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Narconon Stone
Hawk director Kate Wickstrom would have us believe that Narconon's
techniques are effective, using the EPA(!) as a reference.
Incidentally, would somebody please tell me what environmental
protection has to do with quack drug rehabilitation scams? Thanks
to the ever-alert denizens of alt.religion.scientology I was made aware of
some interesting information:
Wickstrom states:
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The technical
methodology used by Narconon has been scientifically studied. To
quote from a 1998 addressed published by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency after an international conference in Washington
regarding a formal study of Mr. Hubbard's sauna program, the
conclusion states: "There is evidence suggesting that the
program revitalizes the immune system and improves the general
physical condition of the participant. . . . In addition, the
detoxification program devised by Hubbard possesses a powerful
psychotherapeutic potential." Lastly, after early confusions
were cleared up decades ago, Narconon staff continue to work with
justice departments worldwide, including a Utah juvenile court
program; in Pretoria, South Africa; in Baja, California; Mexico
prisons, etc. |
Let's address the EPA issue first.
Exactly who in the EPA had occasion to comment on Narconon's techniques,
and what was a member of the EPA doing commenting on a drug rehab
program? A news posting by one Chris Owen
of the UK whose
post can be read here
stated:
| William L. Marcus is a
toxicologist for the Environmental Protection Agency regularly
cited by Narconon as a supporter of L. Ron Hubbard's
pseudoscientific "purification" therapy. Jeff Jacobsen
asked if anyone had any further info on Marcus. Marcus is listed
as a Narconon staff member (to be exact, a member of the Narconon
International Scientific Advisory Board) on the website of
Narconon California. He is described as follows: "Dr. Marcus
is Senior Science Advisor and Chief Toxicologist for the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency. He has conducted ground-breaking
research in the field of environmental toxicology and
pharmacology." |
Ah, now we begin to see what the deal is,
he's one of them. Narconon uses his "findings" as support
for their treatment program over against the many warnings by respected
medical professionals such as Dr. C. Everett Koop, who keenly perceived
the blatant quackery and potential lethality of L. Ron Hubbard's
"Purification Rundown".
From another
Chris Owen posting:
| As the list above
shows, many of Narconon's most vocal supporters are themselves
Scientologists. Drs Shields and Beckmann and their co-author Mr.
Wisner are well-known Scientologists. Dr. Gene Denk, who has also
publicly supported Narconon, is a Florida-based Scientologist who
used to be L. Ron Hubbard's personal physician. This raises
serious questions about their neutrality. As committed
Scientologists, they have a direct personal stake in proving the
veracity of their guru's theories. |
Mrs. Wickstrom continues, adding that
"confusions were cleared up decades ago" and that Narconon staff
continue to work with "justice departments worldwide", including
"Baja, California". Shouldn't that read "Baja
California", a state in Mexico? Is this a deliberate
obfuscation or an egregious typographical error? One poster to
alt.religion.scientology stated that "Where the heck is Baja,
California? Do they mean Baja California, which is now redundant with
'Mexico prisons'? Interesting they try to slip that by as a US-sounding
location. Also interesting is they seem to be able to come up with only
one (real) US location."
More
on the purported effectiveness of Narconon
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