One thing I’m very concerned about, is that when people finally realize that conventional treatment and 12-step methods of recovery don’t work, they go looking for alternatives and get drawn in by another ineffective program, or something that has the same characteristics they were trying to escape by looking for alternatives. The danger I want to highlight today is Narconon. For those who don’t know, the treatment centers called Narconon, use a program developed with Scientology, based on the writings of L Ron Hubbard, and are primarily run by scientologists.
I will not use this post as a means to debate the merits and/or problems of scientology, because I’m not well versed in it. I do however know many people who have been to Narconon. What’s often said is that it’s a cult-like atmosphere. Beyond that, there are countless complaints by attendees, and there are methods used at these clinics that many consider questionable. Narconon uses all the language common to health scam artists – most notably, they focus on removing “toxins” from the body. Whenever you hear the word “toxins” it should send up a red flag and you should be very careful of what you’re being sold. While in a Narconon facility you will be given massive doses of vitamins and niacin, as well as drinks made up of oils, and you’ll spend hours on end in saunas (you actually consume meals and water while in the saunas), a process all aimed at removing the “toxins” which force you to “self-medicate”. Another common experience I’ve heard is that you sit in a room with someone who shouts insults at you for hours on end as a means of psychologically breaking you down until you no longer react negatively. This may be some peoples’ cup of tea, but many would find it bizarre, unhelpful, and potentially dangerous or deadly. And many people are already suspicious of scientology and want nothing to do with it – which is why I must write this post.
Here is a link to Narconon Exposed, a website dedicated to debunking and tracking Narconon: http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Narconon/ (I’m not affiliated with this site in any way)
There are countless websites which speak of an alternative method of recovery, they mention success rates of 80%, and they speak quite eloquently about the dangers of the disease theory of addiction. This makes these sites quite attractive to those looking for an alternative to conventional treatment – but they are a trojan horse, and eventually funnel you into going to a Narconon rehab center – which ultimately funnels you into the church of scientology. I stumbled across one the other day.
The site I just found is called New Face Of Recovery, and it offers a book for sale of the same name. I was excited when I found the site, but as I searched through, it seemed intentionally vague about many things, which lead me to immediately suspect that it was a front for Narconon or some other scientology influenced product. I wasted ten bucks buying the book and reading it so that I could report back to you that it indeed is that. In the section on detoxification, the author outlines the vitamins, niacin, oils, and sauna methods common to Narconon. Eventually, he discloses that these methods he recommends are outlined in a book called Clear Body, Clear Mind, by none other than L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of scientology. Furthermore, I googled Lucas A Catton, the author of the book, and found that many have identified him as a former employee of Narconon Oklahoma, and the owner of other recovery sites which serve as fronts for Narconon. So, if you want to avoid Narconon, and/or scientology, then please avoid using the website http://www.newfaceofrecovery.org/ and do not buy the book titled New Face Of Recovery. It may however, be educational to view the site, so that you’ll be better able to recognize a narconon front site when you encounter it – there are many of them out there.
Now, in the sense of being an alternative to conventional treatment, Narconon is radically different and thus an alternative. But what are you looking for an alternative to? Many people want to get away from the self-defeating disease model of addiction, because it removes addiction from the realm of choice, and puts it in the realm of biology – something that isn’t under our direct volitional control. Unfortunately, while deliberatly rejecting the disease model, Narconon achieves the same harmful end – by convincing you that vitamin deficiencies and “toxins” are to blame, they keep addiction squarely in the realm of biology. This keeps people from focusing on the choice aspects of addiction, and thus makes it harder for them to change their habits.
Another thing that many people want to escape when they go looking for alternative addiction treatments is the cult-like and quasi-religious atmosphere of 12-step groups and methods. Unfortunately, if you get scammed into going to Narconon, you will face these same problems, you’ll just have them with a new group, and the cult-like atmosphere and religiosity could be much worse in Narconon by many accounts.
So, to sum up: Narconon doesn’t provide much of an alternative to the disease model of addiction or the cult-like and quasi-religious aspects of 12-step programs – and thus is not the alternative that many are seeking when they go online looking for an alternative treatment or method of recovery for addiction. And by being based on Narconon, the website and book titled “New Face Of Recovery” doesn’t offer much of an alternative either.
Stay away from the fakes, and look for the true alternatives to conventional treatment, which you can find all over this site, and particularly on my Find Help Now page, listed in the menu up top.
NOTE: Although Narconon sounds like a combination of Narcotics and Anonymous, it has nothing to do with the 12-step group Narcotics Anonymous or NA, nor is it affiliated with or a sister group to Alanon. It is it’s own organization and program, having nothing to do with 12-step programs.
Excellent article! Thanks for getting the word out 🙂
It’s been a long time since this was originally posted. I have since spoken to Steven Slate, and I would like to make it perfectly clear, that no matter what was written in or what opinion was drawn of the book in its original version, I am no longer connected to Narconon or Scientology in any way. While I am not directly asking that this entire post be removed (though it would be great if it were), I did want to have this appear at the top of the comments. At some point I still intend to revise the book with all that I have learned in the past couple of years since I originally wrote that. A LOT has changed since then. I wish everyone well, and to anyone seeking some sort of rehabilitation help, I hope you are able to find the program that best suits your needs.
You have come a long way and through a lot this past year or so, Luke. I read your blog article. Previously I did not believed all that you wrote here in that time, about things changing and your connections. There was no evidence otherwise to be found at the time and knowing how Scientology and the Narconon licensing works, what you were trying to do would be unheard of and against their policies. It was only whn I found out that you were really out yesterday from your blog and today from reading the Village Vopice article, that indeed you are out and are able to think independently now. Of course, there are prices to pay for publicly departing scientology but I am glad to see that you are ready to stand tall, make the most of th situation, fight for your rights and continue on in the direction you bagan without interference by NArconon and the church.
So, while we have had our differences, and I do now believe that you are no longer associated with Narconon and Scientology and PITA Group and that you were indeed trying to help others without the mandate of sending people to Narconon only, over your head.
You took the brave step to speak out publicly and make your concerns and story really known in the media, especially because of your concerns about ABLE President Rena Weinberg being missing and the recent deaths at Narconon Arrowhead. I hope everyone reading this blog see this article:
Former president of Narconon Oklahoma now calls it “Watered-down version of introductory Scientology”
VOICE EXCLUSIVE: Lucas Catton, former president of Narconon Arrowhead in Oklahoma, outs himself as our source from last week’s story revealing that officials at the center are worried that its certification is “extremely vulnerable.” Catton speaks at length about the treatment center, its online referral network, and his own excommunication from Scientology.
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2012/08/scientology_lucas_catton_narconon.php
At some point I will come back here and reply to specific posts of yours with updated information. Best wishes and thanks for speaking up.
Another update. I detailed my experiences with Narconon and Scientology in a book called “Have You Told All?” Check it out at http://www.haveyoutoldall.com. There is also video on there of NBC’s Rock Center segment that featured another former Narconon employee and me that many may find quite revealing.
Thanks for updating this, Lucas. Much has occurred over the last year with you and us and the Narconon situation. I have come to know you better through correspondence, your public denunciation of Narconon and Scientology, your participation of the Reaching For The Topping Point forum and your important media interviews. I have also read your excellent and important book. Much of what I posted here in years back was based upon known information but the truth is, there was an underlying situation you were in with the Church of Scientology and Narconon where you could not talk about certain things or would risk personal harassment and difficulties. Since your coming forward personally and the publishing of your book, and despite these risks, you have proven to be an important voice in helping expose Narconon and Scientology and for that I am very grateful. One can see the NBC Rock Center show here:
http://rockcenter.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/04/17600743-scientology-linked-rehab-narconon-under-fire-from-two-former-executives?lite
Your book was very moving and it’s the perfect read for anyone searching for what to look out for when trying to help their loved one in need of help. Your story and what happened to you when you began to see that there were other possibilities outside Narconon and Scientology is very compelling but what is most important is how you got sucked in to both, how you rose up the ranks so quickly and how your life was torn apart because you questioned things. I support what you are doing and count you as a friend now and I’m sorry if my pointed statements here caused you problems because you were not able to fully address them publicly because of the restrictions you were under at the time.
