Recently, Narconon Stonehawk has been under attack by the Vince Daniels radio program. No drug rehabilitation program can work 100% of the time for 100% of its clients. It is not uncommon for those who refuse to be helped to blame the program rather than themselves. It is also very common for the parents who enable the addict to also blame the program rather than blame the individual. The truth is that many people enter a drug rehabilitation program to appease parents or the law and then deliberately leave or behave in a manner that gets them kicked out so they can continue to use drugs. Then, they turn around and say “narconon stinks, they’re full of BS, they are only interested in taking our money, they are abusive…etc.” which is just justification for the addict to go out and use drugs. The addict then continues to get to do what they want to do guilt free because they tried, but Narconon failed. Parents are naturally enablers, and would oftentimes not want to put the blame on themselves or the addict, but turn to saying there is something wrong with what Stone Hawk did. This sort of thing is very common in the drug rehab industry. Parents understandably get very angery when they spend a large sum of money on the hopes of treatment for thier children, and when they lose that money because the person is unwilling to be helped it is all too easy for them to take that anger out on the program.

Vince Daniels, for whatever reason, has a problem with scientologists. Because of his misconcepton that Narconon is teaches the religion of Scientology, he feels the need to attack it too. Narconon does not teach or practicethe religion of Scientology (or any other religion) in it’s drug rehab program. We do hope that the individual develops their own spirituality during the program, no matter what that spirituality is. The process of realizing their own person spiritual beliefs is part of the healing process. This is a part of both Narconon and traditional 12-step programs. Yet Vince daniels goes to great lengths to degrade a legitimate and effective drug treatment program that has saved the lives of thousands of people and families. What makes these attacks unfair is he only seeks out people who are dissatisfied with the program to speak. At no time does he bring in the comments or letters of those who swear by it. His website and radio show are filled with people who have terrible things to say about Stone Hawk, but these are all people, or parents of people, who have not successfully made it throught the program to no fault of Stone Hawk.

Drug addicts lie, parents of drug addicts believe their lies, these lies then go on the Vince Daniels Show. We respect the rights of Vince Daniels to print and say whatever he choses on his radio show and blog. This great nation was built on the rights to do as such. But, his biased and false beliefs prevent him from telling both sides of the story. Truth be told, Narconon Stonehawk has saved lives. It has brought destroyed families back together. People who stuck with the program and actually took it in lead lives of productivity when they were once hopeless. Approximately 75% of the people who enter the Narconon Program complete it with success. That means 25% of those who entered did not. Of course a small percentage of that 25% is going to have a voice speaking out against the program.

I once read on the bathroom wall of a local dive bar next to the urinals.  I thought that was hilarious and I made that a mantra of mine.  I would say, “rehab is for quitters, and I’m no quitter.”  The truth is I quit just about everything else in my life and I was actually a big fat quitter.  I quit everything that was actually important including school, jobs, relationships, hobbies, and every thing else that mattered.  The ONLY thing I was so stubborn to quit was drugs and alcohol.  Truth be told I could not quit on my own; I was an addict.  It is difficult to admit that, because our minds don’t want us to quit.  It is very hard to come to the realization that the things you love to do so much are the very things that are killing you and ruining your life.  It took 5 stays in jail, 3 drunk drivings and 2 probation violations for me to realize that i needed the help of a drug rehab.  Even then I was so stubborn to admit that i was an addict, and that drugs and alcohol ruined my life.  Once my head cleard up a bit, I started to see the insanity that i liked to call a “normal life”.  I realized i’d been lying to myself for years.  I realized that i had set up my entire life to accomidate my addictions.  This was no way for me to live my life, and i began to change.  Rehab made me a quitter.  I quit drugs, I quit alcohol, I quit gambling, and I quit whoring.  I quit all the things and behaviors that were causing me shame, and making my life a mess.  Now I  can hold down a steady job, I have real relationships with people who like me for more than just what i can give them.  Now that I have become a quitter I don’t quit the things that are important in life, I see things all the way through to the end, and it feels great.  So as far as drugs and alcohol go, don’t ever quit quitting.  

I’ve heard it said many times before.  Pot isn’t addictive.  Pot is harmless.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  OK so maybe pot isn’t addictive like heroin or cocaine in that you gotta have more as soon as you come down, but it is addictive nonetheless.  Over a period of continued use, the cellular structure of the body actually changes to accomidate the chemicals taken in from the use of marijuana.  When those chemicals are depleted, the body physically craves the marijuana.  What makes people believe that pot isn’t addictive, is the fact that it is not mentally addictive.  But, usually the ones who say that pot isn’t addictive to me, smoke pot every day.  They are the ones who wake up with with a bong toke every day.  They’re the same people who start to freak out when they can’t find a bag a couple of days after theirs runs out.  They say thier not addicted to pot, but then when you ask them well, why don’t you stop then, they reply “I don’t want to , why would I it’s harmless.”  Well the truth is, it’s not harmless at all, it just seems that way, because the consequences are not as great and apparent as other harder drugs.  But the fact of the matter is, pot causes all sorts of health risks, and is as addictive as alcohol, cigarettes or any other substance.  Those who are addicted to pot only tell themselves and others that it is harmless, because they want to keep smoking pot, because they are addicted.  I know many people who ended up in drug rehab solely for pot addiction.

