Biologist's Research on Drug Detoxification

Biologist's Perspective | About the Biologist

A Biologist's Perspective on Narconon

106,000 Americans die from drugs every year. source: samhsa.gov More than 600,000 Canadians were dependent on alcohol and nearly 200,000 on illicit drugs in 2002. source: statcan.ca 17,000,000 Americans aged 12 or older abused or were dependent on either alcohol or illicit drugs in 2001. source: samhsa.gov 3,300 Senior Canadians die every year due to adverse drug reactions (not medical errors). source: statcan.ca There are 1,360,000 drug prisoners in the United States of America alone. Nearly 80% of all prisoners are incarcerated for drug related offences. source: National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University.

The Situation

Millions of individuals across the world regularly drink alcohol and use illicit drugs. For too many, substance abuse has become a life-threatening problem. The serious repercussions of a drug addiction can clearly be seen through the social, emotional, physical and financial impacts it has on an individual's life. Relationships between families and friends can be irreversibly harmed by unprecedented actions, be it through stealing or violent acts shown by the drug driven individual. Grave financial problems can be encountered by continually purchasing costly drugs, which results in large debts. The brain could also be permanently damaged, and suicidal thoughts may also arise. In North America alone, it is estimated that more than 17.5 million individuals are addicted to drugs or alcohol. More than a hundred thousand of these individuals die every year, due to their addiction. Not only do drugs radically shorten one's life expectancy, it also greatly increases the risks of fatal health problems and deadly overdoses.

A Biologist's Perspective

From the on start of human history, we always have somewhat been affected by the propagation of pollution in our surroundings. Pollution, in all its forms, has never been proven to be beneficial for an environment, and little has changed to this day. As it is constantly demonstrated by the worldwide scientific community, the degradation of the quality of air we breathe, the continual contamination of the water we drink, the toxic substances found in the soil we sow with seeds and the increasing number of chemicals we can identify in the living organisms we eat are all signs of the direct effects of pollution in our lives.

In Canada, the biologist André Ahern, after studying the numerous rivers of Quebec and other fresh water basins, voiced his personal opinion on the subject: "When evaluating the breadth and scope of pollution on a certain environment, appearances can be most misleading. After careful analysis of chemical & biological monitoring results for a given fresh water habitat, despite a facade of cleanliness and purity, it was discovered that the water contained many hidden contaminants".

After careful analysis of chemical & biological monitoring results for a given fresh water habitat, it was discovered that the water contained many hidden contaminants.

Just like any other living organism on Earth, the human body is equally affected by these repeated contaminations. Tests in numerous individuals have revealed a surprising amount of chemical substances present in the body. Very few had anticipated that the human body could contain so many poisonous substances, simply by leading an ordinary life.

In a research conducted by Environmental Defense, some children actually had more toxic chemicals in their body than their parents. This only demonstrates the dangers we are exposed to when we live in a polluted environment.

Yet, what are the true causes of pollution? Briefly described, a pollutant is a foreign substance inserted or imposed on an environment that causes an undesired change. Hence, the chemicals poured in rivers, the deadly gases released into the air and the wastes buried in the soil are all some forms of pollution.

What we often overlook is voluntary pollution. By willingly introducing a foreign element in our bodies, we are not only disrupting the body's equilibrium, but also posing an incalculable threat to our lives. We all know that drinking acrylic paint would plainly intoxicate us. Yet, smoking a cigarette or joint, "sniffing cocaine," or ingesting crystal meth is anything but better.

When in the body, drugs can produce several side effects, ranging from mild fazing to complete euphoria. These effects are only temporary, but the drugs themselves are not. They pollute the body by remaining in its fragile internal environment.

As demonstrated by extensive research, it is increasingly evident that the accumulation of drug residues and their lipophilic (capable of dissolving in lipids) metabolites in the body plays a role in drug addiction. Such residues are associated with persistent symptoms and their mobilization from body stores into blood correlates with drug craving.

Residues of many drugs - including LSD, phencyclidine (PCP), cocaine, marijuana and diazepam (valium) - are known to accumulate in the body. These compounds may be retained for extended periods of time, and are especially abundant in long-term, hard-core drug users. Persistent symptoms associated with drug abuse often linger long after the abuse has ceased. The consideration that accumulated residues may play a role in the persistence of symptoms led to the development of a program aimed at reducing levels of foreign compounds in the body and thereby assisting in the recovery of the individual.

Narconon Biophysical Detoxification Protocol: What it Does

A detoxification method developed by the American humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard was specifically targeted at reducing levels of fat-stored chemical residues in the body and thereby alleviating the long-term effects of such compounds.

The research conducted to prove this method was interested in determining whether drugs were eliminated during this program and, if so, what types of symptomatic changes occurred as a consequence.

Concentrations of drug metabolites in both sweat and urine were measured in a target group who had been actively using drugs prior to treatment with the Hubbard program. Treatment occurred at the Narconon drug rehabilitation center in Los Angeles. Cocaine, amphetamine, and benzodiazepine metabolites were detected by fluorescent immunoassay in both sweat and urine of these clients. Following start of treatment, metabolite concentration increased in either sweat or urine in 62% of cases. In 25% of cases the level of drug was below detection prior to treatment, but became detectable while doing the detoxification program. Drugs continued to be eliminated for up to five weeks.

A separate series of 249 clients with a history of drug abuse rated the severity of their symptoms before and after treatment with the Hubbard program. Prior to treatment their chief symptomatic complaints included fatigue, irritability, depression, intolerance of stress, reduced attention span and decreased mental acuity. These same symptoms were dominant in those who had ceased active drug abuse over a year prior to treatment.

Following treatment, both past and current users reported marked improvement in symptoms with most returning to normal range. This detoxification program represents a vital innovation in drug rehabilitation: an approach aimed at a long-term reduction of the predisposition for drug abuse.

Source: "Reduction of Drug Residues: Applications in Drug Rehabilitation," a presentation to the 123rd Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association. Authors: Megan Shields, M.D.; F. Tennant, M.D., Dr. P.H.; Shelley Beckmann, Ph.D.; and R. Michael Wisner.

The biologist André Ahern, BSc, MSc, of Laval University whom studied aquatic habitats and rivers across the province of Québec for 15 years, in particular: rivière Trinité, rivière l'Assomption and rivière La Grande. He now works as a drug addiction detoxification specialist for Narconon since 2002.

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