Subject: Tulsa World: Narconon not honored
Message-ID: <1052303170.63878@newshost01.voicenet.com>
Date: 7 May 2003 06:29:22 -0400
House nixes honor for substance-abuse facility
Tulsa World
May 3, 2003
http://beta.yellowbrix.com/pages/newsreal/Story.nsp?story_id=38583741&ID=newsreal&scategory=Internet&
The treatment center sparks controversy because of its ties to Scientology.
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Normally, resolutions honoring this or that group, person or event fly through the Legislature with nary a ripple of controversy.
However, those measures do not usually involve substance-abuse treatment facilities operated by the Church of Scientology.
Scientology teaches that human beings are immortal spiritual beings with unlimited capabilities, and their salvation depends on themselves and their attainment of brotherhood with the universe. Founded by author L. Ron Hubbard, it teaches adherents to follow a series of principles to achieve enlightenment.
On Thursday, freshman Rep. Terry Harrison, D-McAlester, appeared surprised that his Senate Concurrent Resolution 29, sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Frank Shurden, D-Henryetta, sparked opposition.
The resolution commends Narconon Arrowhead, a nationally recognized drug and alcohol treatment facility located at a former state lodge in Pittsburg County.
The measure doesn't mention the facility's ties to Scientology.
It cites the $5.5 million spent on the lodge's purchase and renovation, delivery of free drug education programs to 58,000 Oklahoma youths, 130 jobs and $7.4 million impact on the local economy, among other attributes.
The center receives no state or federal government funds.
"This facility has changed people's lives," Harrison said. "They are a productive part of society again."
Rep. Richard Lerblance, D-Hartshorne, said drug-afflicted people come to the Narconon center from all over the country. A lawyer, Lerblance said some of his clients have completed the program successfully.
"This is a program, a company, that has come into Pittsburg County to help people," he said. "Whoever this company is owned by is immaterial."
Rep. Al Lindley, D-Oklahoma City, also spoke for the measure.
"I'm completely ashamed of the membership here," he said. "It doesn't matter who owns that facility down there, as long as it helps people."
Rep. Ray Miller, D-Quinton, pointed out that actors John Travolta, Kirstie Alley, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman are Scientologists.
He said Travolta wrote a check for the center so large that no Pittsburg County bank could cash it.
Miller said Narconon boasts a recidivism rate of only 20 percent, compared with 60 percent for most substance abuse treatment programs.
Rep. Bill Paulk, D-Oklahoma City, said he didn't want his name "on something supporting the Church of Scientology."
The veteran lawmaker said such measures illustrate the dangers of mixing church and state.
"This is a faith-based organization," Paulk said.
Harrison said he has seen people's lives changed forever by the Narconon program.
He said the group operates facilities in more than 20 countries and has just signed a contract to provide services to New York firefighters.
"I'm proud that Narconon Arrowhead is in Pittsburg County," Harrison said.
The resolution failed 43-50. It had passed the Senate a day earlier, but not before Shurden fielded questions on the facility's licensing with the state.
Formerly housed at the old Chilocco Indian school in Newkirk, the Narconon center moved to Arrowhead Resort on Lake Eufaula in August 2001. Former state Sen. Gene Stipe, D-McAlester, cut the ribbon at the 230-bed center's grand opening.
The move met with some opposition. Concerned about security and property values, some nearby homeowners asked the Oklahoma State Department of Health to block the lodge's change to a substance abuse center. However, then-acting Health Commissioner Jerry Regier upheld Narconon's certificate of need.
Marie Price (405) 528-2465
marie.price@tulsaworld.com
Message-ID: <3EB90CFF.9050106@cox.net>
Date: Wed, 07 May 2003 06:41:19 -0700
From: barb <bwarr1@cox.net>
Subject: Re: Tulsa World: Narconon not honored
Rod Keller wrote:
> House nixes honor for substance-abuse facility
> Tulsa World
> May 3, 2003
> http://beta.yellowbrix.com/pages/newsreal/Story.nsp?story_id=38583741&ID=newsreal&scategory=Internet&
to rep. harrison:
In a recent article in the online edition of Tulsa World here, http://beta.yellowbrix.com/pages/newsreal/Story.nsp?story_id=38583741&ID=newsreal&scategory=Internet& you are quoted as being surprised that your proposed honor to Narconon was rejected. Apparently your colleagues are better informed than you are.
You are PROUD that this blight is in your district? Perhaps you should stop listening to the happy Scientology propaganda for a moment and do a little research into Narconon. Fortunately, a respected historian has done that for you, and put it on a website. The material is well-researched, footnoted, and documented.
I'm aware that it's politically a good idea to support drug detox programs, however; Narconon is a fraud. None of their programs address addiction, in fact, the courses given to clients are identical to the courses offered commercially by the "church" of Scientology! When a parent or loved one drops $15,000 on a rehab program, they expect to get back a clean and sober person. With Narconon, all you get back is an indoctrinated Scientologist.
Narconon's promotional material succeeds because they don't expect anyone to do any in-depth research on their claims. As they appear to be an authority, their material is rarely questioned. They cite statistics that are unrealistic, and patently untrue. Moreover, part of their program, the Purification Rundown, has been scientifically proven to present a hazard to people with compromised liver function, a condition often found in addicts and alcoholics.
Do your career a favor. After perusing this website, please take some time to consider whether or not you want your name linked with Narconon as a supporter. Your support is ingenuous, and gives them a legitimacy which can result in untold damage to individuals and families seeking treatment.
While it's true that this facility changes lives, all too often it is not for the better. I urge you to spend some time researching Narconon before continuing to support them. There is a great deal of information available which the Narconon representatives don't want you to see, and certainly wouldn't refer you to.
http://www.narconon-exposed.com
It makes me very annoyed when persons in a position of authority such as yourself choose to rely upon Scientology and Narconon's promotional material to arrive at an opinion. The material they offer as "proof" is generally unattributed nonsense and manipulated statistics, along with a handful of "honest testimonials" who sing the praises of this useless and dangerous junk science.
--
barb
Chaplain, ARS
"After over 50 years, what has Scientology given the world? Misery, hopelessness, broken families, desolation, death." -Shydavid
Message-ID: <3EBA804C.10003@cox.net>
Date: Thu, 08 May 2003 09:05:32 -0700
From: barb <bwarr1@cox.net>
Subject: Re: Tulsa World: Narconon not honored
Dave Touretzky wrote:
> In article <3EB90CFF.9050106@cox.net>, barb <bwarr1@cox.net> wrote:
>
> >... There is a great deal of information
> >available which the Narconon representatives don't want you to see, and
> >certainly wouldn't refer you to.
> >
> >http://www.narconon-exposed.com
>
>
>
> No no no no no. That site is owned by Narconon!
>
> The site you want is:
>
> http://www.narconon-exposed.org
>
> -- Dave Touretzky
I received an email from Rep. Lerblance, fairly generic, "always interested in other opinions" type thing. I emailed him that I'd fallen for Scientology's ruse, and told him how they'd purchased the .com domain after Chris O launched his narconon-exposed website.
Amusingly, Rep. Lerblance referred to NarcAnon, not NarCONon, in his response. I pointed out that this is yet another example of the cult's deceptive practises.
I suppose I should thank the "church" of $cientology for their fine assistance in providing these examples of their true nature.
--
barb
Chaplain, ARS
"After over 50 years, what has Scientology given the world? Misery, hopelessness, broken families, desolation, death." -Shydavid
