narconon freedom center narconon stone hawk, narconon second worst experience of my life to date... albion, Michigan

Thank you for your report. I believe the more people who post their experiences about Narconon, it will better help others, if they are deciding to go to Narconon, or send a loved one there. Firstly, I'm not sure why more people, including myself, don't do more research before going here. If you are going to spend upwards to $30,000 on a program, it would be wise to research it. I suppose it's because of the false advertising done by Narconon that makes us so interested. It really does sound like an amazing once in a lifetime chance at recovery from the website, and even more so when you call and talk to someone. 

Most everything said about the courses (books) are ture. You do have some strong opinions. So many employees come and go, that it makes it irrelevent to call out specific people. And I know from experience that Keith and Chris, who you've mentioned, are not bad people or bad employees. Keith was actually one of the more passionate, intelligent people working there. He really liked to help people and would go above and beyond to help out the students. I can not believe you would call them out and put specific details of their drugs of choice, or what they've done in their addictions. You said you are an ex-drug addict, so you should know that those details do not matter. Also, JJ and Kyle helped me out a lot when I was there. Whitney is just neutral in my opinion. But they are all good people, I don't know why you would have anything against them. I know for a FACT.. they have never wronged you. Since I went through the program with you.

I think it is frustrating, and unprofessional, to have the majority (90%) of the employees, who have just recently completed the program. It is useful for the employees at a DRUG REHAB to be ex DRUG ADDICTS. They have the experience and most do have the genuine desire to help others get and stay off of drugs. However, it's not safe to have the students immediately graduate, and start working there. This is the reason they are all getting high and drunk on their off time. It's hard to stay clean, and a more percentage of people don't stay clean after rehab programs. Any program, and not just Narconon.

This place really needs more professional employees with college degrees working there. There is a need for trained therapists (even tho the employees do not address or talk about your feelings, the program is designed that the employees show you how to do the TR's (training routines), and during those excercises you discuss your feelings to your partner, or twin). I have worked there for 6 months, and no where in the training do they train you about psychology. They instead insist that if you can tell someone is in BI's (Bad Indicators), you ask them "what's up" and then simply acknowledge that you've heard them. And if they continue talking about feelings, you get them "in session," which means you take them for a walk, or sit them down, and point to different objects around you, the student acknowledges they've seen it, and you keep doing this until they are not in BI's anymore. They are expected to come to some kind of conclusion or realization through these excercises that put them in a good mood, and gain some kind of knowledge about themselfs or the world around them. Yeah, Narconon does this, instead of what normal rehabs would do.. actually talk about the students life and feelings.

Also, I have asked a Doctor about the Niacin. 2000mg is a safe dosage, anything over, not so much.

To be honest, there is just too many things about Narconon to write here about. But here are a few facts;

-It is based on Scientology.
-The employees are drug addicts who most of them just completed the program.
-The students are able to sneak out at night, and sometimes go to get drugs or drinks, or sneak into the opposite ses's rooms and hook up.
-There are employees who have relationships students.
-The person incharge of the finances does do a poor job. Fact: they never submitted my insurance, after lieing for months on end, and owe my family $15,000. (I'm not sure if Valerie still works there or has that position, she had worked there for years, but I really hope someone else is now in charge. I believe it is directly HER fault, in MY OPINION)
-The food there is NOT healthy
-The facility IS in POOR condition
-They DO LIE to you over the phone to convince you to come. They may say anything from there is a swimming pool, a smoothie bar, yoga classes, it's not scientology, ect
-The statistic on their website about the %80 recovery rate is a LIE, in truth they really do not know. I know because I worked as the front dest operator, and they had me call former students to ask if they are still clean. Majority did not answer, and more yet just did not want to talk. It was not the best was to gather data for that stastic.
-There is only ONE nurse, who is not there 24/7.

ECT.
I should mention that I was a student at Narconon freedom Center for 4 months, volunteered there for 3 months, and worked there for another 3 months. I was there from 6/2010 to 5/2011. A lot MAY have changed since then. And I REALLY HOPE it has. Most likely not.

I went to this same location. I am not quite sure about what some of the people have done but when you are talking about the program itself I couldnt agree more. It was a total waste of money, I feel for my parents because they are not quite knowledgeable when it comes to drugs addiction and rehabs and I was not around when they chose to send me to this location but d**n now i wish i was. It ws a total con scam and rip off..the program was complete bull s**t.. I swear this place needs to be shut down. I have been able to maintain sobriety but not because of this lame program but only because I needed to detox time and because I was ready to stop. There were absolutely no doctors anywhere and how about some d**n theripists or something I could talk about anythin to certain staff members without other patients finding out. I swear this makes me so angry. I dont think I ever once fed into the bull crap they were trying to throw on us, I mean really? Talking to ash trays. And we had obnoxious fat a**hole in this program who blantly screamed out racial epithets towards me and was throwing up the hitler sign and NOTHING was done. It terrible also one time another f*cker who was apparently drunk at the time, backing up the statement that people were still using while there, decided to play a racist song out loud and it was funny to everyone including some staff members. Ha this place was a f*cking joke I swear. I got nothing good from this place but a bit of time away from my hometown of cincinnati and the dope dealers. i would recommend that no one ever send their family members here. To 30,000 dollars admission is a joke! There were times we even went without heat! 30 thousan a person and they were packing us in there like sardines...at least can we have some darn heat during the DEAD OF WINTER IN FREAKIN MICHIGAN???!? come on now! instead of hiring some uncaring and unprofressional ex addicts and paying them PEANUTS...how about hiring some professional doctors and theripists who can comply with the HIPAA law and keep all of our information confidential like they are supposed to. WHy WHy WHy?? Why are they still up and running?? Please take this into consideration and do not ever ever ever send a loved one to this programZ! They will lie to you on the phone about their being swimming ppols horse stables rounf the clock doctors etc...NONE OF THAT IS TRUE all we do is take obscene amounts of niacine..talk to walls and ash trays stare at each other for hours and others decide to get drugs mailed to them and drink liquor..its a relly F*king classy place..NOT! your better off sending your loved one to a homeless shelter for free...yes i said it....F*ck narconon freedom center and I want my F*king money back! Oh yeah Hans, Dave Magden, John Hard and a few others were pretty awesome though !

Sincerely

The Kenyan

 I believe that this is the first report from someone who was a Narconon 'student' graduate and staff member! This is a very well written concise and accurate report of what goes on from both points of view at a Narconon facility and I am certain it will help many people avoid getting sucked into doing the program.

I am happy that you found the information about Narconon on the internet. Rip Off Report is a wonderful site for people to report their complaints about Narconon and I am so glad you have reported yours.

Narconon is indeed a dangerous program. If one visits narconon(dot)blogspot(dot)com , they can read about rampant drug use by staff and 'students' as well as a very recent possible stroke death and another student's illness all at Narconon Arrowhead. There are other horror stories from other Narconon facilities which can be foundat NArconon Exposed site as well as on the s i t e reachingforthetippingpoint(dot)com , a forum that helps inform and expose the Scientology from groups, of which Narconon is the most prominent. Mary McConnell is a voluntee who does much to help victims of this organization and she can be found there. Please do visit and share whatever other information you have about the organization. Insider information is so helpful in this cause.

I wish more former staff and graduates like you would post what they know. Knowledge is power and it really helps people who are looking to be informed before they get ripped off. Thanks for doing your part and best wishes on your continued recovery.