Mary
The site is in Chinese or Japanese… My boyfriend is currently in Arrowhead as we speak. (His family took it upon themselves to send him and kept me out of the loop until it was too late to question the choice) Don’t get me wrong-him being anywhere is better than where he was heading with his use, and I feel he is intelligent enough to separate what is useful and what is propaganda. We have even made a number of Scientology jokes about the place together-so it’s not like he doesn’t know about that element.. All that being said-it still makes me nervous that he’s there and won’t be receiving the proper tools for life long recovery.. ( doesn’t matter where he goes-he has to want sobriety-I’m aware..) he has only started the sauna portion of the program, and they’re already asking him to work for them.. It seems to me from what I’ve read on various sites online that Narconon tends to employ many of their residents. Is that a ploy to cram more Scientology mumbo jumbo down their throats or is it a tactic to make them feel useful again? Lucas-your book seems to be out of print and I’m only able to find it for $60-3000 on Amazons market. Do you sell copies? Think you could help me out with some more information? I’m just trying to be prepared for what might be coming out the other end of all this.. If he leaves sober and wanting a lifetime of it-I’ll be happy no matter what! Even if he IS a brainwashed scientologist… 😛
Yes, Narconon helped me save my life more than a decade ago. I do not work for Narconon and have not worked for Narconon in over 5 years, and if you read the full book, you would see that I also promote other non-12-step rehabilitation resources. There are certainly others out there, and they are mentioned by name, as well as leaders in this field who have absolutely nothing to do with Narconon. The New Face of Recovery is not a promotion for Narconon or any other singular program, it is a message to not fall into the disease-based-thinking trap. I have helped many thousands of people throughout the country find all types of rehabilitation programs, and only a very small percentage (less than 5 percent) went to Narconon. Get your facts completely straight before you go shooting you mouth off about something you only have a small piece of information about. If you care about helping people as much as I do, then you will allow this comment to be posted, because it is the truth.
I have read the whole book, Mr Catton. You mention SAMHSA’s rehab locator, and the christian Teen Challenge programs (which are often complained about by alumni as fervently as Narconon’s detractors). Then you recommend http://www.drug-alcohol-rehabs.org/ – which CLEARLY is a site that directs people into Narconon. There is no doubt in my mind about that, whatsoever – nor that your own site (the 4th resource listed) would do the same.
I am thoroughly convinced that “drug-alcohol-rehabs.org” exists for no reason other than to prime people to go to the Narconon centers they’ll be recommended when they call the number listed on the site. Within your book, you talk extensively about L Ron Hubbard’s “biophysical” rehab process which releases toxins stored in fat cells, or whatever – ya know, the whole taking giant doses of niacin, drinking oils, and spending too much time in saunas thing. That site mentions the process as well:
“Probably the most important thing to remember is that withdrawal or detox is only the first phase of a successful rehabilitation program. Just drying out rarely solves the entire problem, which is why a longer-term residential drug rehab program is recommended. In addition, there are still toxic residues stored in the tissue, and a regular detox doesn’t handle this, so a biophysical program is suggested to be able to completely detoxify the whole body, not just what’s floating in the system.”
SOURCE: http://www.drug-alcohol-rehabs.org/drug-rehab-detox.html
Here’s an article from slate.com (wish I’d gotten that domain!) which critically discusses the process: http://www.slate.com/id/2108471/
I don’t think I’ve been shooting my mouth off here. While you paid some lip service to other resources such as Teen Challenge, your book cuts down all traditional treatment programs (a basic point on which we agree BTW, those programs are not good), but then the only solution you describe and endorse happens to be a key component of the Narconon way. Any reader who is still with you by the end probably won’t use the SAMHSA locator, they want the biophysical program – which they’ll eventually find by going to the other 2 resources you listed. They’ll end up in Narconon if they take you seriously.
I don’t blame you for promoting what you think is a good solution – that is commendable. But to use deceptive tactics like this is deplorable. Be upfront about what you’re selling people, and I won’t have to call you out on it.
Furthermore, beyond the ties to Scientology (and it is tied, you can’t deny that – all or most of the workbooks available for the program are authored by LRH), I think there’s a major flaw in Narconon which can’t be overlooked. They claim that addiction is not a disease – but then go on to blame the presence of “toxins” for addiction, keeping the cause of the problem in the biological realm. Is it behavioral or biological? Make a decision. Personally, I detoxed from a heavy habit of injecting $100-$200 or more worth of heroin and cocaine a day cold turkey 9 years ago. Those toxins that I never sweated out with a “biophysical program” still haven’t caused me to relapse. Oh yeah, I also haven’t been on a nutritional health kick either. I eat a lot of steak, fast food, baked goods, and fried foods. Maybe not the best diet, but it hasn’t seemed to affect my choices about drug use.
What truly scares me is that because of Narconon, people end up thinking that everyone else (like me) who is also critical of the disease model is a Scientologist, against medicine, and engages in the same kind of practices as those involved with Narconon. Furthermore, I can’t stand that people will be pulled into Narconon when it really isn’t much of an alternative to the things they’re running away from in the recovery culture, but perhaps a heightened version. Quite frankly, your (you and Narconon) reputation is ruining it for the rest of us who want to offer people a sane simple and truly helpful alternative to the lifelong struggle with self-doubt, self-hate, and cycles of relapse through revolving door treatment centers and 12-step meetings offered by the recovery culture/treatment industry.
Did I miss something? What were all the other methods you recommended? Let me know. I’d write a review of your whole book, but knowing now that you see your book to be “a message to not fall into the disease-based-thinking trap”, I can sum up my review very quickly. Your book is a failure at keeping people out of the disease based thinking trap. You clearly state within it that “30 days” (of treatment) “simply is not enough time for a person to even adjust mentally and physically, let alone have the ability to now live a drug-free life”. What kind of bullshit is this? You are imposing the disease-based-thinking trap right there. People can live a drug free life with ZERO days in treatment – they do it all the time, I think I’ve spoken to that point, and backed it up with research on this site. Also, moderation isn’t mentioned once in your book – even though most people go from problematic or “addictive” or “abusive” levels of substance use to lower non-problematic levels of use. Who is stuck in the all-or-nothing disease based thinking? Were you really trying to help the reader out of this trap, you’d let them know the truth about this facet of substance use instead of ignoring it.
Wow, I could keep going. Show me where I’m wrong so far, please.
-Steven Slate
Hi Steve,
Listen, I’m not out to attack you or Mary or anyone else personally. I mention in the book Dr. Stanton Peele, who works with the St. Gregory Center, as well as Genita Petrali from the Alternative to Meds Center and Dr. Peter Breggin – all very respected in non-diseased-based and non-prescription-based treatments. Baldwin Research associated with the St. Jude Thaddeus program, as well as Rational Recovery, Smart Recovery, Inner Balance, and many more are excellent alternatives for people seeking help.
I certainly don’t claim that addiction is solely a physical issue, but there are definitely people that need some type of physical clean-up to assist their recovery. You’re obviously completely correct that there are plenty of people that recover permanently without going to any type of treatment. If you read any of the newspaper articles or listened to some of the radio programs I’ve been on regarding the book, it is all about finding what will work for each individual, and recognizing that they do not have an incurable disease. However, people who do overcome addiction on their own simply don’t feel 100% better within 30 days magically, there is a mental and physical adjustment period for everyone involved. I don’t promote moderation but I don’t speak against it either. My experience is that people who have developed heavy addictions are still better off not using to have a better life than using every once in a while. If they can and don’t fall back into the trap, then more power to them and that’s fine. The book is based on research I’ve done, which included working with many thousands of individuals and families throughout the country and I believe I state that it is by no means “the only way” to approach having a good life.
So, you, Mary (though she likes to promote the past and not what I am currently doing), or whomever are welcome to bash me for what I’ve done to help others or have accomplished personally, everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion and this is your site, but to discredit the whole book full of information with documentation from studies and anecdotal evidence to back up my points in it simply because you disagree with one program that I worked with in the past isn’t doing justice to for your readers, in my opinion.
I support your efforts to eliminate the disease-based and powerlessness thinking, and all of us would have a much better time doing it if we actually worked together instead of thinking that any of us have “the only way” or attacked each other when our views are more alike than not.
Lucas, I think you’ve answered dishonestly. I asked what other methods you recommended in your book, and you replied by listing off some people you quoted or mentioned.
