Narconon helped me get a handle on my drug addiction
I arrived at Narconon Arrowhead on February of 2003 after completing a medical detox in Tulsa. When I came to Narconon I was addicted to 170 mgs. of methadone. I was on methadone for nearly six years. I also was severely addicted to crack cocaine. All my time revolved around getting to the methadone clinic and getting money for crack and of course getting high.
Things spun out of control after the first of the year. I lost custody of my son, my boyfriend finally had enough after two years and put me out, I was not reporting to my probation officer and therefore had probation violations and arrest warrants which meant I was once again on my way to prison. I had no where to live.
I ended up living in a crack house down in the worse section of North Philadelphia. The house I was staying at had no heat or running water and it was the dead of winter and around 16 degrees outside and even colder at night. I began shooting heroin again because I could not get to the methadone clinic. I was doing everything and anything to get money. I lost everything in my life. But I lost my self-respect and dignity and worse of all me.
I wanted to die, And I almost did. I was at the crack house I was living in and someone put GHB the date rape drug in my drink and I passed out and woke up several blocks away nearly froze to death, beat up and raped. I did not wake up for about 13 hours. I spent the night in the hospital; I ended up with internal stitches and other injuries.
Well I still continued on my quest. I had a probation hearing on February 10th, 2003. I knew if I went that I would be doing time. I was trying to get into another twelve step program I had been to several before only to find myself using the moment I left.
I spoke with my mom on February 9th. She told me that she arranged for me to go to Oklahoma and go to Narconon and that I could be on an airplane early in the morning.
I was on a lot of methadone and the withdrawals from methadone are worse than heroin. This was a concern of mine. Then I arrived at Narconon Arrowhead on the 15th. I was in withdrawal for a week. Everyone in withdrawal was sympathetic and caring. I could not sleep or eat but the thought of leaving never entered my mind. I knew if I wanted to get clean this was my chance. Time went by and I made it out of withdrawal made it through Book 1 and the Sauna and so on and so forth.
I graduated in 2 months and 3 days of arrival and for the first time ever I did not get into trouble while in a rehab. I decided that I was going to put forth the effort that I put into getting drugs into staying clean. I was tired of being hurt, hurting others and being someone that no one trusted or wanted to be around.
I will be clean 7 months on September 10th 2003. Today I have a lot going for me. I got custody of my one year old son back. I went to all 3 of my probation hearings and I did not go to jail. I got extended probation which I will be done with in 9 months. I also went back to school to get my associates degree in "Criminal Justice". I am wrapping up my first semester with a B plus average. I have a good relationship with my 11 year old son and my mom and my step dad. Today everyone in my life trusts me again.
I look forward to each day. Life can still be stressful but I know how to focus and remain calm and realize that life is great compared to before. So if you are just arriving at Narconon or ½ way through or nearly finished if you want this bad enough you'll get it the first time. Thank You Narconon for teaching me how to handle and live my life again. We truly can have whatever we want, because if you want it bad enough you'll achieve it.
D.M. Narconon Graduate
Ending Drug Addiction The Narconon Way
The Narconon drug rehabilitation program, first established in 1966, is unique. It is a proven "get off and stay off drugs" program. The Narconon program has been used successfully by thousands of people around the world to rid themselves of the need for drugs and regain control of their lives.
The Narconon program, unlike more traditional treatment, deals with both the physical and mental problems brought about by drug use. Our goal is to assist the addict, both mentally and physically, to become a whole and sane person capable of dealing with life's many and varied challenges. The end result is a success rate that is 3 to 4 times that of other programs. None of these solutions involves the use of any drug.
William Benitez, founder of the Narconon program, recognized that drug addiction was a type of disability. The Narconon program is comprehensively designed to overcome the disability of addiction by working to restore and develop the natural abilities of the addicted person.
A combination of physical detoxification, unique forms of cognitive and objective therapies, and life skills training, the Narconon program is delivered in phases where our “students” complete a series of distinct courses designed to complement and expand on each other.
When a person uses drugs over a period of time, the body becomes unable to completely eliminate them all. Drugs are broken down in the liver. These metabolites (the substances the body converts the drugs into), although removed rapidly from the blood stream, become trapped in the fatty tissues. There are various types of tissues that are high in fat content, the one thing in common – and the problem that needs to be addressed – is that these drug residues remain for years. Tissues in our bodies that are high in fats are turned over very slowly. When they are turned over, the stored drug metabolites are released into the blood stream and reactivate the same brain centers as if the person actually took the drug. The former addict now experiences a drug restimulation (or “flashback”) and drug craving. This is common in the months after an addict quits and can continue to occur for years, even decades.
When the addict initially tries to quit, cells in the brain that have become used to large amounts of these metabolites are now forced to deal with much decreased amounts. Even as the withdrawal symptoms subside, the brain “demands” that the addict give it more of the drug. This is called drug craving. Craving is an extremely powerful urge and can cause a person to create all kinds of “reasons” they should begin using drugs or drinking again. He is now trapped in an endless cycle of trying to quit, craving, relapse and fear of withdrawal.
Eventually, the brain cells will again become used to having lowered drug metabolites.
But, because deposits of drug metabolites release back into the bloodstream
from fatty tissues for years, craving and relapse remain a cause for concern.
Left unhandled, the presence of metabolites even in microscopic amounts cause
the brain to react as if the addict had again actually taken the drug and can
set up craving and relapse even after years of sobriety
The Narconon Program Resolves Drug Cravings
While drugs and their metabolites quickly become undetectable in blood and urine, some as rapidly as 3 days after last usage, drug metabolites remain stored in fatty tissues for years. That these accumulated drug residues continue to cause adverse symptoms led to the development of a program aimed at reducing levels of toxins in the body to assist in recovery.
The graph depicts cocaine metabolites being excreted in the sweat and urine of clients participating in the Narconon® New Life Detoxification Program. Levels of drug metabolites are not detectable in clients prior to the start of this program, then increase dramatically and slowly taper off as the program is continued. This supports the argument that drug residues remain in the fatty tissues and that the correct treatment can mobilize and remove them through the body’s excretory systems.
The New Life Detoxification Program utilizes a combination of exercise, induced sweating in a sauna, and nutritional supplements to produce the following results:
- Reduction or elimination of drug and alcohol cravings.
- Reduction or elimination of many symptoms associated with drug addiction and alcoholism. These can include depression, irritability, and fatigue.
- Ability to think more clearly.
- Improved memory and attention span.
- Increased energy.
- Increased sense of well being.
- Enthusiasm toward life.
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