Sent my 21 year old son, a crack addict, from Texas to Michigan, in hopes of getting him professional help for his addiction. Assured the "counselors" would stay in close contact with me as my son acclamated to the program. I never received a phone call, nor had a phone call returned after many attempts to contact, leaving messages to return my calls. My son phoned me, having to sneak the phone calls, informing me about the "program" tactics. He told me they were using brainwashing technicques, having the "students" sit for hours with "eyes closed", then "eyes open". If there was a break in the trans-like state. blinking, smile, cough, any movement. the process would start all over. Once this altered state was mastered, the "students" were asked a single question, like "do birds fly", over and over again. and the "student" is to answer "yes". for hours on end. These "counseling sessions" are referred to at "Training Routines".
When I contacted Shaun Keilty, the intake "counselor", a former drug addict who had graduated from the program, and questioned about the validity of the information and the connection to Scientology, he laughed and denied the connection. After much investigation to identify the validity of the reports my son was giving me, and speaking with Jeff VanVonderen from A&E TV'S "Intervention", and Dave Touretsky, a Research Professor, who has researched the Church of Scientology and Narconon, I made the informed decision to immediately drive to Michigan and retrieve my son.
Once employees of Stone Hawk got wind I was on my way to get my son, I had a barrage of phone calls from the Ethics Officer "Andy", the intake counselor, and I don't know who else, I quite taking the calls. The phone calls were filled with insessent interrogating questions about why I was coming to get my son, where was I coming from (I thought they knew about their "students"), how I was getting there, how long it was going to take. I became very uncomfortable, and worried about the safety of my son and what I was going to run into when I did arrive at the facility.
The harrassing phone calls were made to my mother as well. When arriving in Battle Creek, I contacted the police and had 2 police officers escort me into the facility. One police officer commented that they are called quite often to escort families to the Stone Hawk facility to pick up their family member. I was able to get my son without any incident.
Once home, in Texas, I wrote a demand letter for a refund, and sent to Narconon Stone Hawk via US Postal first clas mail, certified mail, and faxed to the Stone Hawk facility as well as the business office. I have not received any response.
This drug rehab facility advertises itself as having a 75% success rate, having fully qualified and certified staff of drug rehab counselors, being scientifically sound. No counseling takes place, and the "students" are not even allowed to speak of/mention drugs let alone their addictions at any time during their stay. Money is paid upfront. $27,900 plus $200 medical acct and $200 student acct, for a 4-6 month program.
Supposedly a 50% refund is given if the "student" does not complete more than 15 days. My son was at Narconon for 11 days, no contract was signed, and no contact has been made by Narconon Stone Hawk to me, before or since my contact attempt for refunds.
Michele
Richardson, Texas
U.S.A.
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