I. TRUE REHABILITATION

Taking individuals from a life of alcohol, drugs and chaos, to a life of direction, purpose and integrity, is not easy. Fortunately, our cognitive behavioral modification model has a 76% success rate accomplishing true rehabilitation and has a proven record of success doing so for over 45 years.

Our rehabilitation philosophy is not based on the disease model, which dictates that someone with an addiction will always be an addict with an incurable disease that they cannot overcome, but which they can only learn to cope with for the rest of their lives. Our educational rehabilitation philosophy is based on confronting and locating the many causes of addiction and the many behaviors associated with it and resolving them. Our clients may enter our program as addicts or alcoholics, but become students through our educational Life Skills program, and leave truly rehabilitated without the need to use the labels of "addict" or "alcoholic".

Our program accomplishes true rehabilitation through the use of our New Life Detoxification program, which removes the physical cravings and compulsions that are caused from the drug residual build up within the body, and from the application of the Life Skills courses to help achieve the cognitive behavioral modification that is needed to become a happy, drug free, productive member of society.

Our proven rehabilitation program has many components, is very structured and it is laid out in a specific step by step sequence to obtain the best results. This road to true recovery is intense, but with proper guidance and our correct rehabilitation technology it can be accomplished. The rest of this guide will give you more detailed information of our program.

---

II. OVERVIEW OF THE PROGRAM

Locations - Narconon Fresh Start manages 6 centers in 4 states: Sunshine Summit Lodge, established in the serene rural community of Warner Springs, CA; Rainbow Canyon Ranch a former dude ranch in a scenic valley meadow of Rainbow Canyon, NV; Fort Collins New Life Retreat within sight of the beautiful Rocky Mountains of CO; and the Lone Star Victory Ranch near the beautiful beaches of the Texas Gulf Coast.

Program Length - The Narconon Fresh Start program is supervised 24 hours a day and the program duration is dependent upon the participant's successful completion of all of the program steps, rather than a set time period, and generally takes 3 to 4 months to complete. Before each participant is qualified to graduate, each step of their program is reviewed by their case supervisor and the application of their newly acquired life skills must be demonstrated to ensure that they will be productive drug and alcohol free members of society.

Success Rate and Guarantee - The Narconon Fresh Start program has a 76% success rate and our positive results are backed by a 6 month guarantee, in which a graduate having difficulties can return for free within 6 months of their graduation.

Secular Program - Although the Narconon Fresh Start program is secular (non-religious), program participants' religious beliefs are respected, and transportation is provided to their respective local churches on days of worship, when possible.

Holistic Approach - The Narconon Fresh Start program is completely drug-free and provides a holistic approach to recovery. Vitamin supplements are available daily, and nutritious, delicious meals are provided three times a day.

Relief from Drug and Alcohol Cravings - Drug and alcohol residuals (metabolites) are stored in the fat cells of the organs and tissues of the body. They can become released from these cells during times of stress and spread into the blood stream, where they can cause cravings, withdrawal symptoms, anxiety, or even depression. Our New Life Detoxification sauna program accelerates the body's natural elimination process removing these metabolites. Once free from the physical compulsions and cravings, participants are now prepared to address the mental aspects and life repair portions of the program.

Cognitive Behavior Modification Therapy - Through a series of educational Life Skills courses, case supervising and counseling techniques, program participants are guided to have their own cognitions (realizations) concerning their behavior. They are educated to become self-determined in modifying their behavior, so as to enhance their survival. The Narconon Fresh Start program focuses on honesty, responsibility, and accountability for one's own actions, which creates productive individuals with a tremendous amount of integrity guiding their decisions.

Social Interaction - Although program participants go through a lot of individual hard work on their way to recovery, they also learn to interact socially with their peers in the program by helping each other through various courses of the program. This allows them to learn how to become good productive team members and learn how to build constructive relationships.

Activities - Narconon Fresh Start participants are encouraged to participate in healthy activities and we provide the following at our facility: a weight & exercise area, pool, jacuzzi, sauna, basketball, volleyball, tennis, walking/jogging path, ping-pong, and occasional trips to town. Seasonal flag football and softball league participation offered. Please check with your intake counselor for availability.

Legal Liaison Services - Any information on current or pending legal matters should be relayed to our Legal Liaison Officer (LLO), who will assist in their handling during the program. Each Narconon Fresh Start facility has specific staff with many years of experience in dealing with probation requirements and other court related issues. Court costs, legal representation, fees and travel expenses are the responsibility of the program participants and are not covered by the cost of the program.

