Narconon Stonehawk Update to " No Contractual Basis" Kalkaska Michigan

Narconon- Stonehawk and I reached a financial settlement that we both believe is fair.

I am taking this opportunity to share my perceptions about Narconon- Stonehawk and addiction treatment programs, in general.

My heart goes out to all families who need to figure out what they can do, when faced with an adult child addicted to mood altering substances.

As background, my daughter is 19 and a heroin addict. She is the last person anyone would have suspected of becoming involved with a narcotic. ( Do all parents say this?) She met a guy, was curious,tried it and the rest is history.

The Narconon Connection
My take on the consequences of addiction is simple, prison and/or death.

I did my homework and knew that Narconon is, in part, based on some Scientology principals, with tremendous emphasis on self -control. I believe Narconon could do a better job of explaining why they do some of the things they do because it seems to me, that the end goal gets lost in the noise. Its all about teaching students, self control.

Some of the tactics appear unconventional. In reality, the addicts are often learning resistive and require approaches, beyond convention.

I knew there was no medical basis for the sauna thing and vitamin B therapy. I also knew it did no harm. It seems to me the sauna thing is used to break down defences to learning new skills and self-control.

I knew that the majority of Narconon employees are recovering addicts as are most employees in all addiction intervention and treatment.

I knew the Narconon approach did not label their clients with emotional and/or mental diagnosis. I knew the Narconon approach was holistic and did not substitute one addiction for another.

I knew that the addict and their financial sponsor jointly decide the protocol in the event of a premature discharge. Why this comes as a surprise to some families, I do not know.

I knew the cost of the entire open-ended Narconon Program is only slightly more costly than the average 28 day programs, elsewhere.

I knew the Narconon claim to be a not for profit organization. Most addiction treatment programs are for profit. Being concerned about who benefits from profit is not on my priority list.

Each Narconon facility appears to be individually owned and operated, ala a franchise and so experiences may vary.

I knew that some anti Scientology internet sites claim that Narconon is nothing more than a recruitment tactic for Scientology. I dont know nor do I care. Given what I do know about addicts, I would think there would be an easier way to make a buck and/or recruit, than this.

My daughter entered Narconon wearing a Catapres patch administered to her at an ER, the evening before she was admitted into the program. She was allowed to wear it throughout her detoxification. She enjoyed the sauna and endless showers as well as the food. As she put it, she ate her way through detox and gained about a pound a day.

My withdrawal of my daughter from the Narconon Program had nothing to do with the specific program or Scientology. The personal belief systems of some of the administration and employees of any Addiction Treatment Program are of no interest to me. Some graduate the Narconon Program and become Scientologists and some do not. What matters is learning self control and skills to cope with real life and not require mood altering substances to do so.

I am not a Scientologist. My knowledge of Scientology and their politics is limited to having read a few books. I find many of the Scientology claims and naming conventions entertaining and rather silly. I had a similar reaction to the AA 12 Step Big Book. Both approaches share a belief that the recovering addict has an obligation to give back and help others.

The very best medical thinking on the topic of mental illness and addiction is based upon theory, not scientific fact. Nonetheless, MDs are quick to diagnose and prescribe a pill for what ails you. We wonder why addiction is an epidemic.


Addiction Treatment is BIG BUSINESS.

Addiction Treatment is the business of saving lives, one at a time.

Addiction Treatment Programs employ intake counselors. These are the sales force and their business objective is to get the financial sponsor to pull the trigger and to do so, with compassion.

No Addiction Treatment Program will guarantee to cure addiction. At best, some Addiction Treatment Programs attempt to maintain contact with their former clients and/ or financial sponsors for the 2 years, following discharge. Recovery rates are then based upon the willingness of those contacted to disclose relapse, or not. Claims of recovery rates by any Addiction Treatment Program therefore, are not entirely reliable and your mileage may vary.

Inpatient Addiction Treatment Programs are considered to be more effective than out patient treatment in the addicts local community. The time in program and removal from the addicts peer group environment combine for a better foundation, for recovery.

All Addiction Treatment Programs work for some of their clients. No Addiction Treatment Program works for all their clients when they don't work it.

Addiction Treatment Costs $
$20-25,000 a month (based upon 28 days) is about the average cost for inpatient Addiction Treatment Programs. The magic of 28 days is that this is the limit associated with most insurance policies. Generally speaking, a 28 days program is insignificant in terms of time. The longer an addict is in a program, the greater the likelihood they will acquire the foundation, skills and disciplines, required to stay sober.

At the higher end of the spectrum, it is easy to spend $40-75,000 a month for treatment and hang with celebrities.

All Addiction Treatment Programs require execution of a contract. The cost of most Addiction Treatment Programs is not refundable, regardless of premature departure or discharge. A few will consider a partial refund if the addit departs the program soon after joining.

Most Addiction Treatment Programs are based upon the AA 12 Step Model and view addiction as a disease. 12 Step Programs are based upon the belief that addiction is a genetic weakness and requires a surrender of power, over addiction. Narconon is one of many non 12 Step Programs that seeks to teach skills to empower the addict to take control over their lives, not just addiction.

The majority of treatment time is spent in group sessions and /or life skill sessions. All programs have down time and encourage physical activity. Some programs augment with individual therapy sessions.

Neither approach work for all addicts, all of the time. Either approach works for some addicts, some of the time.

Addict Reactions to Treatment
Most Addiction Treatment Programs require an initial period of safe and supervised detoxification. Most detox programs are medically supervised. Medical supervision usually means it is supervised by an RN and an MD is on call.

It is common for the addict to perceive they are cured and /or able to control their addiction once they have detoxed. The reality is, their work has just begun.

Many addicts, especially young adults, are dependent upon family to enable their addiction. The list of enabling behaviors is endless and usually prevents the addict from realizing the full consequence of their addiction. Hazelden, a 12 Step based Program, has some of the best literature on this topic.

Addcits are usually expert liars, manipulators and con artists, all skills necessary to sustain addiction. At many points during treatment, most addicts would rather be somewhere else. It is at this point that the addict will work the family for a premature release. The ploys include but are not limited to:

The program does not work.
The people are mean/unfair/incompetent.
I am being denied my rights.
I am sick.
I am different.
I am cured.
I can control it.
I want to come home.
I want to be home for Christmas/Birthday/Easter/ Mothers Day/ Fathers Day/Thanks Giving/School
Its a waste of your money.

All treatment programs have simple rules. Addicts often break rules with the sole intention of being discharged.

Families of addicts able to fund inpatient treatment, have hundreds of places and types of programs to choose from. I believe all of them, including Narconon , are effective, if and when, the recovering addict employs what they have learned, while in treatment. That some relapse, post discharge, has far more to do with the power of the addiction than it is the failure of any program. When one falls off the wagon, all that matters is getting back on.

To the middle-aged mom in Barrington, Illinois,

I also sent my step-son to StoneHawk, You can see my story on RipOff if you go to the SEARCH A COMPANY box and type in Narconon. My story is dated 12/20/2006 step-son dropped off in a motel

If you are looking for help or information just go to any search engine on the internet and search for Narconon Beha,

My e-mail address is (((ROR REDACTED))), I don't think Ripoff will print my e-mail but if you go searching for Narconon Beha on the web you will find it. E-mail me.


You can find my story at the following link.

cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Stop-Narconon/Personal/Beha/

Best of Luck
Greg B
Glouster, ohio
(((ROR REDATED)))

CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.