How Chris Took His Life Back 

Former Patient Chris Speaks Out on Program

Drugs are chemical substances that begin by slightly altering an individual’s life in a way they think makes things better, and then finish by taking over the individual’s entire life and leaving only destruction in their wake. The individual goes from controlling their drug use and believing that it is helpful and beneficial to them, through tolerance where they no longer experience the same desired effects through the same amount of drug use and have to increase the doses of drugs they take, to dependence and addiction where their body demands continued drug use in order to function and they are compulsively driven to take drugs despite all of the damaging effects drugs are having on their health, relationships and life.

When an individual suffers from the problems of drug abuse or addiction, they can come to believe that there is no hope in their life. They have moved through phases of their drug use that have slowly and steadily ripped away everything that once mattered to them, leaving only emptiness.


Chris’s Story

Before Chris arrived at Narconon, even from his own view, his life was horrible. He was using drugs every day, selling drugs to others and spending most of his time just going in and out of jail. After having spent a fortune in trying to help Chris deal with his drug-related legal problems, his family had essentially given up all hope that Chris would ever live a normal life. Chris lost his relationships with his family, his home and everything that had once mattered to him, and he woke up one day to the realization that he had absolutely nothing left worth caring about.

When Chris first arrived at Narconon he was overwhelmed by how warmly he was received. He stepped into the beautiful lobby and was immediately greeted by everyone there, individuals who took the time to walk right up to Chris and tell him how much they wanted him to be there and to get well. When he walked over to the detoxification area, he couldn’t even tell that it was a detoxification area because of how calm and happy everyone seemed to be. Everyone in the entire facility, both staff and students alike, were so nice, so friendly, so happy and so welcoming that Chris knew beyond any doubt that Narconon was a place that could and would totally change his whole life, and he knew he was finally on the path to the new life he really wanted.

During the sauna portion of the program Chris was able to fully withdraw from drug substances, and detox his body from the residual drug toxins that were seeking to keep him trapped in his drug abuse and addiction problems. When he successfully detoxed his body he felt as though someone had suddenly turned on a bright light in a dark room. He knew that the drug toxins were completely out of his system, and he discovered that he could concentrate and focus his attention. He was able to see the life around him, and perceive the changes his own life was going through. He described it as absolutely the best thing that had ever happened to him.

Now that Chris has completed his Narconon program he honestly feels like he can take on anything in his life. Where before he saw insurmountable obstacles all around him, he now recognizes challenges and barriers and knows that he has the tools and abilities to overcome them. He is certain that he will never need or want drug substances again, and that the benefits he received from the Narconon program are things he wouldn’t be able to find anywhere else.


AUTHOR
KH

Karen Hadley

For more than a decade, Karen has been researching and writing about drug trafficking, drug abuse, addiction and recovery. She has also studied and written about policy issues related to drug treatment.

NARCONON ARROWHEAD

DRUG EDUCATION AND REHABILITATION