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Narconon Community Activities
Our objective is to provide broad drug education and awareness and therefore prevention drug abuse, while also helping those who are addicted through effective drug rehabilitation. This is accomplished by the direct work of Narconon staff around the world, in addition to collaborate efforts with many organizations and individuals in the community.
Through numerous community programs and activities, Narconon staff and volunteers, in conjunction with many others from various social service programs, bring the message of being drug-free to those around them.
Our activities span from attending local health fairs to conducting major sporting events. Anyway and anywhere we can get the message out, we do. Narconon drug education booklets have been distributed to hundreds of thousands in over 10 ten languages throughout the world. In South Africa, an drug-free driving campaign was conducted with the assistance of the local petrol stations.
In this way, anyone who is interested in keeping kids off drugs and eliminating the scourge of drug abuse in their community can join us in our efforts. To find out how you can get involved, contact Narconon International at info@narconon.org, or call (323)962-2404.
Community education projects
We learned long ago that alcohol and other drug abuse affect not just the individual, but the family, the school, the community, the nation -- it has become a global scourge.
The problems of a recovering drug addict are very different than those of a young person wavering in his decision about whether or not he should abstain from drugs. The problems of our communities dealing with increasingly drug-prone cultures escalate in complexity.
However, let us be honest -- something can be done. When communities and professionals and volunteers all pull together, what we do works.
The Narconon network of drug rehabilitation and drug prevention centers spans six continents. For decades we have worked with you in your community, your school or college, with young persons in the military, the police, inside jails and juvenile halls, and with inmate-release. In big, city-wide events and with individual mentoring and tutoring. The list is extensive.
Our purpose is to discover new ideas and more energy, more connections, new relationships — we can do more. We can help you. You can help us. There are so many lives to save or to keep healthy and happy.
If we pull together.
Enjoy this celebration of good works. It is good news where good news is needed.
Do let us know if you would like our help, or if you yourself would like to contribute or volunteer.
Community Drug Education Projects
Drug abuse and addiction affect the community as a whole; therefore, we have many projects working in conjunction or collaboration with other like-minded organizations to provide drug education and prevention across entire cities or regions. (See our drug education page for more information.)
Working with Mexican Law Officers
Wars between rival drug gangs have ripped Mexico to the core. Working jointly with law enforcement agencies, Narconon Mexico has responded with popular drug prevention programs to multiple sectors of society and anti-drug programs in schools.
Observing the effectiveness of our drug education to Pedro Escobedo school children, the Federal District Commander requested hands-on training for his police officers to better comprehend the mind-altering consequences of drugs and learn how to interact more effectively with individuals under the influence.
Colombia Anti-Drug Campaign
Narconon Colombia has conducted a nationwide public awareness anti-drug campaign named "Evolución sin Drogas y Alcohol," delivering to 10,000s in the cities of Medellín, Nieva, Pereira, Quindío, Armenia, La Mesa, Cundinamarca and Bogotá. Narconon staff delivered to schools, universities and civic groups, also speaking to mothers' groups, a juvenile camp of 400 young persons, and participating in the World Congress Against Drug Addiction. The national paper El Tiempo has featured stories about Narconon. Additionally, radio and television programs have reached nearly 10 million people.
Helping Hawaiian parents talk to their children
When Hawaii found itself gripped by a methamphetamine "Ice" epidemic, Narconon Hawaii conducted a statewide drug ed campaign, launched with personal help from Hawaiian-born celebrity Kelly Preston. A Hawaiian parent kit, "Keeping Your Kids Drug-Free — What Parents Need to Know," was created based on parent interviews. They distributed 9,000 copies throughout the islands, reinforced with live drug ed presentations to tens of thousands of students in 100 schools and groups.
Sample response to the Parent Kit — a father called and told how his son had earlier decided not to go to college because he could "make better money selling pakalo (marijuana)." But after the father provided the Parent Kit/DVD for his son to watch, the boy said he finally understood the actual harm from pot and told his dad he wanted now to go to college and then earn an honest, drug-free living.
