RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
THEME 2: Model, Discussion and Aims
3.3.3 NARCONON MODEL
form of mental pictures and teaches life improvement skills so that they are no longer addicted.
THEME 4: Success Rate, Factors Facilitating Recovery, Strengths
According to the professional sample staff success rate was 70% if clients stayed the full duration, which is about four and half months. Factors facilitating recovery involve dealing with issues that led to drug taking in the first place, the ability to confront and communicate, to have determination, honesty, sincerity and a sense of purpose, to be willing to come for treatment, continuous family support - before, during and after treatment.
Strengths of the Narconon Model were identified as: training in skills to cope with life while abstaining, the release of toxins in mind and body, disengaging from the past, - can confront dozen times, improvement of communication, dealing with reality without getting stuck or losing out, learning self-understanding, self-improvement, learning to become more successful and learning about physiological and physical aspects of addiction.
According to the focus groups, it was noted that the beneficial aspects of this program was sauna therapy as well as the life improvement courses which assisted them to find solutions to their own problems, and also to communicate better and to be stronger so that they can control their desire to use drugs (Hubbard).
THEME 5: Failure, Disadvantages and Factors Preventing Recovery
Staff attributed difficulty in treating to: addiction to psychotropic, psychoactive drugs in psychiatry, addicts who have been to other rehabilitations following the disease model of addiction, those who do not voluntarily come for treatment, those who are not willing to spend the full four and half months of treatment and those who cannot afford the
treatment program since the fees are expensive.
Factors preventing recovery were: socializing with the same people in whose company drugs were taken, living in a people suppressive environment, being in denial or unable to confront, being in contact with people against the Narconon treatment program, taking on something with which the student cannot cope, changing for the wrong
reasons, visitors being uncontrolled during treatment. These factors clearly are important in that they overlap with the factors preventing recovery given in other models as well.
THEME 6: Aftercare
The researcher is of the opinion that in this model those that are completely detoxified by the purification process and complete all life improvement courses/training do not require aftercare. Those that are finding difficult to cope on the outside are allowed to come and assist so that they can refresh on the recovery and point to difficulties in the outside world when returning to it after treatment.
THEME 7: Linguistics
From the responses, it was clear that addiction is not considered a disease since there is no physical basis or physical impediments - it is a problem, which needs to be solved.
Addiction is not considered incurable - with determination, the student can stop using substances. According to this model there is no ground or basis for the statement that once an addict, forever an addict. This was evident from the responses.
Recovery was not regarded as lifelong. Equipped with life skills, the recovering addict can leave a life of addiction behind without relapse. Powerlessness does not exist - after treatment and recovery; the former addict is in full control.
The focus group respondents did not have any problem with the labels, the terms
"addict" and "recovery for life" which may be understandable because they may have been to other treatment centres using the disease model. However, they did not agree with their addiction being a chronic illness or disease.
They felt that the term powerlessness is not a good phrase because if you put your mind to anything "you can have the power". This is similar to he sentiments indicated in the literature review.
THEME 8: Holistic Model
The Narconon model treats an individual in physical and mental terms, i.e. with respect to body and mind without necessarily any referring to soul or spirit.
THEME 9: Spirituality
According to findings, spirituality is not in its own right given any place where religion may if so chosen by the student, provide spiritual growth and evolution. Respondents did mention that spiritual component is important by way of giving a sense of purpose or direction to the client.
THEME 10: Motivation
The respondents from both the staff and student sample indicate that intrinsic motivation entails having an inner drive and willingness to change and start a new life. Extrinsic motivation entails strong support from significant others, e.g. family support.
THEME 11: Alternative Therapies
According to responses in the Narconon Model, many different alternatives are already incorporated. Assist therapy helps with going through withdrawals to assist the pain and relax the body while purification is used to detoxify the body. There is place for
combining different models - different rehabilitations have different ways of combining models provided that no medication is used.
THEME 12: Administrative Staff
Itwas mentioned that there should be more in-service training for the staff members.
THEME 13: Recommendations
Itwas noted from most responses that more physical activities in the form of walks and exercise be incorporated and both staff and students shared this sentiment. In the focus group discussions it was proposed that a more nutritionally balanced eating program be incorporated and since the individuals are instituted in a rehabilitation environment for a long time, they feel that there should be more interaction with the outside world in order to prepare them when they leave.
According to the response from the staff sample, they felt that since they were losing the war against drugs, the community and other role players involved in treating substance abuse should stand united. The sentiment in regard to the label "addict" should also be discontinued so that the problem can be destigmatized.