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| *ben·zo·di·az·e·pine: Any of a group of
chemical compounds with a common molecular structure and similar
pharmacological effects, used as antianxiety agents, muscle relaxants,
sedatives, hypnotics, and sometimes as anticonvulsants.
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| Introduction
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Residues of many drugs - including LSD, phencyclidine, cocaine,
marijuana and diazepam - are known to accumulate in the body. These compounds
may be retained for extended periods of time, and are especially abundant in
long-term, hard core drug users.
Persistent symptoms associated with drug abuse often linger long after abuse
has ceased. The consideration that accumulated residues may play a role in the
persistence of symptoms led to the development of a program aimed at reducing
levels of foreign compounds in the body and thereby assisting in the recovery
of the individual.
This detoxification program is one component of the Narconon drug
rehabilitation program. It has been empirically observed that clients are more
alert and do better on the balance of the Narconon program after completing the
detoxification component.
We were interested in evaluating the effects of the detoxification program on
both the elimination of drug metabolites and the alleviation of symptomatic
complaints. Therefore, we measured the levels of various drug metabolites in
both sweat and urine over the course of the detoxification program in eight
clients with long-term drug abuse problems.
We also monitored the change in severity of self-reported symptoms in a series
of 249 clients with a history of drug abuse who were treated with this
detoxification program.
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| Methodology
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| Detoxification Program:
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The detoxification program developed by Hubbard is aimed at
mobilizing and eliminating foreign compounds, especially those stored in the
fat. Components include: A) Exercise, preferably running, to
stimulate circulation and enhance the turnover of fats.
B) Prescribed periods in a low temperature sauna to promote sweating.
C) An exact regimen of vitamin, mineral, and oil intake. Niacin in
gradually increasing doses is used to transiently increase fat mobilization.
Oil supplementation both reduces enterohepatic recirculation and promotes the
exchange of fat. Vitamin and mineral supplements are included to replace
vitamins, minerals and electrolytes lost during increased sweating and to
correct any nutritional deficiencies.
D) Sufficient liquids to offset the loss of body fluids through
sweating.
E) A regular diet including plenty of fresh vegetables.
F) A properly ordered personal schedule which provides the person with
the normally required amount of sleep. Clients are on this
program up to 5 hours per day, every day, until program completion. Daily
aerobic exercise is followed by frequent periods in a low-heat (60-80 °C)
sauna. Niacin is administered immediately prior to the exercise and sauna to
assist with the mobilization and elimination process. The program is pursued
individually until a stable clinical improvement is achieved, generally from 4
to 28 days.
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| Methodology
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| Treatment Population:
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249 clients with a history of drug abuse rated the severity of
their symptoms before and after treatment with the detoxification program. 87
symptoms were rated on a scale of 0 (none) to 5 (severe).
These clients could be divided into three subgroups:
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A) 59 clients who were doing the detoxification
program as part of a drug rehabilitation program;
B) 52 clients who had used drugs recently but were occasional drug users
without marked addiction; and
C) 49 clients whose last reported use of drugs was from one to ten years
prior to the detoxification program.
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| Sample Collection for Drug Measurement:
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| Eight clients with a current drug addiction program agreed to
contribute urine and sweat samples as they went through both withdrawal (if
needed) and the detoxification program.
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| Four smoked cocaine almost daily and had been using cocaine from
eight months to 18 years prior to treatment. Three were frequent users of
amphetamines and valium (diazepam). One used cocaine and heroin.
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| Urine and sweat samples were collected on program entry and every
two to three days during the detoxification program.
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| The concentration of drug residues in urine and sweat samples was
determined by the polarized fluorescent immunoassay (PIF) technique at a 95%
sensitivity of approximately ng/ml.
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| Results
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| Symptom Severity:
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| Clients reported the severity of symptoms both before and after
detoxification treatment. Irritability, fatigue, depression, intolerance of
stress, reduced attention span, decreased mental acuity, nervousness and
impaired memory were the main complaints of these clients.
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| Following treatment, the self-reported symptom severity improved
markedly. The reduction in symptom severity was statistically significant for
80 of the 87 symptoms, and highly significant for 74 of them, including each of
the chief complaints of this population.
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| Drug Metabolites in Sweat and Urine:
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| Drug metabolites were found in both sweat and urine for seven of
the eight clients participating in this study. Five of the eight clients showed
an increase in the concentration of drug metabolite in sweat or urine when the
detoxification program was initiated.
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| Drug metabolites were not detected in the urine of two clients
before the start of detoxification treatment but were detected after the
program began. This supports the argument that drug metabolites were
metabolized from stores.
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| Drug metabolites were detectable in both sweat and urine for up to
five weeks following the start of detoxification treatment.
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| Discussion
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| The detoxification method developed by L. Ron Hubbard has
previously been shown safe and effective in reducing levels of various
chemicals in humans, including polychlorinated biphenyls and pesticides and in
decreasing the adverse signs and symptoms associated with exposure to these
chemicals.
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| Use of this detoxification program at Narconon is based on the
premise that drug residues remain in body tissues long after active use has
ceased and that these residues contribute to both persistent symptoms and the
craving for drugs.
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| This study demonstrates that the detoxification program developed
by Hubbard is effective in alleviating many of the symptomatic complaints
reported by drug users.
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| Cocaine, amphetamine and benzodiazepine metabolites are found in
both the urine and the sweat of individuals who have used these drugs as they
undergo detoxification treatment. |
| Individuals report marked reductions in drug craving following this
program. |
| Considering the high level of recidivism in drug users, the
potential effects of drug residues on recidivism and the alleviation of these
effects through detoxification, it becomes evident that detoxification
treatment has broad application in the drug rehabilitation field.
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