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Research notes: Comparing the Narconon Curriculum with Scientology’s “Bridge to Total Freedom” (2019)

  

This is a side-by-side comparison of Narconon’s program 1 with Hubbard’s “Bridge to Total Freedom,”2 the basic curriculum for all Scientologists.

STEP BY STEP
Freedom from Addiction
DRUG-FREE WITHDRAWAL

The Narconon program begins with a drug-free, nonmedical withdrawal process designed to assist the individual to come off drugs as rapidly and comfortably as possible. (When a physician deems it medically necessary, Narconon refers students for a distinct medically supervised withdrawal as a prerequisite to beginning the Narconon program.)

During this step, Narconon withdrawal specialists are on hand and available to help individuals through the difficult time of coming off drugs through the program. Narconon staff monitor sleep, food, fluid intake and general progress through the process. They also administer gentle physical techniques known as assists to help calm spasms and lessen aches and pains.

Through procedures called objectives, staff also help to reorient students to the present, directing the students’ attention off themselves and their bodies and onto the environment around them. Objectives also help to relieve mental and emotional discomfort of looking inward at negative thoughts or dwelling on the past.

Finally, nutrition plays a vital role in withdrawal. To function properly, the body requires vitamins and minerals; drugs and alcohol burn up vitamins and minerals and mask the painful signs that the body is failing. When the person stops taking drugs, the pain and discomfort are manifested in withdrawal.

In addition to assists and objectives, a vitamin and mineral formula is taken by students for support during the withdrawal process to help repair the body.

Click to view large chart.

“Assists”
The described “gentle physical techniques known as assists” are a class of hypnotic Scientology  procedures such as “Touch assists” and “Nerve Assists.” Scientologists order and deliver these processes on victims at disaster sites, on recruit prospects, on children and adults alike, for a wide range of physical and mental difficulties. Introductory “routes onto the Bridge” include Assists.3

“Objectives Processing”
Hubbard invented numerous  trance-inducing “Objectives,” designed specifically to bring the person under control. Objectives are taught on the Hubbard Qualified Scientologist Course, and the TRs & Objectives Co-audit Course, which are introductory level courses. In addition, “TRs and Objectives” processing is the second required step on Hubbard’s basic auditing program for all Scientologists. 4

NEW LIFE DETOXIFICATION

The New Life Detoxification is another unique aspect of the Narconon program. It is based on the discovery by L. Ron Hubbard that drug residues apparently remain trapped in the body’s fatty tissues and may be reactivated even years after the individual has ceased taking drugs. The harmful mental and physical effects of taking drugs do not end even when the person stops taking drugs. Therefore a vital step is to get drugs out of the body and end their mental and physical effects on an individual’s life.

This phase of the Narconon program was designed to eliminate toxic substances from the body while decreasing physical cravings related to drugs and alcohol. The elements of the New Life Detoxification consist of running to stimulate circulation; extensive periods of time sweating in a specially ventilated, low-heat, dry sauna to sweat out accumulated drugs and toxins; nutrition, including specific vitamins, minerals and oils taken in exact quantities; and a properly ordered personal schedule that allows for adequate sleep.

The program’s course of vitamins includes a gradual increase of niacin, along with other vitamins and multiminerals. Additionally students on the program take a specific blend of oils. Students take adequate amounts of salt, potassium and water to remain properly hydrated during the process.

The purpose of New Life Detoxification is to rid the body of drug residues and eliminate their negative effects, including drug cravings.

Compare with the Purification Rundown, delivered as an introductory service. The Purification Rundown is the first step on the Bridge proper.  4

Following drug-free withdrawal and New Life Detoxification, the Narconon student moves on to the Objectives. Drugs dull a person’s awareness and throws him out of communication with his environment. Objectives help bring the student into communication with others and with the present environment, extroverting the student’s attention from disturbing memories associated with drug use and enabling the student to achieve a wider perspective that is less subjective and more objective. He is able to view the world around him clearly, often for the first time in years.

“I had no hope in life. I came here a damaged soul. Narconon has given me life.”

During various stages of the program, Objectives are done each day to help keep the student’s attention off the past and on the present.

On the Objectives, students also learn skills they can use to help them comfortably face life and resolve problems through communication.

Compare with the following “routes” onto the Bridge: Success Through Communication Route; Life Improvement Course Route; Personal Efficiency Route; Scientology Introductory Auditing Route; Anatomy of the Human Mind Route; the Purification Route and the Hubbard Key to Life Route. Each of these routes include Assists, Objectives, and/or communication drills  called TRs (Training Routines). TRs & Objectives is the second step on the Bridge proper.4

LIFE SKILLS COURSES

Our goal is long-term success for each individual. After Withdrawal and New Life Detox, students report feeling remarkably better and so are ready for the final program elements.

