Narconon, in my opinion, has several aspects which justifies the implementation of this drug rehabilitation program. Perhaps the most important part of the program is the educational techniques that improve the interpersonal skills and communication abilities in patients suffering from addiction. These techniques educate persons dependent on substances in general ethical principles, integrity, and personal values. The methods of this part of the program were developed by L. Ron Hubbard, and are critical to treating those suffering from addiction. Addiction and behavioral specialists often feel that addiction should not be viewed and treated from a moralistic approach. Often misunderstood, one of the biggest problems in addictive behavior is the addict’s restructuring of the normative behavioral system.

It is not an uncommon characteristic for addicts to put their drug or alcohol use above values such as work ethics, social and community responsibilities, and family relationships. Criminal activity and social disregard are common companions to drug addiction and alcoholism. Efforts to develop an functional and ethical social system in the individual, as done by the Narconon Drug Rehab Program, oftentimes result in favorable outcomes. Narconon uses respect, compassion, and empathy for the addict to implement the redefinition of the addicted person’s normative system.

In my opinion, the drug-free approach to drug and alcohol withdrawal used by Narconon is sound. Patients must be screened and cleared by a physician before entering the drug rehab. Those who have such severe withdrawal symptoms they require medical detoxification, or are in need of medical attention, do not gain acceptance to the program until medical treatment is completed elsewhere, and they are cleared by a doctor. It is well known that only a small percentage of those in withdrawal from drugs or alcohol need an intervention with therapeutic drugs, or medical treatment. Therefore, the Narconon Drug Rehabilitation Program utilizes nutritional aids such as vitamins, and an appropriate diet, to create sound withdrawal treatment.

Close examination does not support the view that drug addiction is primarily a medical problem, even though many would argue that it is. Many people begin using drugs after being introduced to them in social situations by peers. Furthermore, addiction and the behaviors that accompany it is supported by social networks of the deviant nature. Most medical facilities do not have the experience or resources to address the behavioral and psychosocial aspects of drug abuse. Alternate, social intervention and health-oriented drug rehab approaches, like Narconon’s, are implemented to address drug addiction problems.

There is no drug that has proven that behavioral approaches are unnecessary in the treatment of addiction. Furthermore, medical systems and resources are completely used up by problems that are strictly medical, that it would be unrealistic to believe that the sole responsibility of addiction treatment be left up to the medical community. Therapeutic communities, and cognitive behavioral therapy and conditioning have a place in the treatment of substance abuse disorders. Narconon is a valuable resource available to addicts and their families. I do not see anything that may place participants in the Narconon Drug Rehab Program at risk of health problems.

I have presented some general comments on the merits of the program. If requested, I will be happy to give more detailed opinions concerning any specific aspect of the Narconon approach."

Sincerely, Alfonzo Paredes, M.D. Professor of Psychiatry UCLA School of Medicine

Dr. Paredes, board certified in Psychiatry and Neurology, graduated the University of Mexico School of Medicine in 1951, interned at St. Joseph Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, and did residencies in Psychiatry at the University of Kansas, University of Maryland, and University of Oklahoma. He is a member of dozens of different professional organizations and regularly reviews peer publications in addition to having contributed more than 100 articles or studies of his own.