In one sentence, the President of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse sums up the extent of the illicit drug problem in America. In a 2008 article in a Harvard University science newsletter, Joseph Califano stated, “Americans, comprising only four percent of the world’s population, consume two-thirds of the world’s illegal drugs.” Despite noisy claims of gains made in the “drug war,” this statement makes the real drug abuse situation in America unmistakably clear.
When a person uses enough illicit drugs, prescription drugs or alcohol to get addicted, the values he may have learned from mom and dad take a back seat to acquiring and using the drugs that keep torturous withdrawal symptoms at bay. In 1999, it was estimated that drug and alcohol use drove the commission of 5.4 million violent crimes and 8 million property crimes. In some regions, the majority of men and women in state or federal custody are there due to their drug or alcohol abuse. Domestic and child abuse are linked to substance abuse as are homelessness and suicide.
“Drug and alcohol abuse eat away at the heart of America’s values and sense of ethics,” stated Derry Hallmark, Director of Admissions and Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor at Narconon Arrowhead. Narconon Arrowhead is one of the country’s leading drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers, located in Canadian, Oklahoma. “Every day, we have the chance to help those who had lost the battle with addiction and thereby lost their values, integrity and ability to survive. The Narconon program specifically addresses these commonly lost qualities and enables a person to regain sobriety based on strong and healthy life values.”
The Life Skills portion of the Narconon program guides a recovering addict through the education and practical skills that restore these values. One of the people who completed one of these Life Skills actions wrote, “I can live a drug-free life free of guilt and can be honest with myself and others and truly believe that honesty will set me free to live a happy, clean life.”
“Without a direct address to the cravings, guilt and depression that are part of addiction, rehabilitation is much less likely to result in recovery,” added Mr. Hallmark. “The fact that we thoroughly address a person’s lost values is one of the reasons for our 70 percent success rate.”
To find immediate help for someone who is having a problem with drugs or alcohol, contact Narconon’s free addiction consultation and referral helpline at 1-800-468-6933 or visit their website at http://www.stopaddiction.com/. The Narconon program was founded in 1966 by William Benitez in Arizona State prison, and is based on the humanitarian works of L. Ron Hubbard. In more than 120 centers around the world, Narconon programs restore drug and alcohol abusers and addicts to a clean and sober lifestyle.