Pledging to drive drug-free in South Africa
Narconon Cape Town -- Engen Petrol, operator of gas stations in South Africa, collaborated with Narconon staff in a unique "drug-free driving" campaign. Volunteers manning filling stations in Cape Town and other coastal towns invited motorists to sign a pledge to be a drug-free driver. 26,207 motorists drove away with stickers stating I have pledged to be an alcohol and drug free driver, and 16,469 drug education booklets were distributed.
Video program educating 9,000,000 school children
What began as a grassroots movement of Friends of Narconon has evolved into a drug education curriculum, being used in over 7,000 U.S. schools
Daily lectures to school children at DEA Museum in New York City
In conjunction with the U.S. DEA's (Drug Enforcement Administration) traveling exhibit and museum housed in Times Square in New York City, Narconon drug prevention specialists gave daily presentations to thousands of school children touring the site from throughout the state. In addition, the Narconon team went out into the city to present to school children and other organizations such as Bronx Hospital.
Bringing drug prevention and rehabilitation to new areas
Nations facing worsening drug problems have inadequate resources to thwart the trends, especially with drug abuse circumstances constantly changing, such as newly expanding youth addiction in Ghana, heroin addiction exploding in Russia and China, methamphetamine across the Asian Pacific, unpredicted cocaine abuse in Iran, and so on.
Narconon staff and volunteers have come to their aid, logging tens of thousands of miles to deliver presentations on effective rehabilitation and drug prevention techniques at international conferences in, for example, India, Pakistan, China, Seychelles (Africa), and Iran. We also fully train international staffs in our proven rehabilitation methods and return with them to help them set up successful rehabilitation and prevention programs in places as far flung as Honduras, Philippines, Pakistan, and Ghana.
Helping orphans in Kazakhstan
For countless years, the country of Kazakhstan has been on the route for drugs and other contraband from Asia into Europe. Drug abuse is increasingly a problem there. The population that has especially fallen through the cracks, as elsewhere, are young people, particularly orphans of incarcerated drug addicts, criminals, etc. Narconon trained a corps of business volunteers on how to deliver impacting presentations for these children, concentrating on communication, life skills, and revitalizing their goals to achieve their dreams.
Philippines
At the invitation of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Administration and Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), Narconon International delivered training in both drug rehabilitation and education to professionals. After their training, Philippine DEA agents themselves have delivered to more than 200,000 students. In collaboration with the DDB, Narconon also provided an intensive seven-day workshop to staffs from six rehabilitation centers on drug-free withdrawal and other life skills techniques.
Helping Honduran Street Kids
In 2006 Narconon of Georgia was approached by an Atlanta doctor who volunteered yearly at an orphanage for rescued Honduran street children. Having heard about the remarkable sauna detoxification program delivered in Narconon drug rehabilitation to reduce drug and other toxic residuals in the body, the doctor and other orphanage staff wanted to use this healthful procedure to help their children who had persisting cravings for "glue" and other street drugs. Georgia trained the MD and Program Director on the exercise, nutrition, and sauna program protocol, then sent a Narconon instructor to Central America to train other delivery personnel and supervise the first implementation.
Results have been splendid. Aggressiveness has greatly reduced, the children have become more sociable and affectionate and now say they are "genuinely sorry for misdeeds." Staff report that the children now express goals to complete school and to "grow up and become good men." Many of the program children are scoring better grades and several have won awards for academics.
Pakistan Anti-Narcotics Efforts
In 2002, Narconon International staff traveled to Pakistan and conducted workshops on Narconon drug-free withdrawal methods in Rawalpindi, Lahore, Peshawar, and Karachi. The Pakistan Anti-Narcotics Force then printed and distributed thousands of Narconon drug education booklets. Headed by a fully trained MD and MPH, Dr. Mohammed Sharif, Narconon drug prevention has since been carried forward nationwide. One Sharif highlight is his annual march through Hyderabad on the UN Day Against Drug Abuse.
India
President Narconon International has presented Narconon science and program results to three international "Hope" conferences on drug abuse and AIDS in Mumbai, attended by professionals from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, South Africa, US, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, Italy and other European countries.