-You quoted Stanton Peele, you didn’t recommend his methods.
-You quoted Peter Breggin – a researcher who has been openly tied to Scientology and CCHR (which isn’t a crime, but it serves to show that this is a very Scientology oriented book)
-I can’t find where you quote or recommend Genita Petrali anywhere within the book. I will note however that it’s interesting you’ve mentioned her here – she practices detox regimens which are nearly identical to the “biophysical” ones offered in Narconon.
Then, in your comment above, you didn’t technically say it, but you make it look like you also recommended a list of other solutions (including St Judes). None of these are mentioned in your book, they’re simply things you’re mentioning now in order to look like you’re living up to your mission statement. That’s fine, and if you want to recommend these things now, I think that’s great. The problem is that I’m criticizing the book, and the book doesn’t mention them, the book primes the reader for Narconon, and nothing else.
Genita Petrali is a known affiliate using some of L Ron Hubbard’s detox ‘tech’ in her work. Matter of fact, she worked with Lyle Murphy at his Alternative To Meds Center ( another ABLE Int licensee using it), before he got busted by California ADP for operating without appropriate licensing and moved on to AZ. You can read about that at the 2nd and third link below
Every single company or person mentioned as the subject in these links is using or being schmoozed to get them using L Ron Hubbard’s detox or rehab tech – all of which are programs created for and used by scientologists as part of their ‘spiritual’ progress on it’s Bridge to no where.
http://forums.whyweprotest.net/threads/baldwin-research-institute-a-scientology-fraud.29387/
http://www.sfbg.com/40/12/news_newlife.html
http://forum.reachingforthetippingpoint.net/index.php?topic=3257.20
http://articles.sfgate.com/2009-04-10/bay-area/17191677_1_residential-drug-treatment-center-drug-programs-housing-situations
http://missionlocal.org/2009/04/nutritional-detox-facility-gets-walloped/
http://www.scribd.com/doc/19465101/SBDC-Clear-Mind-Services-San-Francisco-White-Pages-for-1082-Folsom-St
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/genia-petralli-c412723.html
http://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonnarog
http://www.facebook.com/people/Diane-Froese/1053372619
http://www.criminon.org/news/
There are more but I think your readers will get the point.
This is a financial and networking effort . To make more money by charging fees and royalties and in contracting with more reputable people or companies in the alternative medicine fields so they will implement the programs, in part or whole, or give credience to it – and to help correct a bad PR situation by luring in the real pros or using their names to create an association.
Interestingly, some are the scientologist’s dreaded enemy : the psychs! But they must be screened and anti-overmedication and not antagonistic to scientology, at minimum.
I feel sorry for Lucas. Even if he wanted to be objective, independent, and authoritive, as long as he’s a scientologist, works with ABLE Int and Narconon programs, and has a wife running the EUS division of Narconon along with all those fake referral sites, his hands are tied. He follows orders. He does, however, make commissions off his sites when people contact it and are referred to Narconon, which is probably 98% of the time.
We need to begin looking at what we all have in common and work together from there as opposed to where we may disagree and think that that separates us or we will never develop the eyes to ever witness the human race flourishing. In all truth, separation of any kind is an illusion.
Dr. Peter Breggin is not respected, save amongst the milieu of quack therapists and those who profit from it.
Lucas Catton, you are so full of baloney! Every single program you promote is based in whole or part of the Narconon program componient(s) written by L Ron Hubbard as part of Scientology teachings, licensed by ABLE Int, Inc. Same baloney, different names. Narconon has gone to great lengths to have the program run under other names or in other programs, using the componients in whole or part, to escape, as you are trying, the association of all the terrible complaints on the internet about Narconon. Why did you omit your years as Pres. of Narconon Arrowhead on your LinkedIn? http://www.linkedin.com/pub/lucas-catton/13/304/367
http://www.drughelpcenter.com/VOL8.pdf
You still run the PR site created to counter all the bad PR called http://narcononwatch.org
http://www.networksolutions.com/whois-search/narcononwatch.org ( Created On:03-Feb-2007 )
http://www.ripoffreport.com/websites/narcononwatch-org-sc/narcononwatch-org-scientology-6d6a9.htm
“If you want real facts on Narconon, you should go to http://www.NarcononWatch.org It is a site that is not affiliated with Narconon, it is a place that gets the facts and that’s it.” Baloney!
You work with William ‘ Kent ‘ McGregor, actively and illegally running a GA state administratively revoked corporation called PITA CONSULTNG, LLC while working out of FL state, an LLC for which you failed to file required reports on for the last 3 years: http://corp.sos.state.ga.us/corp/soskb/Corp.asp?1271239
http://corp.sos.state.ga.us/imaging/17907943.pdf http://sitetrail.com/smallbusiness-seo.net (Created on: 12-JAN-10) which is using the same server out of Vancouver BC as your DRUGSREHABILITATION.ORG ( Last Updated On:17-Feb-2011 17:05:57 UTC) all under PITA CONSULTING, LLC.
Before PITA, you were the President of Narconon Arrowhead and then created with your wife and family the now defunct, Narconon selling, Southern Health Care Resources in GA, before you left for the scientology haven in Clearwater, FL to be closer to the home of your wares.
You and Kent MacGregor, and the many other names your websites go by, are Narconon connected
http://www.freedomdrugrehab.com/narconon-advisory-board/
http://forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?t=12316
This does not include everything found out about you, McGregor, PITA, his PITA Training Center in OKLA , his PITA Group, INC in TX, http://www.texas-drug-rehabs.org/pitagroup.php nor the hundreds of fake referral sites run by your wife Erica Catton, who was for many years with Narconon Arrowhead in OKLA and now serves as an exec for Narconon EUS but it should suffice for this column. We;’re saving the rest for the FTC Investigation
Thanks for the informative post Mary.
-Steven
For the record, I don’t work with PITA, I don’t work for Southern Healthcare and it is not defunct, I don’t live in Clearwater and I certainly haven’t done anything illegal since I recovered from substance abuse a very long time ago (except for 1 or 2 speeding tickets, which I’ve paid), as has been insinuated. Following a trail of links with old, dis-related information doesn’t make it “informative,” it’s just a collection of pieces of the past trying to be randomly fit together despite being easily proven as false today. It’s 2011, and a lot has changed.
Hi All,
Would like to clear something up here; I am the author and practitioner of Orthomolecular Neurochemical Rehabilitation for legal / illegal drug and alcohol addiction as well as for general neuroendocrine disorders such as degenerative disease and diabetes. My Green Mental Health Care model in no way resembles anything that L. Ron Hubbard offered. I am a healthcare practitioner and encourage and support ALL religions of those that come to us for help. That very personal aspect is driven by the patient and we support them in our in and outpatient programs. I myself am an ordained minister, graduated the University of Judaism in Bel Air and am a big fan of spirituality in the healing process – however, the brand is up to the patient. So please discontinue putting me in this light that I promote or push scientology. CCHR and I are both passionate about Green Mental Health Care and erasing the injustices of psychiatric abuse on the human race – that is where we align and that is it.
We need to begin looking at what we all have in common and work togethter from there as opposed to where we may diagree and think that that seperates us or we will never develop the eyes to ever witness the human race flourishing. In all truth, seperation of any kind is an illusion.
Shine, brothers and sisters, shine!
Genita Petralli H.H.P., N.C., M.H.
moderator… please post corrected reply…
We need to begin looking at what we all have in common and work together from there as opposed to where we may disagree and think that that separates us or we will never develop the eyes to ever witness the human race flourishing. In all truth, separation of any kind is an illusion.
Hi Genita,
Thanks for chiming in. I think we’ll have to agree to disagree, on whether your method resembles the “biophysical” program of Narconon – or you can post something here that outlines how the 2 methods are fundamentally different.
Also, on your page at: http://www.the101program.com/ There is a link on the bottom of the page which leads to Narconon. So is it fair to say that you recommend Narconon?
