"Narconon has, without a doubt, saved my life"

James, one of our Graduates, says:

"I wasn’t very sure how to start this success story because so much has happened over the last six months but I suppose the beginning would be as good a place as any. On 15th March I arrived at my house in Sidcup looking like a extra from a bad zombie film, I wish this was a humorous exaggeration but sadly it’s true. I was barely aware of anything apart from one thing; I needed help and fast.

Before I was able to reconsider, my mum and dad threw me in the car and drove me to Narconon where I would reside for the next half year. On the car ride to Hastings I was barely able to look my parents in the eye, I was so ashamed. For the past 7 years I have put my family through hell with my substance addiction and yet they never once gave up on me for which I will be eternally grateful.

My first impressions of Narconon were a bit strange as I was led into a massive entrance hall feeling a bit the worse for wear and I thought “Well James, this is what you get, 7 years playing the idiot and you get thrown into a Charles Dickens novel.” Honestly I half expected Oliver Twist to come and ask me for some more! But, literature based paranoia aside, I knew these people could help me when Ali and Rob both told me everything was going to be OK.

Then it was a quick goodbye to my parents and upstairs to withdrawals where I met the highly dedicated, slightly eccentric Dan Fisher. After I got over the initial outrage of Dan trying to rub me on the massage table I settled down and me and Dan got on very well, even if he did look a bit like Mr. Bean. After five days with the Fisherman I was released amongst the general population with Lewis as my new roommate.

Lewis and me made friends very quickly and I spent my first evening downstairs laughing my head off. Then, when Lewis fell asleep, I made another good friend, Wax Earplugs! Saying Lewis snores is like saying Bill Gates has money!

Then I started Book 1 and the infamous TRo where you learn to sit in a chair for 2 hours without moving. I must admit I struggled a lot with this particular exercise but after about 3 weeks I did it. I just want to take this moment to thank Nikki for helping me.

It was sauna time! I spent 37 days, four and a half hours a day in an 80 degree box. Did I complain? Yes, constantly. I’m sure both Gideon and Richard both have nightmares of me shouting “Get me bananas” without so much as a please or thank you. But they were very patient and with Finbar, Said and Ricky for company the time went quickly. By the way Ricky you’re rubbish at Monopoly.

I got out of the sauna and got on with Book 3 which teaches you all about the barriers to study. This was a great book that I think should be incorporated into schools all over the world. It has improved my ability to learn new information ten-fold.

Then it was time for the objectives, a series of exercises designed to increase your control and to bring you into present time. These were hard work for me but I feel that I really benefited from them. I am much calmer and more able to deal with my problems in a positive way.

After objectives I went through books 5, 6 and 7 quite quickly and found these to be such incredible pieces of information that everyone and anyone could benefit from studying them. These books will go home with me and I will refer to them whenever I feel I need them.

Book 8, The Way to Happiness, also made a lot of sense to me, it is a common sense guide to living that I think everyone could identify with.

Anyway I don’t want to keep you up all night but I will say that Narconon has, without a doubt, saved my life and I will never forget that. The staff and the students are some of the best people you will ever meet. If it wasn’t for the great friends I have made along the way I’m not sure that I would have made it. Last, but definitely not least I want to thank my family who have supported me in my recovery from day one. Their kindness and selflessness has been constant for me. So from the bottom of my heart Mum, Dad, Hannah, Nick and my Grandparents, thank you so much and I love you.

Thanks everyone for the great times and even better memories and I promise I’ll be staying in touch. Ladies and gentlemen, James has left the programme."
J.B.

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