in article 1122949774.790865.79030@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com, iTal at i-tal@sbcglobal.net let fly on 8/1/05 10:29 PM:

> I gotta admit, I'm 'on the fence' about Narconon.
>
> This is all, of course based on my personal experience at one specific
> Narconon center about 10 years ago.
>
> It is a dangerous program in a number of aspects, but a very life
> affirming, sane program in other respects.
>
> I was at Narconon Chilloco summer of 1996, more or less as punishment
> for being a bad scieno and doing dope after having done the purif and
> keeping my nose clean for close to 15 years. I got into Scn in 1982,
> got a clue that the organization was wacked in 1984 and left. In 1996 I
> had a lapse of reason and went back into Scn - Oops - anyway, I learned
> my lesson with completely utter, unshakeable certainty after my second
> stint and will never hook up with Scn again.
>
> But, back to Narconon:
>
> all inmates ;-) are referred to as 'students'.
>
> cons:
>
> * cold turkey withdrawal - stupid - dangerous to your sanity, health
> and life threatening in degrees depending on the 'students' drug of
> choice.
>
> * the 'sauna' program. too much time in the sauna - way too much time
> in the sauna - enough to cook your body and mind.
>
> * the "therapeutic TR's" - set you up for subsequent mindfuck if you
> are one of the many that ends up graduating from Narconon and routing
> into a CofS. This progression - Narconon to CofS - is kinda like
> graduating from marijuana or minor alcohol abuse to becoming a hard
> core methamphetamine, crack or heroin user - LOL
>
> * megadoses of niacin - probably not such a good idea and it certainly
> doesn't turn on or run out radiation, but boy it really gets the simple
> minded fired up when they get that first 'niacin flush' and their skin
> turns lobster red. They are like 'wow, man, i just really turned on
> some heavy duty sunburn dude.' - LOL
>
> * it "doesn't" work if the 'student' isn't there of his own free will
> and often they aren't. fuck, a good percentage of the 'students' i was
> in with where the spoiled brats of wealthy scientologist parents who
> had their rehab paid for by their parents and three of them where
> 'retreads' - going thru the program for the second time!!!!
>
> * staff - of course grossly underpaid/zelous slaves to the organization
> and quite a few basically dumb as a rock types but well meaning staff
> who are ex 'students'. the hiring motto i think boils down to - if you
> can walk and talk your good enough to 'join staff'.
>
> pros:
> * non-judgemental, non-evaluative, empowering atmosphere. no one is
> labelled as an 'addict' or any other derogatory label or implanted with
> the idea that they are always going to be an addict and no one is
> treated with a pejorative, condescending attitude by staff. this is,
> indeed a very sane/helpful approach.
>
> * casual, relaxed, 'non-clinical' atmosphere
>
> * no 'tough love' bullshit.
>
> * good, nutritious food - outstanding actually. And vitamins - good
> too. Lots of addicts are extremely malnurished and suffering from
> vitamin deficiencies.
>
> * excercise - good stuff. and besides the rote/boring excercise like
> treadmills or running, there was also some very fun pickup volleyball
> games and the like. good old outdoor sunshine, fresh air and excercise.
> good for the body and soul.
>
> * Therapeutic TR's - a double edged sword. Set you up for brainwashing
> but on the other hand manage to drag a lot of extremely
> uncommunicative/unaware, out of it druggies back into actual live
> communication with other human beings - good stuff.
>
> * The Objectives and other drills/course materials - all pretty good
> stuff. Can help get people oriented to 'present time', in communication
> with the environment, more aware/responsible for their actions and
> consequences, less likely to fuck over others and commit further
> 'overts'.
>
> * The program does work for a lot of students who are there of their
> own free will and want to improve their lives.
>
> that's about all I can think of right now.
>

Take a careful look at the 'good' and 'bad' things you list above.

The 'good' things - exercise, vitamins, moral support, someone paying attention to you - are things you'd get in any decent program, whether it's a con or not. In other words, they're not exclusive to this program.

The 'bad' things, though, can *seriously endanger your health*. Like the US Surgeon General said. And you *don't* find that in any decent program.

The goal of Narconon, as you describe above, is not to make you happily drug-free, it's to make you dependent on Scn instead of drugs.

-- M.C. DiPietra, mdipietranospam@tampabay.rr.nospam.com SP5 "Hell, if you understood everything I say, you'd be me!" -Miles Davis