In the last month or so, Brad has spoken about some individuals using drugs while being at the facility. On two seperate occasions, with two seperate people, one person had crack (was apparently smoking at night-time) and one individual was snorting heroin in the cafeteria. The person who was doing the coke told Brad that he had, and Brad seen the person in the cafeteria. Because of incidents like this, the clients are subjected to a room search; which is terrible (however, necessary). I wonder how the "educated" staff oversee's this?

So, I was curious if anyone has had a similar experience? Thanks for your time, guys.

I wonder what the "newly recovered" staff do with any illicit substances they confiscate...

There's this thing called 'backsliding.' There's a reason why legit rehab facilities don't hire newly cleaned up people as counselors. Backsliding can occur years afterwards, but usually happens in the first two years or so.

"Just one more hit, I can handle it." Yeah, right...

Well, I can share from my experience that there were drugs being brought into the facility when I was at Narconon Arrowhead. I'm not sure that this is uncommon though and truthfully I have seen this happen at several facilities over the years. There did seem to be a lack of adequate searching of clients just returning from leave and so it made it exceptionally easy for people to "smuggle" in contraban. I also saw people receive packages with various drugs (ie, pills, bags of heroin, etc.) carefully hidden in them. The packages were searched, but the drugs went unnoticed. This is unfortunate and I hate to admit that I even participated in this practice while I was at Narconon Arrowhead. I too was a victim of "just one more hit".

But really I have found that this is the abnormal obsession of most addicts in recovery; the idea that they can have one more and it will be different. This is the ultimate illusion of addiction and rather than viewing it as being just another "amoral" characteristic of addicts, hopefully we can start understanding it as being a symptom of the illness. Most addicts I encounter want to stop but can't. They can't imagine life with it.... and most of the time can't imagine life without it either.

The problem is that Narconon Arrowhead completely fails to address this dilemma... I want to stop but I can't. This is really where the focus of treatment should be. Not on "sweating out drug residues" and silly communication exercises. These things wont help an addict recover and if they do they are temporary measures. This is my opinion though and you are free to agree or disagree. Don't jump down my throat because this has been my experience. IF NARCONON WORKS FOR YOU... THEN KEEP DOING IT! God knows we are all better off with something different than what we had when we went into treatment.

Evidently, there is a lack of adequate searching. It throws a wrench into the gut of mine, simply knowing the temptation that clients have to endure. As a former user myself (I could not afford to go with Brad; otherwise I would of been there, hand in hand and most likely without much of the information I've happily obtained .... p.s. - Thank God for this site). Temptation literally can make you drop on your knees, at first; I would have killed for a hit, I felt worthless without Brad ... but ultimately, Brad and I have to tough things out together to survive. Anyway, Mr. Mac; kudos goes to you sincerely for even mentioning that you had used in the facility. I don't know how it feels to come to the one place that could possibly aid you in your recovery, and still be exposed to what brought you there. I envy that kind of strength that I've personally never known.

Can I ever relate to the misinterpretation of 'desiring' another hit; "it's alright, it's really ok - I've thought about it and it IS my last hit, I'm not an addict anymore." Boy, how naive was I in retrospect? You are 100% correct, it is absolutely a symptom. And I believe that all Narconons fail to address this. Hubbard himself, at the time of death, was found to have high amounts of Vistaril, and this drug when combined with alcohol or lithium, can induce psychoactive side-effects. This was/is against Scientology's practices. So of course, everyone can see where the destitute integrity was derived from.

On your leaving note, Mr. Mac, "God knows we are all better off with something different than what we had when we went into treatment" ... knowledge is power. Right on, man.

Thank you for the feedback Fight Narconon. It's nice to know that I have been helpful in sharing my experience. I'm curious if Brad is still at Narconon?

