Narconon Frequently Asked Questions

Q : What does "Narconon" mean?

Narconon comes from two Greek words. "Narco" means drugs and "non" means "no". So Narconon means "Drugs-No!".

Q : What is Narconon?

Narconon is a long-term, non-traditional inpatient treatment center for drug addiction and alcoholism. Most treatment centers use a combination of 12 step recovery and group therapy in an effort to handle addiction. While some people respond to this type of treatment, not everyone does. At Narconon, approximately 7 out of 10 people permanently conquer their drug addiction after completing the program. Get additional information and research studies regarding our success rates:

- Summary of Evaluations
- On-going Rehab Program Evaluation
- Scientific Research

Q : How is the Narconon program different from other drug treatment programs?

The Narconon program addresses 3 areas that are not intensively treated in more traditional programs. These areas are:

Physical detoxification - Long-term use of addictive drugs can cause an accumulation of drug residues and metabolites in the body. These residues can remain in the body for years, causing alcohol and drug cravings and drug-induced depression. Narconon uses the Hubbard method of detoxification to remove these residues, resulting in an individual who is free of the harmful physical effects of mind-altering drugs.

Life-Skills - Many people do not realize that some of the most common abilities and skills which they use everyday are not instinctual, but are learned. These are all areas in which drug addicts and alcoholics have been found to be deficient. These are NOT instinctive abilities. They require training and practice to perfect. The Narconon program gives heavy emphasis to life-skills training. Some of the areas addressed are communication skills, study skills and applying ethical principles in everyday life. The result is an individual more comfortable with his life and less likely to be overwhelmed by it. The practice of these skills are extremely therapeutic in and of themselves.

Other therapeutic procedures - There are a number of therapeutic procedures unique to the Narconon program. These therapies are designed to free a person from the guilt, remorse and regret of past actions, and to restore the self-control that is inevitably sacrificed when a person becomes addicted to drugs.

Q : What kind of addictions can the Narconon program treat?

The nature of our program allows us to treat all forms of addiction, be it drug or alcohol, no matter how severe the problem is. We have effectively helped long-term heroin, crack, cocaine, methamphetamine, and alcohol abusers break their addictions.

Q : How long does the program take to complete?

The Narconon program takes, on average, three to six months to complete. Between the extensive treatment, and the individual study involved, the time it takes to complete the program varies from student to student. Not everyone's problems can be solved in 28 days, and as a general rule here, it takes as long as it takes.

Q : Are addicts coming into the Narconon program treated with medication or other drugs such as Methadone?

At Narconon we do not believe that curing addiction is possible by simply exchanging one addiction for another. We offer a natural holistic approach to treatment that does not involve introducing additional chemical substances into ones body.

Q : How exactly does the purification portion of the Narconon program work?

Through research done since the early 1960's it has been found that drugs, once taken, leave residues in the body's fat tissues. These residues remain in the body for years after taking a drug. This is the reason for the occurrence of "acid flashbacks" among LSD users. These drug residues also play a large role in an addict's physical craving for a particular drug. Through vitamins, oils, exercise, and sweating daily in our sauna, our purification program cleans out a users system, leaving them free of physical drug cravings and healthier than they have felt in years.

Q : Can Narconon be effective with an Addict who has failed at many other Rehab Programs?

Yes. Narconon specializes in handling addicts who have not been successful in conventional mainstream programs. The unique alternative approach, coupled with experience in successfully handling the toughest addiction cases makes Narconon ideal for someone who has failed to recover from addiction using conventional methodologies.

Q : What type of people are treated at Narconon?

People from all walks of life, from all over the world attend Narconon for treatment. Ages range from 18-65. There are usually about 40% female and 60% male clients in treatment.

Q : How did the Narconon program start?

Narconon was founded by William Benitez in Arizona State Penitentiary in 1966. Mr. Benitez was a heroin addict who could not seem to get off drugs using traditional forms of treatment. Utilizing the techniques of humanitarian researcher L. Ron Hubbard, Mr. Benitez was able to get himself and other inmates off drugs. This was the beginning of the Narconon Program Today, Narconon has more than 50 centers internationally.

Program Endorsements The Narconon program has several features which in my opinion justify the...

Scientific Research Many different scientific papers and studies have been conducte....