Medical Liaison Services - Our Medical Liaison Officer will arrange and transport participants to local doctors or dentists to handle any current or pending medical or dental conditions that may arise during their program. A medical physical exam is covered by the program cost, but all other medical and dental expenses are the responsibility of the program participants and are not covered by the cost of the program.

III. DETAILS OF THE PROGRAM

The Program does not refer to the program participants as addicts, but as students, because they are about to learn how to handle life without the use of drugs or alcohol.

Withdrawal - Trained specialists supervise newly arriving program participants 24 hours per day and assist them with the physical symptoms of withdrawal. A calm, private, therapeutic environment with special withdrawal therapies, nutritious meals, vitamin supplementation and plenty of rest, assist in achieving a successful drug free withdrawal.

Life Skills Courses - Through a series of educational courses, students have cognitions to enable them to modify their behavior. Each student becomes aware of the sources of their problems and they learn how to formulate solutions, so that they are no longer being adversely affected. Each student's progress is constantly monitored by their course supervisors and their case supervisor to ensure that each student's individual case needs are met.

Communications Course - Training routines (TRs) are communication drills that are used to increase the student's ability to confront themselves and others, comfortably, with good communication. These skills are needed for the student to address the issues that he has been avoiding through drug use, and which he will now be handling in the program.

New Life Detoxification Program - Removes the drug residuals from the cells of the body, thereby eliminating the urge for drugs on a physical level. This process takes a several weeks, and it will help eliminate the source of the drug or alcohol cravings, so the student can focus on finding and confronting the source of his problems during the remainder of the program.

Learning Improvement Course -Many participants entering the program have never really learned how to study correctly and have just "gotten by" by memorizing or regurgitating information. This course teaches the student to recognize and overcome universal barriers to study, allowing the student to fully understand and practically apply all subjects and materials studied, during and after the program.

Communication & Perception Course - Part A of this course is a higher gradient series of communication training routines (TRs). Part B is a series of objective exercises or drills that rehabilitate person's awareness and ability to control themselves, others and the things in their environment, while also bringing their attention back from the past and into present time, so they can move forward.

Ups and Downs in Life Course - Describes in-depth traits of social and antisocial personalities, so that the student can differentiate between people, who are either constructive or destructive to their survival. The end result of this course is that the student is no longer connected to people that are harmful to their recovery, and that they now know how to handle suppressive people and situations. Although, the counselors & course supervisors guide each student, it is the each student, themselves, that makes the final decision to no longer associate with those people who are harmful influences.

Personal Values and Integrity Course - Enables the student to take responsibility for the destructive acts they have committed in the past with a procedure that also unburdens them from the blame, guilt and regret associated with those past acts. Through this course, they regain their personal ethics, morals and integrity, which makes it much easier for the person to feel good about themselves without the use of drugs or alcohol.

Changing Conditions in Life Course - Educates the student on the various states of existence or conditions in life. It shows the student how to raise their condition, through the application of formulas for each condition they find themselves in and includes the steps needed to repair relationships, which have been damaged by their addiction. These formulas can be followed after the program to help one regain their status at work, at home, with friends and with society at large.

Way to Happiness Course - This course contains 21 precepts of a common sense moral code that when followed will put one on the road to happiness, like precept 19, The Golden Rule, which states "Try not to do things to others that you would not like them to do to you".

Battle Plan - This is a step by step plan that the student writes up that applies the data that the student has learned on the program to give them the maximum potential for success after completing the program. The plan is reviewed by both the course supervisor and the case supervisor to ensure that the correct course of action is applied.

Aftercare Options - There are several different aftercare options offered to graduates, such as living in a sober living home, volunteering, or entering our internship program, which is the most popular and most successful. Please check with your intake counselor for more details.

Internship Program - Graduates can enroll in the after program internship, in which they pay a fee to stay for 3 months, receive room & board, and train as an intern in rehabilitation services. The internship can reestablish a good work ethic, lead to a successful career in rehabilitation services or prepare them for a successful career back at home.

IV. FAMILY CONTACT AND VISITS

This program overview contains guidelines and suggestions, based on successful actions of the past. We hope you will apply these simple guidelines at your discretion. Also, each of our centers have a Director of Consultation or Family Consultant who will be happy to answer any concerns or questions you may have.