-Steven
She also promotes Narconon on her Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/people/Genita-Petralli/100000383307928
“Narconon Trois-Rivieres Drug Abuse Treatment for Drug Addiction” group
http://www.facebook.com/Narconon.TroisRivieres.Drug.Abuse.Treatment
Genita is also connected to Alternative To Med Center, which is also a front group for scientology ( or was until they got booted out of CA as I mentioned earlier)
Back in 2009, my research lead to finding that “ATMC uses the sauna detox program and the Life Skills texts and classes of the Narconon Program aka The New Life Detox program aka the Purification Program. To do so, they pay license fees to ABLE, Int. Previous to their current location, Lyle Murphy worked alongside and with Richard Prescott and Jim Steiner ( both Scientologists) at New Life Center San Francisco aka Social Betterment Development Company aka SBDC New Life SF.
Lyle Murphy is probably NOT a scientologist by virtue of his stated past psychiatric history. He’s what scientology calls ” an Illegal PC ” a victim of the “evil psychs”. For this reason, he’s certainly a member of CCHR, scientology’s anti-psych front group.
http://free-from-scientology.blogspot.com/2009/05/scientologys-criminal-practices.html
Genite Petralli notes on her site that she is
[..] Staff Director of Patient Services & Lecturer, Alternative to Meds Center http://www.alternativetomedscenter.com
Ms. Petralli lectures patients and staff on “Green Mental Health Care”, orthomolecular medicine, nutritional biochemistry, basic nutrition for good mental health, diet, and “Fractal Environmentalism”. Alternative to Meds Center is a Residential Drug Rehabilitation Program committed to helping people end their dependence on medication or drugs and achieve mental health naturally. This is obtained through medication tapering, targeted nutritional therapy (TNT), brain chemistry testing, yoga, acupuncture, functional and spiritual counseling, instruction in clinical nutrition and sauna detoxification within a residential setting. [..]
http://www.green.mental.health.care.orthomolecular-orthomolecular.com/
Being on the payroll for CCHR is support that scientology front group, as well.
[..] As a practitioner, Ms. Petralli advises CCHR regarding the health risks and diseases caused by psychiatric medications and the evidence-based holistic alternatives to drug-centric mental health treatments.[..]
http://shangrilabiospa.com/genita.htm
You seriously must get your fact straight before posting deffamatory comments. I am not on the payroll for CCHR. It is a volunteer organization from the top to the bottom.
I am also in no way any longer associated with Alt to Meds. I resigned last June.
I recommend what the patient feels is the best fit for them. You can not deny the belief system in the healing process; it is the most powerful aspect of it. What services resonate best with the person receiving them offers the greatest hope for their recovery.
Mary,
Lucas is doing nothing more than helping. Same as all of the others that are mentioned through out this “discussion”. You and I both know that the purification process does benefit a person. In fact we have had a conversation in the past where we talked about some of the services that are done at the Church of Scientology and you wrote me, in an email, which I still have, that you did experience betterment doing that process. Listen to Genita. All this strength and power that is exerted looking for outpoints in what others are doing will make you miss the good that is being done. Lucas is sober as a result of Narconon. There are others. I ask that you switch gears and look for successes of these programs that you are opposed to. They may not be for everyone and every person has their own freedom of choice of what treatment they desire.
Doug, you misrepresented what I emailed you. I never stated that I experienced betterment from the Purification Run Down, Scientology’s name for the Sauna componient of the Narconon program. I did not experience any betterment. Here is a copy of the relevant part of the email I sent you, for which you are referencing:
“Vulnerable loved ones are preyed upon as soon as they call one of those ‘help lines’ 800 or 877#’s thqt Holly and others man, thinking they are being helped by a group without a vested interest. They are told lies, promised the moon and convinced to fork over their credit cards thinking they are sending their loved one to ‘Joshua Hills’ or SunShine Summent Lodge, and in seconds they have lost $25,000 to $30,000. As soon as the loved one arrives and finds it is not what was promised, the problems start. In many cases parents have had to resort to calling the police or sheriff to get them out! You would not believe the # of complaints I get begging for help. Especially when they find out it’s scientology processes even tho they were lied to and told there is no affiliation ( Courses that Scientologists do, under different names like Purification Rundown, TRs and Objectives, Intr to Ethics -All the same stuff with a different cover and title.)
I know of 3 deaths and multiple cases of people getting ill on the detox part. The situation is so bad that in CA they are now creating their own medical detox centers, paying doctors and higher licensed counselors to act as a detox front because Narconon detox for the most part is very dangerous. You should know. Between this and the fake success rate ( which has been confirmed by other former NN staff). What does this say about the program? It’s a money machine for the church, grounded in lies that force everyone to meet that nearly impossible success rate stat.
That does not mean some people are not helped. I am glad you were helped. I am glad Holly was helped. I have nothing personal against anyone helping others. I enjoyed the sauna program I did when I was in scientology. But I cannot tolerate fraud, negligence and and ripping off vulnerable loved ones. There are only a handful of volunteers who help Narconon victims get complaints in to authorities and help them document their refun requests and there are even fewer lawyers who will take their case to court or negotiation for refund. Narconon spins the PR so well that the internet is full of it – far more than any complaints that exist on the internet. Most of the complaints are not even on the internet, getting settled before that is necessary. So there is no need for me to write about the good. That is not why I do what I do.”
The fact is that when I did the Purification RD, which all scientologists do as a spiritual program, I was a healthy, in shape person who was not, nor had ever been, a drug addict or alcoholic or one with any real past history for drug intake. I found the sauna componient enjoyable for the most part because it was like a vacation for me. I got to exercise and sit in a sauna rather than sit in a scientology courseroom and study. I actually had to take a 2 week break at one point because I became anemic while on it. This came up after I kept getting cramps in my legs and found the running part too tiring at one point. Lunck I also witnessed a person with a heavy past drug history go psychotic and become violent on it after being given 2,500 mg Niacin instead of the next level he was Case Managed for, 250 mgs. As you know, scientologists are not supposed to discuss what goes on for them the Purification RD, I considered the things I experienced and saw as anomalies until years later I would read complaints about Narconon and began my research.
And from the research I have received, regarding those becoming ill while on it, I have found that those with unknown or known preexisting medical concerns have had the most trouble on the detox part of the program. Taking people off prescribed medications while in the sauna part is a serious issue I have with Narconon, particularly when it comes to the person having heart, blood pressure, cholesterol, thyroid or diabetic issues. These people should not be in the program to begin with but they are not told stopping medication until after they arrive. Some have had to be hospitalized because of this. This is unconscionable.
One can see what Narconon is giving it’s ‘students’ when they first arrive for detox by reading the Narconon Drug Bomb
http://forums.whyweprotest.net/threads/narconon-drug-bomb.77121/
As you can see, 4 grams of Niacin a day is outrageously dangerous.
As far as Lucas Catton, he has not been candid on his relationship, involvement and his activities with Narconon and McGregor and his PITA Group. That is why I have made the statements I’ve made.
Mary, I have not been employed by Narconon since Feb. of 2006. I no longer own or operate any of the sites you connected me to previously, and I have not done any work with Kent since early 2007. That is as candid as it comes – and is the full truth. What you focus on is the past – most of it distant past. I wish nobody any harm or ill will and am not into attacking or pointing fingers.
This is patently untrue. Thankfully, I saved copies of all the website whois pages showing your name with PITA before you and McGregor changed the domains to privacy of information option. Funny how they were updated starting in January 2011-May 2011 – all dates separate from and before domain renewal dates.
The fact is, you are an agent for Narconon. This can be proven in a court of law.
This is in response to Mary’s comment below, which hasn’t been moderated/approved yet. – They were updated because I DON’T OWN THEM and NEITHER DOES HE. I have zero affiliation with PITA. Any WHOIS information that hasn’t been updated is purely an oversight. I have moved on. Not sure why this doesn’t sink in. This can be proven in a court of law, as you contend. I work in other areas now and am not affiliated with ANY group at this time. I am not an agent for anyone other than myself. Please leave me alone, I’m not who you make me out to be and this has now gotten into completely libelous remarks.
Hi Lucas, Don’t think that because I did not reply to yourJuly 7, 2011 at 10:31 PM comment, that I had nothing to say. You wrote:
“This is in response to Mary’s comment below, which hasn’t been moderated/approved yet. – They were updated because I DON’T OWN THEM and NEITHER DOES HE. I have zero affiliation with PITA. Any WHOIS information that hasn’t been updated is purely an oversight. I have moved on. Not sure why this doesn’t sink in. This can be proven in a court of law, as you contend. I work in other areas now and am not affiliated with ANY group at this time. I am not an agent for anyone other than myself. Please leave me alone, I’m not who you make me out to be and this has now gotten into completely libelous remarks.”
