Here is a copy of an e-mail that I recently sent to the Norwich Bulletin. Narconon is abusing the free service that the paper provides to groups that have free meetings, such as AA and NA. Since Narconon does not have any meetings and because Narconon is not a free service to the public, it should not be listed in this section of the paper.

I directed my e-mail to: news@norwichbulletin.com

~~~~begin letter

At your page at:

http://www.norwichbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060328/LIFESTYLE/603280303/1024

you have listed a "Coping Calendar" with a section called "LIST YOUR MEETING"

In this calendar you have listed "Narconon".

Many people are confused by Narconon and believe that it is somehow related to the well-respected 12-step programs Alcoholics Anononymous (AA), Al-Anon, Gambler's Anonymous, and Narcotics Anonymous (NA). However Narconon is not the same as Narcotics Anonymous. Narconon is a front group for the Church of Scientology. It does not hold meetings, but rather it charges people $20,000 to provide them with the untested and dangerous treatments prescribed by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard. They chose the name "Narconon" to confuse people into thinking they were related to the 12-step programs with similar names.

These Narconon treatments include extended stays in a sauna, dangerous levels of niacin supplements, and the ingestion of large quantities of vegetable oil. These treatments have been analyzed by Dr. David Touretzky at the web site "Narconon Exposed". You can read more about it at: http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Narconon/

Narconon should not be listed in a calendar that provides meeting times for non-profit organizations.

#1) Narconon does not have meetings. The only "services" they have require in-house long term treatment at a Narconon facilities. Therefore it should not be listed under groups that have free meetings.

#2) Narconon charges large sums of money for its treatments and a large share of this money is transferred "up-lines" to pay for the use of Scientology trademarks and copyrighted works. The current treatment program costs over $20,000.

Your newspaper is being abused by this company in order to get free advertisement for its dangerous and very expensive drug treatment program. I would encourage your newspaper to reconsider providing free advertisement for Narconon.

Thanks for your time and consideration,

AJ Simkatu