Effective practice and learning leads to stability, self-respect and return of personal values. Just like physical skills, life skills can be learned.

The final component of the program consists of a series of Life Skills Courses. These courses give the individual the tools he needs to remain drug-free.

The described Life Skills Courses correspond with introductory and entry level Scientology training as follows:

OVERCOMING UPS & DOWNS IN LIFE COURSE

To avoid situations that might lead to drug use in the future, students must be able to identify true friends and the positive people in their lives and, to isolate those likely to lead them back into trouble. On this course, students can learn how poor decisions regarding friends and acquaintances damaged their lives in the past and how to make better choices in the future.

The Overcoming Ups & Downs In Life Course is a beginning course taught at Scientology Organizations that indoctrinates into Scientology’s “Suppressive Person” doctrine.7

“ONE DAY UP, THE NEXT DAY DOWN—GAIN STABILITY! If someone has been doing well and suddenly worsens, it happens for a specific reason. Here are the remarkable Scientology breakthroughs that resolve it for good. With this course, you can change your life forever.” — scientology-cambridge.org. 8

The Overcoming Ups & Downs In Life Course is a What is Scientology online course.9

PERSONAL VALUES COURSE

On the Personal Values Course, students learn how personal values are lost and how to restore them. They come to recognize their actual obligations. They learn a procedure that enables them to take full responsibility for their past misdeeds and thereby gain relief from the associated trauma and guilt connected with them. By the end of this course, students can leave the past behind and move forward into a positive future.

The Personal Values & Integrity Course is a beginning course taught at Scientology Organizations.

“IS THERE A PROVEN ROUTE TO SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS? Living up to your own ideals is a sure road to success. But without the Scientology know-how to do it, success and happiness can be hard to attain. This course is your chance to make your dreams a factual reality.”— scientology-cambridge.org. 10

Integrity, Honesty and Self-Esteem is a What is Scientology online course.11

CHANGING CONDITIONS IN LIFE COURSE

Because drug and alcohol use often stems from an inability to deal with challenging situations, it is vital that former addicts learn constructive problem-solving skills that assist them to lead drug-free lives. This course further educates students in procedures that can be followed to correct anything in the past so it is no longer a problem in the present, learning precise steps to move their lives forward.

The Formulas For Living Course is a beginning course taught at Scientology Organizations.

“Know the exact steps to a better life. Here are the remarkable Scientology breakthroughs millions have used to accurately handle situations and truly thrive in life. When you know and apply the data in this course, you can straighten out any bad state of affairs and strengthen positive ones.”— scientology-cambridge.org. 12

The Improving Conditions in Life Course is a What is Scientology online course.13

INSTRUCTIONAL FILMS

A series of instructional films are presented to students during the program, demonstrating visually the theory and procedure of each aspect of the technology that underlies the components of the program and how they work together to lead the individual out of addiction to a new drug-free state.

Scientology Organizations offer many free public films, lectures and online videos that indoctrinate into various aspects of Scientology theory and practice.14

Notes

  1. The Narconon curriculum retrieved from https://www.narconon.org/about-narconon/program-components.html ↩
  2. See Chart: The Bridge to Total Freedom ↩
  3. Assists are delivered as part of the “Scientology Introductory Auditing Route,” and are taught and co-audited on the “Hubbard Qualified Scientologist Course.” ↩
  4. See Bridge To Total Freedom grade chart. ↩
  5. See Bridge To Total Freedom grade chart. ↩
  6. See Bridge To Total Freedom grade chart. ↩
  7. See Key documents: SP doctrine. ↩
  8. See https://www.scientology-cambridge.org/beginning-services/scientology-life-improvement-courses.html; https://www.scientology-cambridge.org/services/overcoming-ups-and-downs-course/enroll.html ↩
  9. See http://www.scientologyhandbook.org/suppression/sh11.htm ↩
  10. See  https://www.scientology-cambridge.org/beginning-services/scientology-life-improvement-courses.html; https://www.scientology-cambridge.org/services/personal-values-and-integrity-course/enroll.html ↩
  11. See http://www.scientologyhandbook.org/integrity/sh9.htm ↩
  12. See  https://www.scientology-cambridge.org/beginning-services/scientology-life-improvement-courses.html; https://www.scientology-cambridge.org/services/formulas-for-living-course/enroll.html ↩
  13. See http://www.scientologyhandbook.org/conditions/sh10.htm ↩
  14. See, for example, https://www.scientology.tv/films/scientology-principles/principles-of-scientology.html; https://www.scientology.tv/films/scientology-principles/tools-for-life.html; https://www.scientology.tv/documentaries/the-truth-about-drugs.html ↩