To this I say, why don’t you just provide us here with a list of say 6 different residential rehab programs that you do refer and send people to, so we can see that you are not working with or affifiated with Narconon or P.I.T.A. or Kent McGregor or any ABLE licensed programs.
That should clear up the matter quite easily. I look forward to your response.
I do not participate in treatment referrals anymore, as I have repeatedly stated said, and haven’t for quite some time. As I said, I am working on other things. I support any program that doesn’t believe in the incurable disease theory or push harmful drugs on people as being valid treatments. This can include previous programs I’ve been involved with and previously stated, as well as methods and philosophies of Stanton Peele, St. Jude, Practical Recovery, SMART Recovery, Inner Balance, Jeffrey Schaler, and any others that fall into this category. I support programs that seek to help people permanently recover and move on with life. I feel that alternative (i.e. non-disease-based) programs already are under enough scrutiny from the existing establishment that in-fighting only weakens our overall cause and common purposes. People should be able to see all of what is available and make educated choices for themselves and find what is going to work for them.
For those of you promoting the freedom of choice in drug treatment that would be perfect if Narconon-COS would express openly and honestly EXACTLY what their program entails and use legal methods in getting patients into their program. But since my family and many others where flat out lied to in order to get a family member into treatment this seems to be a fairy tale point. They talk about choice but if I want a christian program, 12 step or whatever you should not lie when it comes to THE most vulnerable people & their families seeking honest help. NARCONON lies… there is no medically based detox, no registered counselors, no programs on the weekends, no cognitive behavior therapy, only L RON HUBBARD,S beliefs…which I believe is harmful and has no valve in drug & alcohol treatment and certainly not worth $20,000 plus my brothers life. Plus they want you to come work for them for nothing. You have killed many with this dangerous detox? Plus blowing out kidneys & livers on people who are ready in medical danger. Medically supervised detox is not cold turkey banging head against the wall & mattress on the floor where a doc down the road comes in once a week. Enough with the deception…end Narconon.
Hi Lucas,
We spoke about a year ago. Please give me your personal contact info again. My lawyers are building a very strong case of slander (it is obvious.).
My assistant is Lisa. Please use the email we provided you.
Trust me, i can put all of this to rest. Legally and Ethically.
Hi Genita,
Thank you for the offer but I am not interested in trying to fight with anyone at this time. Unfortunately there are always going to be critics of what anyone does or says, and while some like to focus on specific incidents or programs, the fact is that I have yet to find a program anywhere in the world that has 100% satisfaction from clients. It’s also in the nature of dealing with this difficult situation of substance abuse. This too, shall pass. I have said my peace, and aside from this post/thread, I generally support most of what Steven Slate communicates on this site. I wish you well in your continued efforts to help people and hope that others can do the same.
Genita. That comment just cemented your supposed relationship with COS, as their 1st name should be SUE. Ha. Get real as the saying goes… the lady does protest too much. I’ll have my lawyer call your lawyer and Narconon better be ready for a class action lawsuits. Of course your program sounds as fruity as L Ron was. What’s your made up success rate?
I appreciate Mary’s information on the Narconon scam very much.
However, I do have one bone to pick with this article. Certainly conventional treatment and 12-step methods are not for everyone, but they do work for some people.
Sarah,
I guess that depends on what you mean by the term “works.” I never understand when people say that. If you mean that people trade one dependency for another (i.e. substance use for meetings) then I suppose you may be correct. But make no mistake, the research is overwhelming that teaching people they are powerless and suffering from an imaginary, progressive, incurable disease hinders people from overcome substance use problems for good. Those that are exposed to 12 step programs like myself, but end up choosing abstinence do so in spite the teachings of 12 step, never because of them. If it has worked for you, it’s time to ask yourself, would you be willing to utilize a “cure” for cancer if it meant that other people had to die? Why not seek out a solution that hurts no one, provides the truth, and empowers people to build the life they want.
Steve, great article and I am very impressed with Mary’s research and extensive information. Narconon’s numerous scams and bad publicity has made it harder for those of us who have a legitimate non-12-step solution to help people.
Less than 5% of the thousands of people I have worked with were referred to Narconon, despite Mary’s claims above. Mary’s information about my affiliations and websites, etc. are out-dated on top of that. However, when I did work with Narconon I did see many people get better, as I also did. That can’t be discounted. I don’t know Genita personally, but I support programs that steer people away from the disease mindset and damaging pharmaceuticals.
I am currently working on a documentary about non-12-step solutions for people – whether that involves actually going to a treatment center or not, and this is a much broader list of ideas, research and opinions, not just a single route or only a couple facilities. I whole-heartedly agree with you, Michelle, regarding the idea of powerlessness, and encourage people to work together to change the treatment field, regardless of their personal goals or programs, and recognize that no single solution works for everyone. I’m not personally attacking anyone here or chiding anyone for liking or disliking one program or another. I don’t think it’s out of the question to request the same from anyone who has never met or even spoken to me to not judge based on a few links, assumptions, or past. If there was some way that worked for everyone 100 percent of the time, then we wouldn’t be having any of these discussions, but given that I believe we all actually do want to help people, then we should build on that common bond. I do appreciate Steve’s opinions and allowing this discussion.
So being you are not right this minute with Narconon you can erase any reason to be suspect? Since they seem to have a very strong hold on the believers how did you walk away and WHY push those beliefs still? The world as a whole did a lot of bad things in the past. So why the HATE towards the mental health field? You push for a CHOICE but say ALL drugs are evil & pyschs are evil too? This is classic L Ron thinking. Until he is NOT quoted for any reason & until no COS based tech are used in. Treatments then we are not as you all quote moving forward or forgetting the past.
Be VERY careful of Genita Petralli and her on-going scam.
She says she is against the psych industry YET she put several of her patients
in harms way in 2010 and in turn had the nerve to place
them back in a psych ward by force or try to give them psych drugs.
She does NOT know what she is doing and has charged anywhere
from $15,000 to $20,000 for a 4-5 week “treatment” that overall failed for 5 of her patients
at that time.
She also claims that she is not associated to the Scientologists (CCHR) YET she received a mental health human rights award from them in February 2010 and sits on their Board.
It is amazing that Genita Petralli would receive such an award considering the fact that she abused our mental health human rights!
I am contacting you to request removal of this post http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/genia-petralli-c412723.html#comments written by “Now Justice”
I am Genita Petralli, the Medical Director of Shangri-La BioSpa when @@@@ @@@@ was there. Her accusations are entirely false and slanderous.
To summarize:
After the initial four weeks @@@@ was there, she was progressing so well that her father extended her stay. Right after he did that, she decided she didn’t want to stay any longer and decided to discontinue both her medications and the holistic support services we were providing her. She signed a sworn statement that she refused ALL treatment, including that of her doctor. We immediately got on the phone with her father to have him come to Costa Rica and pick her up and he could not due to work obligations. While we were trying to figure out the best course of action as her condition was deteriorating quickly she chased my chef around the kitchen with a knife threatening to kill her. It was at that time that we asked her to stay in her room and we would help her get home. The nurse stayed with her, however, we did have to confine her to her room but the nurse brought her her food and tried to get her to take her medication. We decided to have one of our comfort and care assistants escort her back to the states where her father could meet her at the airport. At the Costa Rican airport she pretended her hand was a gun and started saying “Pow Pow” and pointing to the Airport Police. They of course detained her and would not let her fly. We brought her back to Shangri-La, confined her to her room with the nurse while we discussed the situation with her father trying to figure out a solution. While this was in course, she began threatening the nurse so we had to station the nurse outside her window. @@@@ became extremely violent, tearing towel racks from the wall and trying to rip the sink out from the wall. She then became a threat to others and herself and by the standards of care I had to call the ambulance and get medical intervention. @@@@ was delusional for weeks thereafter. My staff went to the hospital to check on her and even drove her father around, helping him migrate through the process of getting her released to go home.
@@@@ has absolutely no recollection of this period. I have statements from my staff and a signed statement from her that she refused to take her medication and refused our services. We acted quickly, keeping the staff and her from harm – all this happened in the course of two days after refusing to take her medication; she had to be taken to a hospital that was staffed and equipped to stabilize her and calm her down for the safety of all.
