Ready to get the word out that “Drugs Ruin Creativity,” skateboarders, breakdancers and mentors gather before the Kingdom Day commemorative parade. (far left) Ms. Teddy Chambers, executive director for Narconon Professional Drug Prevention; Curtis O. Porter, Director of the Youth Development Division of the Family and Youth Services Bureau of Health and U.S. and Human Services Department; Dr. Tina Robinson, executive coordinator of the Southern California Foster Care Mentoring Network; (5th from left) Heidi Lemmon, President of the National Skateboard Association; (center) Man One, founder and owner of Crewest Gallery; (far right) Fresh, original member the LA Breakers break dance crew.

“Strong Support from Narconon Helps Youth Spread the Word that “Drugs Ruin Creativity”

The 25th Anniversary 2011 Kingdom Day Parade in Los Angeles celebrated the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., with an emphasis on service. That service took the form of teens and their mentors getting out the word that Dr. King’s dream needs the creative drug-free energy of youth to be realized.

Narconon Professional Drug Prevention (NPDP) specializing in drug prevention training, Narconon® Western United States, both LA-based organizations of Narconon International, Southern California Foster Care Mentoring Network and the National Alliance of Faith and Justice headquartered in Washington, D.C., sponsored the anti-drug banners in the televised 2-mile parade that commemorates Dr. King’s date of birth.

Accompanying them skateboarders and break dancers entertained the crowd with their skilled moves. They wore original design tee-shirts that declared “Drugs ruin creativity.” The design was created by 23-year-old artist, Jose Quevedo, who took top prize in an anti-drug black Sharpie graffiti art battle sponsored by NPDP at the popular Crewest Gallery in downtown LA. “Drugs ruin creativity,” is the title of an article in the booklet, 10 Things Your Friends May Not Know About Drugs, published by Narconon.

Curtis O. Porter, from the Youth Services Bureau of the Department of Health and Human Services announced the shirt will be displayed in his Washington, D.C., office to exemplify positive youth service. As Director of the Youth Development Division of Family and Youth Services, Mr. Porter administers two of the nation’s most important youth mentoring programs. He attended the parade to congratulate the sponsored mentors and meet some of their youth. He encouraged the work the mentors do to help kids stay off drugs, remain in school and strive to make the dream of Dr. King a reality.

Heidi Lemmon is a co-founder of Venice Boarding School, which appeals to students’ love of skate boarding to keep them on an academic path. She is President of the National Skateboard Association. Man One is founder and owner of Crewest Gallery in Downtown Los Angeles. He has trained dozens of young artists to help them seek a career using their talents. Fresh, has built a dance organization called the LA Breakers that has mentoring as a core element to keep kids drug-free and healthy.“It is a real honor to work with people who care enough to give of their time to guide our youth into drug-free productive lives,” said Chambers.

For more information about the Narconon program and rehabilitation call 1 800-775-8750 or visit http://www.youtube.com/user/narconon?blend=1&ob=5#p/u/2/5lpK2v_kitA.

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In 2005, the World Health Organization published a comprehensive summary of the world’s social burdens that result from alcohol abuse. The list was long and the conditions suffered in greater proportion by alcohol consumers were serious and often life-threatening.

Overall, the WHO reported that 4 percent of disease and 3.2 percent of all deaths around the world were attributed to alcohol. In developed countries, alcohol was the third most common risk to health.

There is every reason to eliminate alcohol dependence or abuse and no reason to allow it to go on. Narconon is an international organization dedicated to the elimination of addiction to both alcohol and drugs. Narconon offers drug rehabilitation and drug education at its more than 100 centers around the world.

The list of the conditions stated by the WHO as being caused by or worsened by alcohol abuse, dependence or addiction:

Cancers of the mouth (lip, tongue), pharynx, larynx, esophagus, stomach, colon, ovaries and liver.
Cardiac arrhythmias and heart failure.
Hypertension (especially related to heavy drinking).
Haemorrhagic stroke even at low levels of drinking.
Liver cirrhosis.
Prenatal exposure results in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders including physical deformities and mental retardation.
Spontaneous abortion, low birth weight and prematurity.
Injury due to falls, fires or traffic accidents.
Self-inflicted injuries.
Injury from alcohol-related violence or sexual assault.
Risky sexual behavior resulting in sexually transmitted disease or unwanted pregnancy.
Additionally, some studies show a causal relationship to female breast cancer.