There are many things a person can do to help someone with an addiction to drinking.
It is important not to acerbate the situation by allowing the addict to pursue the fantasy. It should be made aware that the lies are not justified or the behavior condoned. They have to be deprived of the security of a safety net.

Unable to convince others of their control, it might begin to occur to them that perhaps there is a problem. Boundaries and guidelines should be formulated. Lines have to be drawn.

It is typical of an alcoholic to abuse any relationship if it furthers their goal of drinking. This behavior should not be tolerated. If it is proven to the addict that they are successful , they will continue to take advantage of any and every situation.

It is sometimes necessary to confront the alcoholic with an ultimatum. Friends and family should gather in what is called an intervention. Concern should be expressed; denial questioned.

It has to be stated that the loved ones are aware of the problem and tolerance has been eradicated. It should be said with love and in a non-hostile manner. It is helpful to have a backup plan in case the alcoholic refuses to listen to reason.

Loved ones must remain firm in their decision not to help the addict hurt himself or others. Either the individual obtains help or there will be no further communication with them.

Have a treatment program all ready to go - and plans to get the alcoholic to treatment as soon as they agree.

The alcoholic’s chance of recovery is increased by having the love and support of those around him.

Man, I used to think I was so cool. Hanging out with my buddies in High School, pounding beers and sparking doobies. Having fun with my crew, eating mushrooms and taking LSD. We were so sophisticated acting like high rollers getting dressed up and doing coke at Pistons games. I never wanted the fun to end. However, like everything else in life, everything comes to an end. I barely graduated High School because of my partying, but i didn’t care. As long as I was having a good time, that was all that mattered. I was young and there would be plenty of time for work later, always later. College was a disaster, 6 years wasted with no degree. I found all new friends, but they were exactly the same, I hoped the high would never end, and these would be my friends forever. Unfortunately all my friends were growing up and moving on with thier lives, and I wasn’t. I was holding on to something that wasn’t reality. Fortunately for me there were plenty of drunken losers around town for me to cling to and validate my B.S.

All of a sudden I found myself to be 30-ish and was depressed, because i couldn’t hold a job, life was passing me by, and a 30 year old carrying on like a drunken high schooler isn’t cool, it’s just sad. Any dollar I made went right into booze or drugs, and I was falling into debt. I went to jail a few times for drinking and driving, yet all of this was because I was getting the shaft. Life, everyone, and everything was out to screw ME over. It had nothing to do with alcohol or drugs.

After my third drunk driving and seeing the same patterns come around over and over again, I finally had to realize…It was all my fault, and it was all because I put getting wasted above anything else in life. My own selfish desires were the only thing n my life. I realized that the lifestyle I loved so much for the last decade or so, was the very thing that was destroying me. At this realization I was ready for rehab. I was willing. If they would have told me that eating a bicycle would keep me sober I would have done it.

Ive been totally sober for over three years now, and where are all those friends I thought I’d have forever? They’re gone, but I bet I could find them sitting on the same barstool they were on where i left them. I have a job, a steady girlfriend, financial security, future prospects, and the love of my family. I have real friends in my life who like me even though I’m not buying shots, or i don’t have a fat sack of weed. When before I had nothing but emptiness. My life is less exciting than before, but that kind of “excitement” that comes with drugs and alcohol I no longer need or desire. I found that life is great, and addiction stinks.

The outcome of alcohol recovery depends entirely upon the individual. While a person can receive and benefit from treatment without their consent, to achieve recovery requires willing participation and the desire of the addict for a chemical free existence.

It is the goal of treatment to reach the stage when the individual can honestly admit to having a problem. Through counseling and other programs it is hoped for that they will arrive at the point of wanting to change their life and to be capable of learning the tools to enable them to achieve that goal.

This can be easier for some than for others. Alcohol recovery often requires that the addict hit bottom before they begin to realize that their lifestyle has to be altered. Others, for whatever reason, are able to grasp the idea of the inevitable and are more complacent to treatment.

However difficult or impossible recovery might appear in certain cases; it is obtainable. If the desire, courage, and will are active, then the individual can achieve anything.

Dear user,

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Sincerely,
Stone Hawk Drug Rehab, Staff