Her statements are slanderous and she is using your site only to try and hurt the reputation of our health spa. I am asking that you remove these false statements. We have just learned about them and are having our lawyer contact her regarding being liable for damages.
The only comment that is truthful in her statement is that I did have an employee that was family. He provided first tier support in helping people make sure they made their appts. Etc… he was not in any position of patient care or responsibility. He worked mostly as a handyman and went on their excursions with them to monitor them.
As you can see she is not paying much attention to correct details. She claims that I opened just weeks after posting an ad for positions at the spa. You can see from the date of the post that I opened one year and a few weeks later in feb of 2010.
Also please note that she returns to vote on her own post.
Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.
If any one of our other clients were a loved one of yours, you would have wanted her out of the common areas running around with a butcher knife, threatening people. The other clients did not need to endure her demeanor and violence. They come to us for a vibrant, peaceful and caring place to ensure the best environment for a healing event. It is a health spa, not a psych ward and one people begin to demonstrate that they are a threat to others AND themselves it is time to get them into a safe and appropriately staffed environment.
This could have all been avoided if the family came out when we called to get her.
The person who posted over at complaintboard was written by someone posting anonymously under the nic name “Now Justice” . There is NOTHING written about @@@@ @@@@ or by anyone named @@@@ @@@@ at that link or website.
Your complaint here in response to “Now Justice” about this @@@@ person is disturbing. Here in the USA a patients private medical information is not to be discussed publicly by a ‘practitioner’ and what you have done is in violation HIPAA law if indeed you are a real medical practitioner. Your licensing information is vague and questionable. You should update your website to specify where your licensing and board certification came from withourt resorting to just listing an ANMA acronym when that is not the name of a licensing and certification board.
Not only have you dragged this complaint here but you have made yourself look unprofessional. I suggest you take this issue up with the parties involved and rectify whatever wrongs need to be rectified. That way the person can then post on the internet that the matter was resolved.
Genita Petralli must be making money for the cult. That’s why they gave her an award. I Googled her name and I agree, she’s a Scientologist. She’s practicing Scientology Purification Rundown, under various names. In order to practice L Ron Hubbard’s quackery you’d have to be a Scientologist, as well as pay the cult an expensive licensing fee to use LRH’s copyrighted “tech.”
Under Scientology’s Fair Game policy Scientologists can trick, sue, lie, or destroy anyone they deem an SP (ie. enemy). All Scientology cares about is money anyway. All Genita Petralli has to do is tell her Scientology leaders that she’s sent a couple of SPs to the psych ward and they’d probably give her an award for that too.
The moderator should review this posting sight for slander and remove slanderous statements. It is really taking away from any intelligent discussion and i simply don’t see how it is helping anyone.
I am not a scientologist – i am an ordained minister, graduated the University of Judaism in Bel Air, CA, and do not practice Ron Hubbard’s tech at my clinic. We respect everyone’s choice of religion and drive them to church, temple or where ever they want to go once a week for spiritual nurturement.
Spreading incorrect slanderous statements about people and medical processes you know nothing about is ignorance at it’s most criminal level.
I have never known a scientologist to be as mean spirited as some of the people on this list.
I don’t think she makes money for Scientology. I think she makes money from some of their members, who eschew appropriate medical care in lieu of alternative methods but that does not make her a scientologist.
I will take her at her word that she does not ( any longer, really) use or practice any L Ron Hubbard tech at her facilities and suggest you do, too.
I do not take money or promote my biosanctuary through scientologists. They are not in any way affiliated with my healing sanctuary.
the one thing that CCHR and I passionately agree upon is that the pharma/medical community is violating human rights. That is it.
To my knowledge most rehabs have registrars that are sending people to them that they can not accept into narconon. I do not have anyone doing this for my clinic. It’s medical model is founded on the laws of nature not people.
I can honestly say that i have not made one dime – probably lost a lot of them – being affiliated with CCHR. However, i will NEVER bend to ignorance and division in purpose. CCHR has saved millions of people through their educational systems and message. I do not want to even envision what this deluge of toxic abuse on society would look like without their intervention.
Anyone who has worked with or for me will tell you that i am not about money. I live a modest life and give everything i can to my personal vision of protecting children from having what i endear the most – my childhood – taken away from them. Without a strong family and living on a farm in Indiana i would have never had the constitution to withstand the bs i see people throwing at me and others doing the right thing.
Please list what you have done in society to make it better before you attack me and nature.
I am prepared to begin lawsuits for slander. I am already in the process with @@@@ @@@@ who operates under “now justice”. Simple common sense would tell anyone reading her post would indicate that she has a delusional agenda yet those that read and reiterate her posts speak as if they were there in Costa Rica. The fact is, she chased my staff around with a butcher knife and how i handled it should be praised, not a basis to try and discredit me.
This site’s agenda is built on discrediting people that are doing the right thing based on opinions of people who have never been faced with the challenges that these people bring to a healing environment. They are unfounded, have no real evidence, and absolutely no real evidence for their opinions. You are running a site that allows sick people to vent their sick ideas and further hurt humanity. You should be ashamed of yourself.
I am removing my involvement with this site because it is a diversion to the good work i and my practitioners do.
I would suggest everyone reading this go the scriptures because when man and his diluted and subjective perceptions gets involved it always ends in war. Such as what is going on on this site. People disagreeing and feeling like they have the answers. “Medicine” nor hate or tearing each other down will ever get us where we want to be… in fact, it is the impetus of where we are now.
so begin reading your bible..Matt. 10:28 KJV is a good place to start.
I’m out. My contract with the universe…. what i feel God gave me the life I live is for service. Not defending him or my medical model.
This strain of communication will be monitored for slander and i am warning everyone that if my name is ever represented again on this communication venue and the moderator does not do what she/he is supposed to and remove slanderous statements that have no evidence, i will sue to the letter of the law.
Rev. Genita Petralli
I find it is very interesting to finally read what Genita Petralli has been up to.
Her comments only serve to reveal her “true” nature and the so-called “holistic” treatments
that obviously failed.
In her quest to cover herself she claims that she has proceeded
to file a lawsuit against “@@@@ @@@@”.
Fact: This is not true. Genita Petralli is too afraid to go to court as this would expose
her scam and possibly land her in jail.
As one poster stated, if you were a true practioner you would:
1) not post a person’s private medical records
2) you should refund the money of those patients you violated and then you would not have to deal
with such posts!
Good luck Genita- your unprofessional practices are catching up with you.
Hi @@@@,
We are simply short your address and you will receive your cease and desist libel and slander from my lawyers. They can’t seem to find you so if you would like to email it to us off line, please do.
We have all our witnesses to what you did and no medical info was shared regarding your stay in Costa Rica, only your threatening and unlawful conduct chasing my staff around with knives threatening to kill them.
Wow you are a piece of work. Must be hard to sue in another country. I love that REV you feel you are so right and doing natures work? Not being a medical person yourself that is rich. I’ve never heard of your Shangra LaLa spa but I can tell it must be as “insane” as you sound. Sorry this is off topic but you keep coming back and asking for it. Do you want my address too?
Since Genita Petralli continues to make her own slanderous remarks, I
will set the record straight so that others can avoid being mistreated by her :
1) There was never, at any time, an incident where I was running around with a butcher knife.
2) Here is probably one of the worst incidents- while I was locked up iin my room by this so-called practitioner- Genita Petralli sent her nurse down so that I would sign a one sentence statement. I had no clue what I was signing as I was very sick by then. I had to sign the piece of paper that she calls a “signed statement” through the window!
3) There was not one person that accompanied me to the United States from her staff. My father did that.
4) My dad had no work obligations that prevented him from coming to get me. It is Genita Petralli that was unable to coordinate anything as she now had a very sick patient on her hands.
5) Genita Petralli “weaned” me off my psych drugs after one week. I had been on them for 20 years. She “claimed” that she knew what she was doing. If so, why did I become very sick ?
6) By disclosing my medical file on this site, Genita Petralli is the one who is in trouble. Petralli has also exposed herself to others by demonstrating how poorly she managed her so-called “detox program”.
As for my address- if Petralli’s “lawyers” do exist then let them find it themselves.
I will never stop letting others know about Genita Petralli’s gross misconduct.