Around the world, people in nearly every country are experiencing harm from the abuse of alcohol. Simply eliminating the compulsion to drink would save more than a million lives every year and even more serious health conditions that don’t result in death.

But what is needed to alleviate these ills is an effective alcohol rehabilitation program, one that results in long-term sobriety after completion. Unfortunately, the stated success rate for many drug or alcohol rehabs is only 10 to 20 percent.

The Narconon program administered in recovery centers around the world enables seven out of ten graduates to stay clean and sober after they go home. With that much success, many of these injuries, illnesses and causes of death don’t have to be the fate of those who were formerly addicted to beer, wine, whiskey, vodka and other types of hard liquor.

For more information about Narconon, visit one of our many informational videos
http://www.youtube.com/user/narconon#p/u/7/jYnrLTGvsRU.

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Advocacy for Art, as a Part of Living Drug-Free, Is Big Part of Drug Prevention Strategy.

“We want to harness the Power of Art to Knock Out Drug Use in our local Community,” says Micahel Ginsburg. The violin virtuoso is a graduate of the Narconon Program at the Arrowhead facility in Oklahoma. He recently concertized and raised funds for a new live theater in nearby Mcalester as part of its “Take Back McAlester” Campaign. Ginsburg is one of the architects of the campaign, and his own enthusiasm for the arts helped get residents excited about it.

From the Mayor to the Chamber of Commerce to local businesses and non-profit associations, Narconon Arrowhead is a major sponsor of the city’s effort to tackle a growing drug problem. “The plan,” says Ginsburg, “Is to replace the destruction of drugs with the creativity of art. The art that is manifesting in the city comes from youngsters and adults and includes all kinds from dance to photography to music, painting, writing, theatre and more. “This really resonates with me,” Ginsburg says.“Once I was hopelessly strung out on drugs, and now I am living a life free of drugs as a result of completing the Narconon Program at Narconon Arrowhead. I certainly feel privileged to give back to the community that we share.”

Ginsburg’s advocacy exemplifies an international mandate given to all Narconon Centers, according to the Executive Director of Narconon International in Los Angeles. “We have Narconon Centers in more than 40 countries, and every one of them is expected to reach out to their community and help curb the negative influence that drugs exert.”

He points out it is graduates of the Narconon program who are most behind anti-drug advocacy in the community. “It’s something that happens as a matter of course. Our graduates are on the other side of it now, but they know the horrors that await those who become addicted to drugs and alcohol. Many decide to become powerful advocates for a drug-free community.”

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Los Angeles, CA – It doesn’t take much searching on the Internet to find stories about the devastation being caused by prescription drug addiction today. According to the latest National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) there are about 6.2 million Americans who are current non-medical users of prescription drugs, many of whom are addicted.

The above statistic shows that despite any medicinal value, many drugs today have a high potential for abuse and all of them have additional side effects. So, when addicts turn to a treatment center for help, prescribing more drugs to them can be detrimental to their recovery. This is one of the reasons why the Narconon program is drug-free.

The program was founded in 1966 by a former heroin addict named William Benitez and has not used any type of drug replacement therapy since its inception. Based on research and developments by the late American author and humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard, Narconon incorporates other therapies to help ease withdrawal symptoms, removed stored toxins from the body and rebuild natural health.

Narconon has a recovery rate of more than 70% that has been well documented and its results have fueled worldwide growth to now include over 140 groups and centers in more than 40 countries.

“We have found that more and more people are searching for alternative programs that do not subscribe to the disease concept or give more drugs to addicts,” comments Narconon International Executive Sue Birkenshaw, “An increasing number of individuals and family members want to be able to put addictive substances behind them forever, and that is what Narconon offers.”

With National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month just around the corner in September, this message resonates with many people who have regained control over their lives through Narconon after trying programs that used various types of replacement drugs and pharmacotherapies. Drug-free programs are becoming more mainstream in the light of the prescription drug epidemic our country faces. To learn more about Narconon please see this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zMmgq9xRIY.

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