Also in Mumbai, Narconon Int staff provided drug ed training to students at six colleges, to MDs at a medical university, and other civic groups. New Delhi staff deliver Narconon drug education as well as Narconon First Step services (helping addicts withdraw themselves voluntarily). Soon there will be a full Narconon residential center in the New Delhi area.
Drug-Free Methods to China
With a population of over 1.2 billion people and a steadily burgeoning economy, China is in the throes of an escalating drug epidemic. There has long been a serious alcohol problem, but heroin is an increasing concern. Clark Carr, president of Narconon International, presented to the First China International Symposium on Alcohol and then was invited by a professor at the WHO Shanghai Collaborating Center to return to Shanghai to deliver intensive drug educator training to health teachers. The 53 trainees representing every city district reported that they appreciated Narconon's method of instructing youth as much as the course data, especially the communicatable simplicity of core data.
Iran
An invited speaker to the International Conference on Traditional and Complementary Medicine in Sari, Iran on the Caspian Sea, President Narconon International briefed 300 attendees from Iran, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and other nations on the Narconon First Step Program, nutritionally supported drug-free withdrawal techniques. Since then, Iranian professionals have traveled to Narconon's European training center in Copenhagen to fully train on the drug rehabilitation program.
Ghana
After a Ghanaian came to Narconon International to train as a drug educator, Narconon International staff traveled to Accra to help found and establish a Narconon Ghana drug education center. Since then, Narconon Ghana staff have gone out across the country and delivered drug education to thousands of children and adults annually in schools and other venues.
Seychelles
In Seychelles, off the east coast of Africa, Narconon participated in the annual Eastern, Central and South African Ministers of Health Conference attended by 16 nations. We briefed the national health ministers as well as 100 other dignitaries on Narconon drug education and rehabilitation. Now Seychelles drug abuse reduction staff and Narconon Johannesburg in South Africa are collaborating to train staff to utilize Narconon methodology.
Sporting events send the right message
For decades Narconon has demonstrated through sporting events that playing a game in life is hugely more fun and rewarding than using drugs. The Women's Sports Foundation validated this long Narconon practice in their recent study which showed that playing sports results in reduced risk for all illicit drug use for both female and male athletes.
Hosting or organizing sports activities ranging from celebrity softball games, to the Narconon Miracles hockey team, European football games, local or international marathons, and golf tournaments, Narconon volunteers and staff consistently utilize community sports to promote a healthy, drug-free lifestyle as well as to educate regarding the dangers of drugs.
Narconon Centers reach out to create drug-free communities
Successfully rehabilitating addicts within our facilities is only one portion of Narconon's overall purpose. The broader purpose incorporates reaching out with prevention programs to youth and adults to proof them up against the false lure of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.
To that end Narconon staff and volunteers have been active in their communities for decades and all over the world. We have worked with local social organizations, teachers, politicians, police — in short, anyone fighting drug abuse. Local Narconon staff and their community supporters are endlessly inventive — an anti-drug sailboat delivering drug education along a lakeshore, staff helping provide drug and crime-free high-school graduations, Hollywood stunt presentations, organizing whole communities to get out on the street to show that the majority support drug-free and ethical living. And on and on. It is not only fun. It works.
French Speaking.....
The Quebec Expo, Monaco go-cart races in the town of Trois-Riviere, Quebec City's marathon, drug education with sea cadets and young athletes at the skating school — Narconon Trois Rivieres staff are endlessly creative in their interaction with communities. In addition, they have distributed thousands of Narconon's very popular Ten Things Your Friends May Not Know About Drugs drug education booklet.
Downtown Atlanta
Narconon of Georgia stays as busy outside their center as within, regularly participating in downtown Atlanta activities, such as the annual Red Ribbon Week. They also collaborated with a local community group's summer enrichment program for children, teaching learning skills and
providing drug education
presentations to all attendees.