See you in court.
@@@@,
I have two statements, one from Johanna and one from Marisol that you chased them around with a butcher knife threatening to kill them.
We spoke with your father AND brother numerous times trying to get them out to get you and neither could because of work obligations. We then hired Greg to assist you to the US and going through customs you pretended to shoot at the Costa Rican police and we have the police report from that. We then had to bring you back to the BioSpa and put you in your room because the other clients were fearful of you – and the staff and myself totally understood. We did everything we could to help you before having to call the ambulance after you tore the room apart, and then ripped the metal towel rack out of the cement. You then had another weapon and we had to call the authorities.
You were not weaned off drugs in a week. You were in fact still on some of them when YOU decided to just stop all your drugs and discontinue to participate with the BioSpa’s services. We do not wean people off of drugs. You had access to your drugs at all times.
And if we were not fulfilling what your father sent you there for, which we did – we provided all the services we promoted we would – why would he renew your time there after a month?
You won’t give us your address because you know you are simply out for revenge – you are not well – you are a very angry person and you are now trying to discredit us like you did the Nun’s that had to restrain you! Your anger is misplaced.
If you are going to make slanderous statements against someone publicly, you open yourself up to public response. And if you do not comply with a legal request for an address so that I can continue with my lawyer in bringing this matter to justice you are breaking the law. I am asking that you discontinue your slanderous statements. We have proven them to be untrue – and request that you provide an address so that we can legally pursue this matter to its end. If you want me to scan and post the statements we have as well as the police report from the airport we can do that too – you have a very ugly trail in Costa Rica and those that you threatened to kill can still press charges and intend on doing so if you ever try to return to Costa Rica – if you can. We are not going to allow you to lie about our BioSpa and shame a very good holistic medical model that has helped hundreds of people. You are hurting others through your misguided anger and we now have damages that i intend on recovering.
I thank the owner of this blog for creating it as it has finally revealed how
Genita Petralli (and Shangri La Bio Spa) will use any measure, including lies and
misguided threats, to hide the fact that she has caused severe damage to several of us.
You can not hide from the truth Petralli.
It seems to me that you are the one that is angry as several of the posts (note that mine is not the only one here) are not helping your profit-making SCAM $$$$ .
Looks like you will soon be out of business.
Steven–maybe you should close the comments on this one here. Just doesn’t seem like anything constructive is going on in this thread anymore. It’s only a matter of time before someone gets around to claiming that someone else poops their pants and that someone then angrily threatens libel and starts posting pictures of their clean underpants on their website.
Damnit. See what I mean? Now I’m doing it, too! This thread has utterly lost it’s bearings.
Believe me, I’ve thought about taking the whole post down. I’ve never moderated this blog heavily at all, and I don’t really believe in closing comments, because if some people are gonna lodge complaints about others, then those others should be allowed to respond. So, either I take the whole thing down, or I leave the commenting open. Accusations have been made against my employer (Baldwin Research Institute) in this thread which I know for a fact to be false, and yet I haven’t erased those – in the spirit of an open dialogue. I’ve previously gone to the source of those rumors on the web and challenged them directly.
If I do take this down, I will have to write a new post about The New Face Of Recovery, because I feel strongly that it’s just pushing the “Biophysical” rehab program (aka Narconon’s key component), and now, one about Genita Petralli’s program, which I’ve learned much about through these comments and subsequent research I’ve done – so that it doesn’t look like I’m just covering up for these two by deleting the post. My mission with this site is to let people know that there are other ways of looking at addiction, and to make them aware of the alternatives, and my opinions of those alternatives.
In the meantime, I’ve also learned quite a bit about Novus and Pur Detox, both online and personally from people (and parents of people) attending those treatment programs. They appear to utilize some similar detox procedures, and to possibly have an incestuous relationship with Narconon.
Please note, I have never called Ms Petralli a scientologist, I have only said that she’s been connected to the scientologists and offers detox services which seem similar to theirs – and this was only after Lucas brought her name up as a non-narconon source of help that he promotes/endorses. I asked her to please explain the difference between the 2 processes, and she has refused. I think her activity on this thread has only made her look far worse.
Please note also, that I am not the scientology police. I don’t care about people practicing scientology. Nor am I the AA police. I don’t care about people practicing that religion either. But in the same way that I show people how they’ll be getting AA when they sign up for what they think is sound medical treatment, I feel I must also show people how they’ll be getting Narconon/The Scientology-Based Purification Rundown when they sign on for some other alternative addiction programs.
Most importantly, I disagree with programs that promote the idea that addiction is biologically caused. I think that Narconon, while disagreeing with the disease model, still does this. I can accept traditional detox on the grounds that while the body is working towards homeostasis sans the drugs/alcohol it’s been used to having in its system, then some things can go haywire, and for one’s own safety, they should receive medical help and supervision with this (lest they die of the side effects of alcohol or benzo withdrawal). Narconon’s theory on why detox is necessary seems to be quite different. They appear to believe that drugs (or their related “toxins”) will stay in the body for a long time, and be released at some later date, and that the realese of these toxins will then cause a “relapse.” This is where I think they promote the idea of a biological cause of addiction. Accordingly, I think any program which labels “toxins” or poor nutrition as the culprit in causing addiction makes the same error. I’m all for nutrition, but I don’t think good nutrition “cures” addiction, nor does poor nutrition cause addiction (addiction can’t be cured anyways, because it’s not a disease). This is also where I think the Prentiss’s have a major problem in their program (Passages). Addiction is a pattern of choices. People choose to keep using substances because they get some level of happiness out of it – pure and simple – and they can choose other routes to happiness. Such disease nonsense, besides being untrue, distracts people from their own power of choice.
Hi Steven,
I do appreciate the open dialogue and understand how you have arrived at some of your conclusions. However, given the projects that I have been working on since the time that book was finished, my personal viewpoints have expanded greatly, and a revision of that book will follow. It’s hard not to take the criticism personally, given all that has transpired in the last year and a half, but that book is not indicative of who I am and what I support today. I feel that there is a time and place for many approaches, as no single one works for everyone. I also believe that if people are getting well and moving on with their lives, then the methods that helped them achieve that should not be attacked. I feel that programs that have similar philosophies, though differing methodologies, should find a way to help each other to make progress against the overall establishment in order to create positive change. I hope my comments on here and replies to others’ comments have been respectful and have shown that I don’t want to engage in mudslinging, but instead help get over a major hurdle with a greater overall purpose.
About Citizens Commission on Human Rights:
The Citizens Commission on Human Rights was established in 1969 by the Church of Scientology to investigate and expose psychiatric violations of human rights, and to clean up the field of mental healing. To View an video with Genita Petralli go to http://www.cchrbc.ca.
I suspect that your involvement with these other alternative non-diseased based programs that you mentioned is just part of the networking infiltration program Narconon has, to help Narconon align with other practitioners who support it’s position. This is how it’s done, per L Ron Hubbard policies.
I don’t believe you when it was written “According to Catton, he believes what may work for one person may not work for another and vice versa; therefore, believing that if treatment programs work together they will be able to come up with the best treatment solution for individuals seeking rehabilitation.” ….”Catton is no longer directly affiliated with any one treatment program. He is looking to unify and create bonds between rehabilitation philosophies.”
http://mcalesternews.com/local/x1385485755/Catton-completes-documentary-Curing-Addiction
When your wife works for Narconon as an exec responsible for expannsion, when she helped you create and run your Addiction Revcovery Consultants businsess ( until April 2011 according to FL LLC registration annual report.) and when all of you ( your wife and parents) are all dedicated scientologists who adhere to the church belief that psychiatry and psychology are evil and at the root of mankind’s ills, it’s very hard to believe you desiring associations with companies that use psychotherapies for anything but a deceptive purpose.
Indeed, I believe it is your job to safepoint Narconon among the alternative addiction medicine and rehab programs community. I wonder if they know about the Narconon deaths, like what happened with Patrick Desmond in GA, or the recent wrongful deaths at Arrowhead: Kaysie D . Werninck Gabriel W Graves ( who died Oct 26, 2011 ) . The interbet is filled with complaints against Narconon. One can read the court case and agency complaints in the folders found here,
Hhttp://www.scribd.com/AnonyMary/collections
So, continue to do your thing. but remember that people are watching and keeping track of Narconon Oklahoma and it’s Field Staff Member’s. yourself included. It does not appear, at least from your facebook. that you are getting much encouragement or participation from your Narconon and Scientology friends because they know that no one does what you are doing and betrays Narconon ( unless, of course, it’s secretly it’s sanctioned by Narconon to serve it’s purposes).
