From: gisle@ifi.uio.no (Gisle Hannemyr)
Subject: Narconon -- bi-monthly update
Organization: gisle@ifi.uio.no
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1992 21:32:26 GMT
Originator: gisle@gyda.ifi.uio.no

In the spring this year, we had a huge debate in this newsgroup about
the Scientlogy-based drug rehabilitation program run by Narconon.
Among the specific claims made by Scientologist John Holifield was:

1) That Narconon was the official state-run program for drug
   rehabilitation in several European countries.
2) That Narconon had a documented recovery rate better than
   76%

When challenged, John admitted that he couldn't document these claims,
and suggested I wrote directly to Narconon Chilocco (their international
headquarter) for information.  

On April 29th, I sent them a letter requesting the following information:

1) References to state-run programs in Europe where the NARCONON program
   is provided to drug offenders and/or voluntary patients at state
   expense.  Please include the name, address and telephone number to
   the public office/offical responsible for administrating the program.

2) References to peer-reviewed scientific papers documenting the success
   rate of the NARCONON program.  Please provide full citation, so that
   I can use our library service to obtain photocopies of the original
   papers.

3) Documentation on the average cost in terms of money and time to complete
   the program for various classes of addiction.

Their reply (received June 2) simply contained standard promotional
literature that repeated John Holifield's original claims (official
acceptance of the program in Europe, 76% recovery rate) without
providing any of the references I specifically asked for.

[[ Side note 1: The Narconon booklet which cites various studies with
   the (quite extraordinary) 76% recovery figure, also cites (very
   uncontroversial) statitics on the growth of the drug problem in
   the United States.  The former come devoid of references, the
   latter come complete with scholarly references in the most exemplary
   manner.  Which only shows that the authors of the Narconon booklet
   is not unfamiliar with the use citation, but suspiciously
   discriminatory in its application! ]]

In response to my last question, I was given a general estimate of
$15,000 for three weeks treatment with the provision that it would
cost more if you needed to stay longer for the program to be
effective.

[[ Side note 2: One interesting question is: If you are not
   "rehabilitated" after three weeks, but have to quit the program
   because you don't have the money to continue, is this statistically
   counted as a "failure" of the program -- or is it just not counted
   because the patient failed to complete the program?  At the moment,
   however, this point is moot.   Until we have any evidence for the
   _existance_ of the 76% success rate, there is little point in
   debating how it is measured! ]]

When I reported my disappointment with the response from Narconon
Chilocco to this newsgroup, severeal scientologists wrote to me and
suggested that I contacted Narconon Chilocco again asking for more
specific data.  Which I did on June 14th.  This time I sent my letter
both by fax and by ordinary mail.  Also, I tried to be more specific,
asking explicitly about the name and address of the official to
contact in the unnamed European country mentioned in the Narconon
promotional literature they had sent me, and the "published scientific
studies", "Swedish study" and "Spanish study" cited but not identified
in the same promotional literature.

To date (August 14) I have not received any response whatsoever to
this fax/letter.

I'll report to this group again when/if I receive any substantial new
information about this.  In the meantime I think that any comments on
the substance behind the claims for the success rate and official
acceptance of the Narconon program for addiction rehabilitation is
unneccessary.

I'll leave you with this saying:

   "You have every right to ask questions about this statistic.
    But don't you think it is wonderful that we may - just may - be
    able to help 76% of the drug addicts?  Why do you fight that?"

         (from a personal e-mail received at beginning of this thread)

--
Disclaimer: My employer seldom even LISTENS to my opinion.
 
- gisle hannemyr  (Norsk Regnesentral)
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