As sad as this sounds, not only was I eager to use... I was eager to get out of Narconon. I had been admitted into the program on two other occaisons before they finally kicked me out. The final straw was planned on my part. I had arranged a deal to get an old friend (I met him on my second stay and we bonded instanly) to the facility. He had been using ever since he returned home. I knew he was holding and so when the shuttle arrived to the facility (driven by Narconon staff) I met him in the parking lot for a hand off. The payoff was about a hundred bags of heroin and a hand full of xanax that he had swiped from a family member before he left. It makes me a bit sick to think of the state of mind he and I were in at the time. Bottom line was within a week they were driving us both to the Greyhound station nearby. It was justified, as I know few facilities that will put up with contraban on that level. Luckily I had a couple of hundred bucks in my account at Narconon that they gave me. I later did a search on the New Jersey offender information website... "Frank" was doing time for several possession charges. God Bless you Frankie.

Truthfully though... there was something in me that ws looking for a reason to get kicked out. By this time I was fully aware of the Scientology presence at the facility. One night they made us all (and I mean made!) go out onto the back pattio at the facility because apparently there was a "big wig" contributor coming to tour the facility. There was chatter that it was Tom Cruise. While on the back porch... several students began yelling "Show me the money... show me the money!!" It was too funny. It was pretty typical for the students to joke about Scientology on this level. Once again... my observation was that most of the students were just doing time.

Anyway, I'm rambling now. Thanks for listenting!

Thanks for replying, Mr. Mac!

This may sound ignorant on my part, but I must say that it's excellent to absorb advice and past experiences from an individual who used to use themselves. In a weird way, it's almost reassuring; knowing that people have been through the same shit makes a person realize that they don't have to isolate themselves and box their entities in, because they are the 'bad factor'. I was like that for a long time - to a point where I was repulsive even to myself. It's warming, to know that some of us don't need different programs to discover our true worth.

To answer your question, Mr. Mac, Brad is still in Narconon. Our plan is to nod and smile, until I can send him enough money to get home. I applied for a job working with building supplies, and within less than a day, I got a call back. So Tuesday, I go in. I appreciate your concern; I'm livid that Brad's in there - but you, yourself have been enrolled in a Narconon facility (cough, cough, waste of time .... consider facility and 'waste of time' a synonym) so I know that your concern is genuine. Totally awesome to meet people like this, I want everyone to know this!!!

Super quick question for ya: you said that you had a couple hundred bucks in your account at narconon; was it with Narconon? Or was it your own account? I ask because Narconon told Brad that if he wants money to go home, it has to go into their account (Brad forgot his pin). Immediately, and even still, I refuse. I'm not petty; but what if Brad doesn't see a cent of what I put in there? I would ... I can't even say.

About your comment about students typically mentioning and making jokes about Narconon and its link to Scientology, I hear ya! Brad discusses it frequently; in fact, due to that is the reason he found out, and therefore, myself.

So, ultimately, who was the 'big wig'? Lol, I'm still giggling about the "Show me the money!!" .... it's so apparent even to people outside of their 'religion' (I prefer to call it system, it's easy to put on paper for them, and accumulating money for the wrong reason is so .... 'systematic' for them). All in all, 'doing time' ... I'd say this would be the best description, however; at least when you do time in jail; you're mostly likely more beneficial. Do I ever hate this place.

Mr. Mac, I'm glad you devised a plan to leave, even if it was getting yourself kicked out. I truly feel that what you came up with is more noble than completing the program with a synthetic smile and void soul. Absolutely! Again, kudos to you!

P.S. - Ramble On!!! It's evident on this site that when you put in your 2 cents (worth MUCH more), people seem to respect that. As one of these people, I ask you never worry about rambling. I personally look forward to whatever information, advice, etc. you provide. The longer/more in-depth, the better! That's my take on it, anyway. Thanks so much!!!

Ashley

Once again... I'm happy that my experience can be helpful and reassuring. That is ultimately what I hope to get out of posting on this forum.

I hope that things work out for you and your loved one still at Narconon. Keep in mind that at this point, Narconon for the most part is harmless. The only concern I would have would be with regards to unsafe detoxing practices (which it sounds like he has made it through) and possibly some side effects from the sauna. Has he been through the sauna yet? And actually, in the event that they have unqualified people working as "staff" this too could potentially do harm. So maybe I have answered my own question... looking back on it now, Narconon is not a safe treatment option. I found a lot of strength from others going through the program. Inevitably Brad has met people and began developing friendships. This is where I got my strength from.

