Wednesday, July 24, 2002

Subject: Prison system rejected Narconon

I find it interesting that the proprietors of the soon-to-open Narconon "rehab" center disavow connection to the Church of Scientology.

This is a flat lie. Narconon is a well-known front group for Scientology.

Further, the techniques used are dubious at best and dangerous quackery at worst. Their purported "detoxification" process is unproven medical nonsense. Former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop had this to say:

"It's dangerous. I don't think L. Ron Hubbard has credibility in the scientific world. The author's suggestions about detoxification can be detrimental to your health. "

Here is an excerpt from a Detroit News article dated Feb. 11 1980:

"Michigan Corrections Department psychologist John Hand calls Narconon 'so misleading as to be termed a 'con'.' Hand says, 'They are phony, a front for the Church of Scientology. We found out in Michigan that most of the money that we were paying Narconon was laundered back into the Church of Scientology.'"

In the wake of the revelations, a 1980 prison study concludes that "graduates of the Narconon program do not do as well as our [prison] population in general."

Funding for the program was terminated.

Michigan's prison system found early on they didn't need Narconon, and Battle Creek doesn't need it either. Reputable organizations exist that are more than adequate; why trust an addicted loved one's health and safety to the hands of this group?

Todd A. Phipps