The staff at our centers are trained to detect drug "restimulation" and they know what to do to get the student settled down and "destimulated" so they can continue working through the program successfully. Therefore, the staff should be consulted regularly during the program.

During the withdrawal portion of the program, we do not allow students to make or receive phone calls, because they are adjusting to the program, as well as experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms. Therefore, we ask that you speak with our center's Director of Consultation or Family Consultant for progress reports. Detox usually lasts anywhere from 2 to 10 days. Once out of withdrawal, students are allowed to make and receive phone calls. Please make sure your communication is upbeat and supportive.

You're likely to notice an improvement in attitude within a short time and may want to visit. It is strongly suggested that you do not visit until the New Life Detoxification sauna program is complete, usually 4-6 weeks after they have arrived into the program. Do not encourage them to come home for a visit either, as it is best to allow them to complete the entire program without interruption, so they can be prepared for any situations that they may encounter, when finally returning home.

V. OBSTACLES TO OVERCOME

During the Program there will be many hurdles and obstacles to overcome, and it will be very difficult. The student can become very irritated and irrational during these times, so please be patient with them and please refer the student to the center's staff for assistance. Also, please call our center's Director of Consultation or Family Consultant to alert them to any difficulties the student may be having.

These are some of the most common parts of the program when a student can have difficulties:

Withdrawal: Addiction is still in full effect, and it is still controlling the addict, therefore they will tell you anything to use drugs at this point, and their reasons and complaints cannot be trusted.

The Communication Course: At the beginning, participants do not see the point in the communication training routines (TRs), but after continued practice, they begin to understand them and improve their communication.

New Life Detoxification Program (Sauna): As drug residuals are being flushed out of the body, the student will be getting triggered by them and can experience severe mood swings, but as time in the sauna program continues, they will start to feel markedly better and improvements will be very noticeable in skin tone, sleep pattern and overall wellbeing.

Communication and Perception Course: These exercises can seem monotonous, because they take many hours to run before the student realizes the end results. The drills are very challenging, but the abilities that are gained, after completion, last a lifetime.

The Ups and Downs of Life Course: Overcoming suppressive people and situations can be difficult, but the completion of this step will lead to confidence and safeguard them from relapse.

VI. POSITIVE RESULTS

Hundreds of students graduate our program every year, becoming productive members of society. Our program graduates no longer refer to themselves as addicts, are not required to attend meetings and are empowered with the knowledge that they have gained in the program. They have learned much more than how to abstain from drugs and alcohol, they have acquired the ability to communicate, to be comfortable with themselves, to control themselves, to be honest, to be responsible for their actions, to choose the right friends and to confront and overcome problems. They are not only rehabilitated from substance abuse, they are now equipped with the tools necessary to be successful in the many other aspects of life.

Please contact program graduates or their family members directly, from the Family Reference List in this guide, to hear their program success stories first hand.

VII. HISTORY OF NARCONON FRESH START

The very first Narconon (meaning "no drugs") program was founded in 1966 by William Benitez, after being inspired by the practical betterment philosophy of author and humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard in the book, The Fundamentals of Thought.

Actually, Mr. Benitez was an inmate in the Arizona prison system when he first discovered this new and innovative rehabilitation technology, used it to reform himself and decided to establish the Narconon program for other fellow inmates. Early in the development of the Narconon program, it was found that Mr. Benitez's original sentence was in error and that he could be released with time served. Instead of requesting release, he opted for a reduced sentence, staying an additional 16 months to continue helping inmates and develop the program.

After completing his reduced sentence in 1971, Mr. Benitez established the first Narconon program outside of the prison system, Narconon Los Angeles, which eventually grew into the largest, most successful Narconon group, Narconon Fresh Start, which now manages six Narconon centers in four states.

Mr. Benitez turned his life around so thoroughly that, many years after establishing the Narconon program in the public sector, he was hired by the Arizona Department of Corrections and served as Hearing Officer on inmate complaints until his death in 1999.

VIII. CENTER CONTACT INFORMATION

IX. FAMILY REFERENCE LIST

Our Family Reference List gives you the opportunity to hear from others who have sent their loved one to the Narconon Fresh Start program and share with you their honest opinion about their experience first hand.

To request the Family Reference List, please fill out the form below.

X. WHAT YOU CAN BRING / WHAT YOU CANNOT BRING