As far as getting the money from my account there... They brought a check with them and gave it to me as the door hit my ass on my way out. They were essentially washing their hands with me. Frankie wasn't so lucky... he was detoxing like a dog. I had to accompany him back to Newark, NJ... a three day bus ride from OK. It was horrible. Frakie was getting sick in every major city. God Bless that guy!

I saw people going to several different lengths to get kicked out. The most famous was just assaulting someone or a staff member. It called for immediate dismissal from the program. Sad but true.

Also, we never did find out who the "big wig" was. But like I mentioned... the chatter was that it was Tom Cruise who was inquiring about treatment for a family member. You never know. You know the fat guy from the show "My Name is Earl"... he was there...

mr.mac

My daughter had been at Arrowhead for 1 week when someone smuggled heroin into the facility and offered it to her and a half-dozen other people. Their Ethics department stated that she's a "security risk" and put her in a transport with two guys (one of which was the one who got the drugs mailed to him) and dumped her in the airport at Tulsa at 11:00pm on June 24th. She is only 24 years old, has never been out of Florida where we live, had no tickets, no money, and no flights out that late at night. I have not heard from her since... What kind of people do that to a young girl? Narconon Arrowhead does not care! They allow drugs to enter, and then punish all that accept them. Obviously, these people know NOTHING about drug addicts! And I don't know if my daughter is dead or alive. Hoping to hear from the Tulsa police who are investigating....

I think I met your daughter while I was visiting my wife. If this is the same girl, she said there were a couple of people that offered her heroin. She was put through the wringer by these "ethics officers". I wish you and your daughter the best. It is so unfortunate what this place does to people in such a vulnerable state. I wish I could be more help to you. If you think I can do anything for you please do not hesitate to ask.

Thank you for your kind words.... I wonder if it was her you saw.... I can only imagine how those "ethics" people treated her, and everyone else they dump...

Is she by any chance somewhat dark complected and please forgive me, no insult meant, a little overweight? Not obese by any means but just a little heavy. I am so sorry to put it this way but it's the only way I can.

No offense taken! No, she is not overweight at all, she's very thin (about 110lbs), dark hair, 5'4". We're Spanish, so she's not fair skinned, but not really dark either. It sounds like it was someone else you saw there.... :)

:o Man... this whole situation just does not sit very well with me. Partially because I identify with it so much. I wish Narconon would have made contact with you before they simply droped off your loved one. To me that is a demonstration of their true character. A responsible facility would have taken into consideration the care needs of their client and moved forward appropriately. If that meant asking her to leave, then that should have been done in a procedural manner to include the individuals loved ones.

And let me just tell you all how rediculous this ethics BS is! I was put on "ethics" on several occaisons and it is more simply a way to put individuals to work than anything else. To suggest that an addict's "ethics" are out is just somethnig that doesn't add up to me. Granted alot of addicts have neglected ethical considerations for a long time, but the bottom line is that addicts don't just suffer from amoral behavior patterns or non existing ethics. If that were the case, all we would need would be a crash course in morality and ethics and we would be cured.

"If a mere code of morals or a better philosophy of life were sufficient to overcome alcoholism/addiction, many of us would have recovered long ago. But we found that such codes and philosophies did not save us, no matter how much we tried. We could wish to be moral, we could wish to be philosophically comforted, in fact, we could will these thngs with all our might, but the needed power wasn't there. Our human resources, as marshalled by the will, were not sufficient; they failed utterly.

Lack of power, that was our dilemma. We had to find a power by which we could live, and it had to be a Power greater than ourselves. Obviously. But where and how were we to find this Power?

Well, that's exactly what this book is about. It's main objective is to enable you to find a Power greater than yourself which will sove your problem."

-Alcoholics Anonymous (1939)

Good luck with your daughter.

mr.mac