Narconon Arrowhead’s CEO Gary Smith and several staff members had their counseling certificates revoked earlier this month.
I spoke with National Association of Forensic Counselors President Karla Taylor, earlier today. Karla stated that “due to her ongoing investigation and to preserve the integrity of the case, she could not comment on specific details why the certificates were revoked.” I will contact the NAFC again when investigations are complete.
Arrowhead has been in the headlines for several months following three deaths in the center. Senator Tom Ivester wants the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health to have more regulatory power over drug rehabs in Oklahoma. Bill 295, that Ivester drafted and unanimously passed in the Senate last month, is now in the House of Representatives being reviewed.
Narconon Arrowhead is also under investigation by state and local authorities for the death of Stacy Dawn Murphy who died in a detoxification room last July. Grieving family members and friends are posting online birthday wishes for Stacy today - - “may she rest in peace.”
Now that the CCDC (Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor) certification issued by the NAFC, (National Association of Forensic Counselors), has been revoked for all staff at the center, media has been pressing for answers.
On a New9 report yesterday, Gary Richardson, the lawyer representing plaintiffs in three wrongful death lawsuits, had plenty to say:
"I couldn't begin to tell you the stories I've heard of what goes on down there," said attorney, Gary Richardson.
"They say 76 percent success rate, when there is no way, and when they get into the way they calculate that, then you get to see how ridiculous that is," Richardson said.
"It was joke to even think they had counselors to begin with. So when I started seeing that their certifications had been pulled, it wasn't a surprise at all," said Richardson.
Video of yesterday’s New9 Report:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmkPXRXO6Vo
"Clark Carr, president of Narconon International, recently stated in depositions for a lawsuit (in Georgia) that those studies had no control groups and that they weren't scientifically valid." http://tinyurl.com/buhka78
The NAFC, (National Association of Forensic Counselors), has strict guidelines in their ‘Ethical Standards and Code of Conduct’ criteria.
1.4 ACCURATE REPRESENTATION
http://www.nationalafc.com/images/file/NAFC%20Ethical%20Standards%20and%20Code%20of%20Conduct.pdf
“Members shall not present themselves at any level profession beyond the degree for which they are qualified to practice. Members should not provide any service for which they are not adequately trained, experienced, and competent. However, members shall not attempt to impose their training standards or ethics on members of another profession. Rather, it is the belief of the Board that each profession should police itself, relying on its own standards for ethics and proficiency.”
5.8 RESPECT FOR PEOPLE'S RIGHTS AND DIGNITY
“The member shall accord appropriate respect to the fundamental rights, dignity, and worth of all people. They respect the rights of individuals to privacy, confidentially, self-determination, and autonomy, mindful that legal and other obligations may be lead to inconsistency and conflict with the exercise of these rights.”
9.3 ADVERTISING - (BOLD ADDED)
“Advertising is acceptable as long as such advertisements are accurate and provide information necessary for potential clients to make informed decisions and avoid anxiety inducing claims or statements. In particular providers should avoid: employing testimonials or claims of competence by clients; false or deceptive statements; direct supplication of clients; claims of comparative services; or engaging clients' fears if services are not obtained. Providers will be accurate when-submitting degrees, certification, specialization, qualifications, and affiliations.”
“Providers should conscientiously consider how their public statements and public presentations-of-self would be publicly perceived before such statements are made.”
Narconon Arrowhead promotes and advertises their success rate at 76%, while Narconon Gulf Coast in Florida boldly claims a 90% success rate.
Desperate addicts and family members online search for “drug rehabs”, see these promising success rates and easily fall prey to these fraudulent misrepresentations. Being a ‘Graduate Officer’ at Narconon Trois-Rivieres, in Quebec, I can attest to their success rates being a fraud. The Quebec center promoted and advertised a 70-76% success rate, and at best, it was only 20% or lower.
Former Narconon Arrowhead employees, Lucas Catton and Eric Tenorio, claim the CCDC certification process administered at Arrowhead was fraudulent. Catton says the employees taking the CCDC test were given an answer key to the questions.
Lucas Catton, former President of Narconon Arrowhead, published his new book “Have You Told All” recently and is available at:
http://www.amazon.ca/Have-You-Told-Lucas-Catton/dp/0615768725
Some view the Narconon program as being even more deceptive and abusive than the Scientology church itself. One victim commented: “At least when a person enters a Scientology church, they know what it is - - at Narconon we go there very sick and don’t know they are teaching us Scientology. There are no counselors, we are forced to do what they say or be kicked out.”
Even if the new legislation (BILL 295) is signed into law by Governor Mary Fallin, the power to close down Arrowhead is at the discretion of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health.
Jeff Dismukes, public information officer for the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health, said he was aware of the revocation but he could not comment on whether it will affect Narconon’s certification with the state. “Our investigation hasn’t completed,” Dismukes said.
David Edgar Love
Comments