Northern California
As a member of their local high school's Sober Grad Night Committee, Narconon Vista Bay staff volunteer at the annual graduation night event helping to provide a safe, drug and crime-free environment for the students and their families. Vista Bay also participates with the Santa Cruz Sheriff's Activity League Program for at-risk youth and are members of the Santa Cruz Meth Project along with the Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs, United Way, and the Rotary Club.
Hungary
Narconon Hungary brought drug education to the waves, entering their sailboat in one of Europe's premier sailing races on Balaton Lake. The real prize for area kids was having the sailboat glide up to their summer camp for on-site drug education on the grass.
Russia
Narconon Standard, our drug rehabilitation center outside Moscow, goes regularly into community nightclubs and other venues, enlightening young people on the truth about drugs and setting an example that a drug-free life can be cool.
Oklahoma
Narconon Arrowhead, our flagship drug rehabilitation and international training center, provides drug education presentations to 50,000 Oklahoma children yearly. Arrowhead staff are active members in state and regional anti-drug coalitions.
Furthermore, Narconon Arrowhead provides accredited Continuing Education Units at Eastern Oklahoma College where professionals from drug rehabilitation, social services, and law enforcement have taken workshops.
Southern California
In California's high desert, Narconon San Diego staff are highly trained members of the rural volunteer Fire Department, vital to their area threatened by forest fires. They also provide emergency response care to highway accident victims.
Collaborating with all walks of life
Drug abuse is all-inclusive, discriminating against no one — rich or poor, highly educated or day laborer. Narconon makes it a practice to work with people of all races, of diverse religions and cultures, and widely ranging professions and vocations.
Our collaborations have spanned from military, including both army and navy in Sweden, to police forces around the world, to civic organizations such as Boys and Girls clubs and Rotarians, to businesses large and small.
Faith communities
An Oklahoma Faith Based and Community Partners Conference was co-hosted by Narconon International and SAMSHA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) with representatives of 20 churches and 25 drug rehab programs from 21 towns and cities. The theme of the conference was "Faith communities partnering with rehabilitation professionals to save lives."
Diverse churches and religious groups use
Narconon-trained staff to better help members of their congregation. The African Methodist Episcopal Church even appointed Narconon-trained Rev. James McLaughlin to coordinate their drug rehabilitation efforts. Rev. McLaughlin has evolved a unique faith-based combination of Narconon methodology and scripture, creating his Faith Step, First Step seminars for pastors and parishioners across the United States.
Native Americans
Alcohol and other drug addiction is a continuing crisis amongst many Native American communities. Narconon staff have worked closely with Native Americans from Narconon's earliest days. Recent programs include work with the Blackfeet in Browning, Montana and with tribes in California and North Dakota and other inter-tribal organizations.
Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Too many African-American communities have been blighted with drug abuse for too long. For some years Narconon staff have taken an active part in the celebration of the Martin Luther King holiday in the United States, partnering with others to provide drug education and public awareness events, as well as hands-on staff training.
The Positive Art of Hip Hop
Joining forces with groups such as Cease Fire (a violence prevention and intervention team), the Hip Hop Hall of Fame, and local businesses, Narconon has produced VIP "hip hop" parties. The theme is "The Positive Art of Hip Hop". Local kids participate creating T-shirts with their own clever anti-drug messages.
Closing message from the President
Regardless of how the words change in describing alcohol and other drug abuse, addiction and drug-related crime and their effects on school children, young adults, our communities and nations, the factual problems continue to plague us. Our 1,200 Narconon staff worldwide labor day and night seven days a week. We are terribly proud of them and their accomplishments. Our drug educators and community volunteers have been endlessly creative in raising public awareness, understanding, and commitment.
The global challenge requires more than any one organization can do. We must all work together. For decades Narconon has led the way and joined willingly with communities and social organizations to do something about it.
Do not give up on the concept of safe and drug-free communities. Drug education works and works well. More must be delivered. Communities banding together do change conditions for the better — we must not stop.
If there is anything a Narconon staff member, Narconon graduate, or volunteer can do to help you or your community, please contact us. And, yes, your help is welcome and needed. Together let us make a healthier, happier future for our communities, children and young people.
~~ Clark Carr
President
Narconon International
