LITERATURE REVIEW
2.5 MODELS USED IN RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTRES
2.5.3 NARCONON MODEL
There is not much information available on the literature review except the web sites that is promoting the Narconon treatment centres that is available throughout the world.
There is a manual available describing in detail the treatment programs used at these centres but are not available to the public.
2.5.3.1 Origins
William Benitez, who founded the Narconon program in 1966, was a heroin-addicted inmate of Arizona State Prison. In the prison library he came across a book by L. Ron Hubbard, "The fundamentals of thought" which outlined an entirely new approach towards solving the problems of life. After reflecting on what he had read, his intention was the following: "Decision to set up Narcotic Foundation" which was noted on his wall calendar. He also circled the 18th of the same month as his target date to approach officials to request permission to set up a drug rehabilitation program inside prison walls. Permission was initially denied due to security concerns.
Benitez persevered in winning the support of the prison administration and started to pilot a program with 20 other inmates. "What impressed me the most about Mr.
Hubbard's works," Benitez later wrote, "was that they concentrated not only on identifying abilities, but also on methods (practical exercises) by which to develop them.
I realized that drug addiction was nothing more than a 'disability,' that begins when a person ceases to use his abilities essential to constructive survival." From these works, with the help of volunteers and later contributions from Mr. Hubbard, Benitez developed a comprehensive program. He named it 'Narconon' meaning "no-drugs" (Hub bard 1996).
Benitez credited this program to saving his life and the lives of his fellow inmates who participated in the Narconon initiation.
Benitez even turned down an early parole, as he did not want to leave the prison until the program was successfully completed. His intention was clear, he knew that he had discovered an effective method and wanted to make sure that it was made available to others in need. "I demonstrated to officials that any person, inmate or otherwise, could benefit from Narconon because its attention was on increasing abilities, and we had an ethics mechanism built into the program, and that the responsibility and involvement required of a member could soon dissuade anyone not serious about improvement". The program met its expectations brilliantly, such that seven months into Narconon, he was asked to initiate another program for young offenders housed in the annex outside the prison walls" (Hubbard 1996).
Upon his release, Benitez moved to California and after incorporating Narconon as a non-profit organization, opened the first Narconon residential treatment facility in Los Angeles in 1971 as a halfway house for inmates who had started the program in prison.
As demand increased, N arconon Los Angeles began accepting substance abusers directly from the community and this gradually developed into a full residential program. This centre is currently successfully in operation.
Over 35 years later, the Narconon programs worldwide retain the essential character - a drug-free, educational, life-skills program. The network of Narconon programs has expanded from the one program in Arizona State Prison to now include residential, outpatient, adult and juvenile centres across the United States as well as the rest of the Americas, Europe, Africa, Australia and Asia.
As this network grew, Narconon International was formed to direct and assist the much- needed expansion of drug rehabilitation as well as worldwide prevention programs.
Naconon International provided technical assistance, training and the needed materials to increase capacity and sustainability.
The need for effective drug rehabilitation is currently greater as the scope of the problem is vast. To further increase our efforts, Narconon International has built alliances and partnerships with community leaders, health professional and government agencies.
2.5.3.2 The Narconon Program components a) Narconon new life detoxification program
Detoxification is only the first step on the road of addiction treatment. Exercise, nutrition, and sweating in dry, low-heat saunas with plenty of water and replacement minerals helps the body eliminate the burden of toxins.
The programs has a very unique and effective detox procedure that actually rids the body of the old drug residues, which in turn eliminates physical cravings for the drugs and allows a person to feel much healthier mentally and physically. This is called the Narconon New Life Detoxification Program and is part of Narconon long-term residential treatment (Hubbard 1996).
b) Life Improvement courses (Hubbard 1996)
1) Narconon Learning Improvement Course enables students to overcome barriers to study and improve comprehension towards the result of a real world ability to apply learnt information, in their lives.
2) Narconon perception and communication Course helps a person to remove himself from past upsets and other chaos associated with past drug use through specific exercises in communication with the environment.
3) Narconon Ups and Downs in Life course evaluates the characteristics of constructive and destructive personality types, so that one can select associates with care and establish a more stable, secure personal environment.
4) Narconon Personal Values and Integrity Course provides the data and exercises through which confronting past destructive actions, the student regains his personal integrity, accepting personal responsibility.
5) Narconon Changing Conditions in Life Course enables one to evaluate the state of different parts of one's life and how to improve these, step by step, until one achieves a more desirable condition for each.
6) Narconon "The Way to Happiness" Course is a study of a non-religious code of moral guidance by L. Ron Hubbard to help one follow a personal path of future conduct that will lead to greater good of all concerned.
c) Program completion discharge plans & follows up
Developing a personalized plan for life after graduation, one works out the specific steps to take with family, friends, etc., in order to reconstruct a healthy, ethical, constructive life. Narconon staff maintains close contact to help monitor stability (Hub bard 1996).
Recovery, involves an extended process that usually utilises professionals in the addiction treatment field. Narconon staff are certified and trained and comprise of a Medical Director, nurses on site 24 hours a day as well as an average of 30 Certified Chemical Dependency Counsellors.
To ensure successful recovery, addicts reqUIre skills and tools to deal with daily situations and problems. Factors such as coming across addict associates, returning to the same environment and places, or even small things such as smells and objects, trigger memories that can create a desire to use drugs again. This can hinder the goal of complete recovery and can permanently prevent one from regaining control of life.
Narconon provides the life skills necessary to overcome these barriers and have permanent recovery so that former addicts can lead a healthy, successful and drug-free life.
2.5.3.3 CONCLUDING STATEMENT
This model focuses on using Bio-Physical Modality. This method utilizes a purification sauna to detoxify the body. The human body stores a residue called 'metabolite' in the fat tissue following drug abuse. Metabolite causes cravings and anxiety.
The purification sauna and vitamins expel residues stored in fat tissue. This then eliminates cravings, anxiety and depression. This model also utilises a social-educational component to restore or build skills encouraging the individual to be a drug-free and a productive member of society.