing," is performed on drug addicts seeking treatment, as well as on all members who join the sect. Auditing involves a set of questions and directives designed to provide individual insight into a person's true sense of self. The practice is broken up into sessions, or "processes," which address specific issues regarding how a person's mental processes have been warped by societal expectations. People who first enter the process are labeled as "Preclears," which is meant to indicate the unenlightened mental condition of the person being audited. The auditing process is part of an ongoing teaching program designed to improve how the individual communicates with himself and those around him.

Narconon-Program Controversy

• As Narconon is an offshoot of the Church of Scientology, controversies surround the program's approach toward drug treatment, as well as the possible use of the program as a "front" for recruiting new members. The Church of Scientology is a fairly secretive organization that involves a hierarchical order. Only those who have reached the uppermost levels are privy to advanced methodologies used within the sect. The Narconon organization has been subjected to numerous legal investigations regarding the connection that exists between the religion and the treatment-program approach.