Nuff said
Perfectly said Mary. You can debate & I can because of the overwhelming pain that was caused by COS & Narconon’s lies & deceptive practices. Others can call it what they want, but if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck…nuff said. This is why I speak out of anger. Pain is a great motivator.
Mary, I’ve tried to contact you to respond to your allegations via this message board and would like to clear them up with you. Please email me at recovered[at]newfaceofrecovery[dot]org. I am absolutely not now who/what you think I am. Please post an email address if you would like me to write to you directly instead.
^^^
the above is addressed to Lucas Catton
Hi Mary,
Please e-mail me, and I can explain. recovered[at]newfaceofrecovery.org
Hi Lucas, I realize our last communications on this forum are way to the top ^ so I decided to end this thread with some updates.
Narconon’s Lucas (Luke) Catton is out and speaking up.
http://forum.reachingforthetippingpoint.net/index.php/topic,11358.0.html
Part I Former Narconon Arrowhead President Speaks About Deaths
http://www.okcfox.com/newsroom/special_reports/videos/vid_330.shtml
Now the facility’s former President is coming forward after years of staying silent about what he says really happens at Narconon Arrowhead. ( read on and see video )
http://www.okcfox.com/newsroom/special_reports/videos/vid_331.shtml
Thank you, Steven Slade, for providing the platform. Lucas and I don’t agree 100% but he’s free to think and speak his own thoughts, opinions and ideas now and that’s alright with me.
Thank you for this informative article. My brother has tried the twelve step recovery and a couple other things but they didn’t work. He would relapse every time. The only thing that worked for him was dual diagnosis treatment. I guess it’s different for every person but it’s sad to see that there are so many scams out there when people seriously want help. Thanks again for sharing, I will pass it along. http://www.westbridge.org/default.aspx
Hi Holly,
I’m glad that your brother was able to change – however he found his way there. However, so that nobody gets the wrong idea, I must point out that the treatment center you linked to in your comment (Westbridge Community Services) is most definitely a 12-step oriented place.
Here is their schedule, which includes daily “recovery” (read: 12-step) support group meetings: http://www.westbridge.org/assets/CommonsProgramSchedule2011.pdf
We know there’s at least one 12-step meeting a day there, and in my opinion from personal experience and from speaking personally with hundreds (if not thousands) of people who’ve been to such places – it’s likely that many of the other activities on their schedule are also 12-step oriented, although I have no proof of this from afar. I wouldn’t be surprised if the morning meetings involve reading daily meditations from a book published by Hazelden (the home of completely 12-step infused treatment). Nor I would I be surprised if the nightly “progress group” involves discussions on completion of the steps or progress in finding a sponsor. And when I see something called the “closing ritual” on the schedule, it sends up pseudo-religious red flags in my mind.
Again, I could be wrong about the exact content about any of these various activities throughout the day at Westbridge, and these are just my hunches. But I doubt they’d put this video up on their site if they weren’t strongly oriented towards the 12-step way:
http://www.westbridge.org/services_practices/SelfHelp.html
Notice what he says in the video: “at other places I went, we didn’t really have that same kind of like, AA presence in the program – whereas here we went to AA most of the time every day and they showed me how to get a sponsor and stuff like that… now I have a sponsor, and I’m going to AA meetings on my own every day”
Even what they’re calling “Assertive Community Treatment” is obviously completely wrapped up with AA. Just check out the testimonial video on this page from their site:
http://www.westbridge.org/services_practices/AssertiveCommunityTreatment.html
I have no ill will towards you or your brother, but for my readers I have to call the place exactly what it is – another AA indoctrination camp. Westbridge Community Services inpatient dual-diagnosis treatment may talk a lot of game and present themselves as a highly scientific serious medical treatment of some kind, but they’re just more of the same, like every other treatment center in the country – they are a 12-step treatment center.
Alternative To Meds Center…..Sedona, AZ
I was told about this health care program by an acquaintance. Their website advertises them to be a holistic, residential inpatient treatment plan that is personalized to meet your individual needs. I have been on disability for some time due to a testosterone overdose that left me with severe chronic fatigue. When I called them I was very clear about my condition and that I was limited to the amount of activity that I was able to do and that it needed to be very paced. I was interested in some of the therapies they did such as acupuncture, massage and some of the more restorative programs they offered. I also wanted to taper further off the medication I was on. My outpatient doctor only recommended I start a taper at 2 mg because of the dangers of coming off this medication too fast. I had to slow the taper down when I got lower on the dose. The people at the clinic wanted me to taper off the rest at 5 mg a week in two months, which is
complete
insanity. If I had done that and ended up really sick because of it they would have just released me and I would have had nowhere to go.
They never informed me that the program was so vigorous in any of our discussions and said they had cured people with a variety of health issues. It was very costly and I had a number of friends who helped put up the money for me to go as I had tried a number of other things that were not working for me. I gave up my place in Phoenix and paid for two months of treatment thinking that I was going to get a more tailored program for my health. It was anything but. They had everyone on the same program and the pace was unmanageable for me to keep up with as I fatigue very easy. They kept pushing me to do the saunas, and all the group activities and I kept insisting that I would be too wiped out by dinner time to even eat much. I knew they had sold me a lie and I was very overwhelmed. About two weeks into the program I completely collapsed and my roommate had to help me get to the bathroom I was so weak. A couple of the staff members helped me
out and
I had to remain in bed for most of the day. One of the psychologists even said they needed to slow my program down. I told them I wanted out and to get my money fully refunded. Nothing was done and they kept pushing me to do the program. I kept complaining, but I was chewed out by the case manager for what they call “Nattering”. They don’t want you complaining around other residents so they know what’s going on. They also make you feel guilty for complaining as they say you are being negative. They kept me another two weeks so they wouldn’t have to refund my money for that month and then only offered me four months of outpatient services at a slower pace and a partial refund which I have not fully received yet. I reluctantly agreed as they convinced me that I needed support since I had no one in Sedona I knew. I was pretty freaked out and felt at the time I agreed that I might be able to handle a slower paced out patient
program. However,
the saunas and colonics were way too depleting for my condition and my doctor advised me to stop them as he was unaware of how rigorous the program was. I had to quit the out patient program because I completely collapsed two weeks ago and have only been able to get out of the house on a very limited bases. I have mostly been down in bed, and now I am in worse shape than I was when I came in to the facility, along with having hardly any money to get help.
While I was there they also took in a man with Lyme Disease that was too sick to do hardly any of the activities. He kept insisting they had sold him and his family on the fact that this was a Lyme Clinic and they were totally ill equipped to help him. They also kept him the entire month until he was released to a Lyme specialist in Scottsdale. They don’t even have any qualified medical personnel at the residents house that are trained in the healthcare field. There is only one doctor on staff and two nurses who are hardly ever there. I saw the doctor twice for ten minutes each while I was in patient and was told he was very knowledgeable about cases like mine. If he had been they would never have recommended the same treatments they were giving everyone else. In fact, I was on a supplement called Kavinace which is a prescription drug in the U.K. that is used to control anxiety and help with sleep. I made him aware of it to see if he was
familiar
with it. He said he was and the dose I was at was fine. After my intake he increased the dose of the same active ingredient under a different brand name without telling me and I didn’t find this out until I had time to look it up after I got out of the treatment center. I also had days (as well as others in the program) where my supplements and meds ended up in someone elses box.
In addition, during my stay I roomed with a girl that was bi-polar. She started into a manic phase shortly after I got there. Several other residents reported her behavior as we were all concerned about her. The staff did nothing to move her into an higher care facility as she needed more full time attention. A few nights before her death, even the evening staff member said he had never had a night that bad since he had been there. She was throwing food and up praying over everyones beds. She had several of the new residents completely freaked out. Two days after the worst incident, she ran off and tried to climb Thunder Mountain and fell to her death. She was only 32 years old.
These people are seriously disorganized and have non-medical personnel handling controlled substances. Most of the staff was nice enough, but not qualified to be handling patients with these types of health issues.