http://www.sierramountaintimes.com/index.p...d=2636&Itemid=9Scientology Rehab Center Opening
Written by Jerry Whitehead III
May 24, 2007 at 04:05 PM
The Sonora Pass Lodge in Long Barn has been purchased by an organization called Narconon Vista Bay, the Northern California chapter of Narconon, the substance abuse rehabilitation program affiliated with the Church of Scientology.
Narconon has in-patient treatment substance abuse centers across the world but have most of their centers in the U.S. and Europe. The program was established in 1966 and based on L. Ron Hubbard’s principles. Although over the past 20 years it has made steps to distance itself from the church by developing more “secular” treatment methods, it is still closely associated with the Church of Scientology.
“The only affiliation [between Narconon and Scientology] is that the Narconon drug rehab technology and the religion of Scientology are based on the works of the same man, L. Ron Hubbard,” said Narconon Chairman Daniel Manson. “Narconon is a separate public benefit, non-profit corporation.”
Manson added that Narconon is non-religious and is open to patients of all religious backgrounds.
The “New Life Program,” as the Narconon rehab program is called, has two main stages: detoxification and purification. Detoxification involves daily doses of vitamins, minerals (especially magnesium, calcium and niacin) and oils, plus exercise and long sauna sessions. The purification routine uses training courses originally developed by Hubbard to teach Scientologists communication skills. Among these training courses, or TRs, it instructs members to command an ashtray to “stand up” and “sit down” and then thanking the ashtray for doing so, as loudly as they can. The intention of the exercise is for the individual to “beam” their “intention” into the ashtray to make it move.
The “New Life Program” lasts an average of four to five months, according to Narconon, and costs anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000.
In a recent letter (addressed to the “Neighbors of the Sonora Pass Lodge”), Manson attempted to alleviate any potential concerns people might have with a Scientology-oriented rehabilitation center opening up near their backyards.
“...our program is not like most programs,” the statement read. “Our setting is more like an educational retreat than a hospital or clinic and we do not dispense medication. Clients are middle to upper middle class adults who pay good money to receive our services. We do not accept homeless, juveniles, hard-core criminals or the mentally ill into our program...We have a very good success rate as our clients may stay as long as they need...We also will not detox clients at the Long Barn Location, but will do so at our main facility in Watsonville.”
Even so, Narconon has been mired in controversy over the recent years. In 1988, the president of the Church of Scientology was arrested in Spain after it was found that Narconon centers were bilking patients of money and using unqualified staff. A similar incident occurred in Italy in 1989 and 75 Scientologists were arrested. In 2005, the California Medical Association dropped Narconon (which they dubbed a “factually inaccurate approach” to substance abuse rehab) from their classrooms and urged the American Medical Association to as well.
On May 26, a barbecue will be held at 2 p.m. and will be attended by Manson and several other staff members. They are encouraging any people with questions to attend.