Parents oppose Narconon connection

Parents of Calabasas High School students complained to the school when they learned that the drug counselor scheduled to speak at a parent education night in midFebruary was a representative of Narconon, a drug rehabilitation program based on the teachings of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.

The Narconon approach to drug education purportedly is based on Church of Scientology doctrine rather than proven medical interventions. An objection from parents, as well as an earlier position paper from California Department of Education Superintendent Jack O'Connell, prompted the school to cancel the meeting.

Using information from the California Healthy Kids Resource Center, O'Connell sent a memo to California schools four years ago saying that Narconon's drug program "does not reflect accurate, widely accepted medical and scientific evidence."

O'Connell said Narconon methods could lead to the conclusion that "drug use really is not risky."

The letter also included a warning that schools could lose state funds if they don't sponsor scientifically based prevention programs. Under the Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Act, schools are required to use funds for prevention programs that are based on scientific research and must provide evidence that the program actually reduces or prevents violence and drug use, O'Connell said.

The department's study listed several examples of supposedly inaccurate information proffered by Narconon, including the notion that drugs burn up vitamins and nutrients, and that small amounts of drugs stored in fat are later released causing people to "re-experience the drug effect" and increase their desire to use drugs again.

The Church of Scientology is also on record as being against the use of any psychiatric drugs and against psychiatry in general.

Greg Wolfe, a consultant with the California Department of Education, said officials concluded that public schools should avoid the use of Narconon services.

"(Narconon) was found wanting in several dimensions," Wolfe said. Narconon does not match the prevention program criteria set by the state of California.

Anthony Bylsma, executive director of Narconon Drug Prevention and Education Inc., who had been scheduled to speak at Calabasas High before the meeting was cancelled, said the state has "targeted" Narconon unfairly.

"The funniest thing is that if you see a drug/Narconon meeting, you would realize that (the California Department of Education's concerns are) trumped up," Bylsma said.

In a letter to The Acorn, Bylsma said Narconon "is a nonprofit drug rehabilitation program dedicated to eliminating drug abuse and drug addiction through drug prevention, education and rehabilitation."

Bylsma referred to Hubbard's work in the letter, stating that it provided Narconon founder William Benitez with the "tools to not only end his own addiction to heroin but help friends and eventually countless others as well."

Narconon's purpose, he said, was to prevent, reduce and eliminate drug abuse among youth, which "goes counter to the purpose" of some other groups that are against "any attempts to stem the wave of drug abuse and addiction we're seeing occur."

Calabasas High School Principal C.J. Foss said she was happy that parents contacted the school to complain about the upcoming seminar.

"If Superintendent O'Connell called for an investigation, that's enough for me," Foss said regarding the meeting's cancellation.