FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
This is a list of questions commonly asked about Narconon Vista Bay, drug rehab treatment in California, and the answers to those questions.
Q. How does Narconon Vista Bay differ from other programs, including traditional 12 step programs?
A. Narconon Vista Bay is an extensive program that uses its own unique form of cognitive therapy and physical purification. Through physical purification consisting of vitamins, exercise, and time spent in our sauna, one is aided in coming completely off of drugs. The rest of the program consists of a student learning how to regain control of their life and make amends for damages their addiction has caused themselves and others. In most conventional drug treatment programs an addict is told that they are powerless over their addiction. We at Narconon Vista Bay do not believe this is true. Our program has overwhelming results showing that an addict can retake power over their life, and that there is a road out.
Q. What percentage of graduates from Narconon Vista Bay remain drug free?
A. Research done through contact with graduates of our program shows that 7 out of 10 graduates remain drug-free after a 5-year period. This is a very high percentage; most conventional programs only boast a 15 to 20 percent recovery rate, if that. Our program gets results.
Q. What kind of addictions can Narconon Vista Bay treat?
A. The nature of our program allows us to treat all forms of addiction, be it drug or alcohol, no matter how severe the problem is. We have effectively helped long-term heroin, crack, cocaine, methamphetamine, and alcohol abusers break their addictions.
Q. How long does the program take to complete?
A. The program takes, on average, four to six months to complete. Between the extensive treatment Narconon Vista Bay ofers, and the individual study involved, the time it takes to complete the program varies from student to student. Not everyone's problems can be solved in 28 days, and as a general rule here, it takes as long as it takes.
Q. Are addicts coming into Narconon Vista Bay treated with medication or other drugs such as Methadone?
A. At Narconon Vista Bay we do not believe that curing addiction is possible by simply exchanging one addiction for another. We offer a natural holistic approach to treatment that does not involve introducing additional chemical substances into ones body.
Q. What level of freedom are the students at Narconon Vista Bay given?
A. Those who are attending Narconon Vista Bay are given a fair amount of freedom and privileges. The situation here is very far from that of a hospital. On their free time students may pursue their own hobbies. While coming off of drugs takes hard work and time, we try to make things as comfortable for our students as possible. We allow students to bring most of their personal effects including musical instruments, movies, games, books, and nearly any other form of entertainment. Basically, as long as it does not pertain to drugs a student is allowed to have it here. We have access to the internet in our office which students may also use on their free time. Also, twice a week we take the students shopping for whatever needs they may have. Also, there is a swimming pool, a weightlifting area, and a student lounge with satellite television at our facility.
Q. Who founded the Narconon Program?
A. The Narconon Program is the inspriation of William Benitez. William Benitez after successfully recovering from an drug addiction to heroin approached L. Ron Hubbard who warmly recieved William Benitez's suggestion on a drug and alcohol addiction recovery center. William Benitez designed and based Narconon Vista Bay program on key principles developed by author and humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard. For information on the research basis and origins of the program click here.
Q. How much and what type of experience does the staff have?
A. Our staff here are all very well trained and continue their training after signing on to work at Narconon Vista Bay through daily and weekly classes. Another thing all the staff members here have in common is that we are all recovered drug addicts. We know where our students are coming from and what they are going through because we have all been there.
Q. How exactly does the purification portion of the Narconon Vista Bay program work?
A. Through research done since the early 1960's it has been found that drugs, once taken, leave residues in the body's fat tissues. These residues remain in the body for years after taking a drug. This is the reason for the occurrence of "acid flashbacks" among LSD users. These drug residues also play a large role in an addict's physical craving for a particular drug. Through vitamins, oils, exercise, and sweating daily in our sauna, our sauna program cleans out a users system, leaving them free of physical drug cravings and healthier than they have felt in years.
Narconon has been offering drug rehab treatment in California and drug education services worldwide for over 40 years.