http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2008/03/23/530398.htmlTranslation:-
Quote:
[TITLE] Sending drug addicts to the scientologists
[INTRODUCTION] Here Hege from Vaaler is being treated by scientologists.
Norwegian local authorities are contributing millions.
[text below Narconon video]
Thou shalt not kill: Large parts of the program are directed towards
visualizing L. Ron Hubbard's ideas. Here (video) you can see an excerpt from
the Narconon DVD "The Way to Happiness", which is the last part of the
program.
(Video source: Narconon)
[MAIN ARTICLE]
(Dagbladet.no)
Hege Jakobsen (29) from Vaaler in Soloer has been sitting in a sauna in
Denmark for four hours. She's been doing this for over twenty days. She's
going to perspire away toxins and bad memories from her body.
- One experiences lots of strange things sitting in the sauna. Among other
things I experienced that old scars appeared, says Hege to Dagbladet.no
Hege is just one among close to 50 Norwegian addicts who have been sweating
in this damp room.
Being treated with sauna
- There have been done IQ tests before starting the sauna program, and then
comparing them to tests done after completing the program. Most have
increased their IQ with as much as 15%, says the general manager of Narconon
Denmark, Ole Thiemer, to Dagbladet.no
He thinks it's possible to sweat out the drugs through a combination of
vitamins, minerals and using the sauna. The program puts great emphasis on
the use of niacin, a B vitamin also known as nicotinic acid. The sauna
course lasts an average 20 to 30 days, and each session lasts up to 4.5
hours.
Narconon bases its treatment on the teachings of L. Ron Hubbard, the man who
founded the church of scientology. The church has been accused of
brainwashing, and harshly criticized for controversial tests and expensive
courses.
- We cleanse the brains
- I know that some accuse us of brainwashing people. To those people I want
to say this: We cleanse the brains of anything related to drugs, says
Thiemer to Dagbladet.no
As the first Norwegian news agency Dagbladet.no has been allowed to observe
the controversial treatment regime.
Even though Thiemer is sitting below a large portrait of Hubbard while we're
interviewing him, Thiemer says that Narconon is completely independent of
the church of scientology. Cause despite the fact that all the books,
methods and even the philosophy of life was developed by the controversial
science fiction writer, the program has no official ties to the church
founded by the same man.
- Hubbard saved my life
- If one walks into a large and dark forest in the middle of the night, most
people will get scared. Walking into the same forest in daylight though,
much of the fear would disappear. I think that much of the opposition
towards this program is based on ignorance and lack of knowledge, says
Thiemer to Dagbladet.no.
Thiemer himself does not hide the fact that he's a faithful scientologist,
though:
- I became a scientologist because Hubbard's methods literally saved my
life, says Thiemer, who himself was a drug addict until the age of 35.
- I thought that if learning these things is making me this "powerful", then
what will happen if I learn the rest? Says Thiemer, who insists that its
optional for those participating in the program whether they want to become
scientologists or not.
Optional to become a scientologist
- There are some who become scientologists, and some who don't. It's their
choice. Let's put it this way: In time I've become so good that if I wanted
everyone to become scientologists - then everybody would become
scientologists, says Thiemer.
When Dagbladet.no is visiting Narconon on Vestsjaelland there are about five
Norwegians there. One of them is Sturla from Sandnes. He's only been on the
farm one day.
- I was here two weeks ago as well, but at that time I realized I couldn't
make it. I hadn't been able to say goodbye to my kid, my girlfriend and my
life. So I simply freaked out. But now I've said farewell to my life. So now
I'm ready, says Sturla.
Treating 50 Norwegians
According to Narconon close to 50 Norwegians have been treated there since
the program started in 2001. About 20 Norwegians have received financial
support from social welfare offices, regional health trusts or their local
authorities to pay for their participation in the program. Each treatment
costs all in all approximately 180000-200000 NOK [$34-39,000].
According to Narconon's own numbers, that means Norwegian municipalities
have been spending more than 3,6 millions in tax money on the scientology
program
The farm on Vestsjaelland lies close to a "station town" called Moerkoev.
Who wouldn't thought that behind the yellow brick walls lies the answer to
Western society's drug problems? Thiemer thinks so, anyway. His ambition is
that Narconon shall be the largest drug treatment program in Denmark within
three years.
Social welfare offices are paying
- It seems like people have given up, and apathy towards treatment for drug
addiction is spreading in our society. We believe that we have the solution,
says Thiemer.
One of the bill payers for the Danish treatment of Norwegian drug addicts is
called Radoey social welfare office.
- We've been very satisfied with the program. I would recommend that others
choose the same, says the manager of the social welfare service in Radoey,
Oeystein Mongstad, to Dagbladet.no. He says they've been spending about
200000 NOK [$39,000] per person participating in the program.
In addition, the drug consultant in the Os municipality, Rune Bakke, is also
satisfied with Narconon's program.
- They're filling a need in the market, he says. Neither he nor Mongstad
thinks it's a problem that the program is base don scientology methods.
- I've noticed that the program hasn't been too popular with advocates of
traditional medicine. But for us, the most important thing is that the
program works, says Bakke.
Narconon's program consists of nine steps where the drug addicts among other
things take part in a therapeutic communications course, a sauna program and
a so-called "sensing course". The last course is called "The Way to
Happiness". There one learns to become a "trustworthy and productive
citizen" and gets "good directions on living a happy life".
- Creates peace
- Handling the drug abuse itself is just a small part. One also has to
attempt to find out why one became an addict. It's necessary to educate
people on how to handle life, says Thiemer.
He has firm belief that the leaflet "The Way to Happiness" can solve many of
today's conflicts.
- When we've distributed this leaflet in locations where there's been a lot
of conflict, such as in Israel and Palestine, statistics show that there's
less chaos and voilence when people start reading it. The leaflet gives
people a non-religious concept of morality, says Thiemer.
[Text below the article] The participants in the Narconon program
participating in the documentary have seen the videos and approved of the
contents.
[Extras: pictures and text bits on the right side of the article:]
[Text below video of scifag living quarters(?)]
Came to Narconon in 2006: This is how the teachers at Narconon are staying.
Eivind is a former student of the Narconon program, and he now teacher drug
addicts.
(Video source: Dagbladet's journalists)
[Text below picture of Narconon GM]
Cleansing the brain of drugs and crime: The scientologist Ole Thiemer is the
general manager of Narconon [in Denmark?]. On the wall is a picture of L.
Ron Hubbard, the founder of scientology.
(Photo source: A journalist)
[Text below picture of Hubbard bust]
Hubbard's method: The vast majority of the literature in the building was
written by L. Ron Hubbard. The bust of Hubbard has been placed on a shelf in
Ole Thiemer's office.
(Photo source: A journalist)
These authorities/entities have supported the Narconon treatment:
.Os Kommune Sosial kontor (local social welfare office)
.Bergen Kommune, Laksevåg Bydel (city district)
.Radøy Sosialkontor (local social welfare office)
.Loddefjord Sosialkontor (local social welfare office)
.Lyngdal Sosialkontor (local social welfare office)
.Bergen Kommune (municipality - one out of approx 430)
.Lindås Sosialkontor (local social welfare office)
.Ulriken Bydelssenter (city district)
.Stord Kommune (municipality - one out of approx 430)
.Arendal Kommune (municipality - one out of approx 430)
.Vest-Agder Fylkeskommune (regional authorities - one out of 19)
.Aust-Agder Fylkeskommune (regional authorities - one out of 19)
.Hordeland Fylkeskommune (regional authorities - one out of 19)
.Helse Sør (regional health trust)
.Helse Vest (regional health trust)