While drugs and their metabolites quickly become undetectable in blood and urine, some as rapidly as 3 days after last usage, drug metabolites remain stored in fatty tissues for years. That these accumulated drug residues continue to cause adverse symptoms led to the development of a program aimed at reducing levels of toxins in the body to assist in recovery.
 

The graph depicts cocaine metabolites being excreted in the sweat and urine of clients participating in the Narconon® New Life Detoxification Program. Levels of drug metabolites are not detectable in clients prior to the start of this program, then increase dramatically and slowly taper off as the program is continued. This supports the argument that drug residues remain in the fatty tissues and that the correct treatment can mobilize and remove them through the body’s excretory systems.

The New Life Detoxification Program utilizes a combination of exercise, induced sweating in a sauna, and nutritional supplements to produce the following results:

• Reduction or elimination of drug cravings.
• Reduction or elimination of many symptoms associated with drug addiction. These can include depression, irritability, and fatigue.
• Ability to think more clearly.
• Improved memory and attention span.
• Increased energy.
• Increased sense of well being.
• Enthusiasm toward life.  

Drug cravings are the partially caused by drugs left behind in the body after a person uses. Metabolites, or products created by metabolizing drugs, are small chemical reminders of the drug that created them. These metabolites, (the substances the body converts the drugs into) although removed rapidly from the blood stream, become trapped in the fatty tissues. There are various types of tissues that are high in fat content, the one thing in common – and the problem that needs to be addressed – is that these drug residues remain for years. Tissues in our bodies that are high in fats are turned over very slowly. When they are turned over, the stored drug metabolites are released into the blood stream and reactivate the same brain centers as if the person actually took the drug. The former addict now experiences a drug restimulation (or “flashback”) and drug craving. This is common in the months after an addict quits and can continue to occur for years, even decades.

The Cycle Of Quitting, Withdrawal, Craving And Relapse

When the addict initially tries to quit, cells in the brain that have become used to large amounts of these metabolites are now forced to deal with much decreased amounts. Even as the withdrawal symptoms subside, the brain “demands” that the addict give it more of the drug. This is called drug craving. Craving is an extremely powerful urge and can cause a person to create all kinds of “reasons” they should begin using drugs again. He is now trapped in an endless cycle of trying to quit, craving, relapse and fear of withdrawal.

Eventually, the brain cells will again become used to having lowered drug metabolites. But, because deposits of drug metabolites release back into the bloodstream from fatty tissues for years, craving and relapse remain a cause for concern. Left unhandled, the presence of metabolites even in microscopic amounts cause the brain to react as if the addict had again actually taken the drug and can set up craving and relapse even after years of sobriety.

Addicts Cannot Stop Using Drugs For Two Reasons. These Are:

1. Mental and physical cravings caused by drug residues which remain in the body.
2. The Biochemical Personality caused by drugs and the lifestyle the person adopts to get them.

Left unhandled, these manifestations will haunt a person for years even if they have sobered up. Left untreated, this will trigger a relapse. These unresolved symptoms, whether physical or mental in origin, create an underlying low-level type of stress which cannot be completely ignored by the addict. The addict can “just say no” a thousand times, but it only takes him saying “yes” one time to start the cycle of addiction again.

The Governor of the State of Oklahoma presented Narconon Arrowhead with this proclamation for it's dedication to the community and erradication of substance abuse and rehabiltation of individuals whose lives have been affected by substance abuse.

I was pleased to have the opportunity to spend three days this past July visiting the Narconon Arrowhead program which you direct. I found this experience enjoyable and very informative. Although I had visited the program previously, this time I was able to observe more closely every aspect of its operation.

I appreciated having been able to talk with the staff persons responsible for the main elements of the program and with some of the students. I also did review program material, including policies and procedures, permits and releases and instruction manuals.

I came away from my Narconon Arrowhead tour very impressed and before I present my specific observations and comments I would like to summarize some of my general impressions and concerns.

1. Narconon Arrowhead’s non-medical detoxification protocol as well as their rehabilitative modules appear to be well accepted and remarkably effective. I was particularly impressed with the detoxification protocol.

2. Given the limited effectiveness of the present approaches to substance abuse, alternative rehabilitative technologies such as those applied by Narconon with considerable success are urgently needed.

3. I recommend that rehabilitation outcome studies that meet strict scientific criteria, staffed by university based experts, be commissioned to assess and measure the benefits derived from the application of the Narconon methodology at Arrowhead and other Narconon facilities. In this regard, steps in this direction are being taken. A group of experts from UCLA have initiated formulation of such a project. This undertaking also has been discussed with the director of the University of Oklahoma Center for the Study of Alcohol and Drug Related Studies.

4. Once data from the study above proposed is obtained, other rehabilitation centers will be able to use the Narconon drug-free detoxification protocol and incorporate it in their existing program.

I am summarizing in the following paragraphs my observations and impressions from my perspective as a physician Board Certified in Psychiatry with considerable clinical, administrative and research experience in the field of drug dependence and human behavior. In my opinion,  

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