Substance Abuse Treatment Specialist Q&A- Narconon Arrowhead
Today's Expert is Chad Ridinger of Narconon Arrowhead. Chad is a substance abuse treatment specialist. This is a long interview, I didn't edit any of it. If you are an expert and would like to interviewed please send me an email. I did change the order of the questions and left the original numbers. I wanted the criminal defense attorney section to be more prominent.
1. Tell us about yourself and your program.
My name is Chad Ridinger and I am the Director of Referrals at Narconon Arrowhead located in Canadian, Oklahoma. I am also a graduate of the program. After I used drugs for 8 years, my life was in shambles and my family was distraught. After failing at traditional treatment, I enrolled at Narconon because I wanted a program that had a high success rate and a different approach to what I was used to so that I would have a better chance of staying clean. I’m happy to say that I’ve been clean for a year now! I feel great and my family is really proud of me.
2. How does the criminal justice system understand drug addiction?
The United States has the highest incarcerated population in the world of over 2 million people. According to national statistics, over 80% of arrests involve substance abuse issues either directly or indirectly. The national success rate of recovery is less than 10%. So the criminal justice system sees first hand that the rehabilitation industry as a whole is flawed and that the criminal justice system is bursting at the seams from unhandled addiction issues. That is why it is so important for the criminal justice system to know that there are alternative options like Narconon Arrowhead that exist that really do get high success rates and really can turn a person around and get them back to the point of being a productive citizen once again.
7. What should criminal defense lawyers know about substance abuse and treatment?
Substance abuse treatement is vital to rehabilitating criminals. And like I mentioned earlier, there are programs that work. Locking someone up and throwing away the key is not necessarily the solution in all cases to make our society and our planet a better place. We are seeing a dire need for additional steps in alternative sentencing measures. We are on the same team and together we need to voice this need and create and/or change legislation so that people are getting truly helped and truly rehabilitated.
8. Does prosecution help addicts?
I think that if a person doesn’t learn from his past transgressions, and still doesn’t recognize the harm he or she is doing to themselves and others than you need to instill justice on that person to protect them as well as society from being harmed by their actions. But again, prosecuting an addict could also entail effective rehabilitation so that the person does not continue to make the same mistakes.
9. Anything else. Narconon uses a unique approach to substance abuse treatment, and has over 70% success rate for graduates after 2 years . This is among the highest in the nation. If anyone out there wants some more information I’d be glad to send them an Information packet. Just email me at cridinger@stopaddiction.com
I appreciate you giving me the chance to get some things out to your community about such issues and to help clear up any misconceptions about addiction. If you or anyone you know needs help with either finding a facility right for them or just wants to talk don’t hesitate to give us a call at 1-800-468-6933, or you can visit our website at www.stopaddiction.com.
3. Are all users of "hard drugs" addicts (coke, meth, heroin)? Addiction is progressive and we understand that over time a person can become psychologically addicted to almost any substance, if taken enough of and for a long enough period of time. Certain drugs have physically addictive traits that go along with them that because a person’s body will actually become accustomed to having this substance and without it would in turn crash, causing physical withdrawal symptoms. Some people do get addicted to hard drugs the very first time they try them, but usually they have tried other drugs first such as alcohol or marijuana.
4. Do you believe Prohibition is the best way to control the supply of illegal drugs?
This is a supply and demand issue. People that have been caught with illegal substances for distibution are inflicted with huge penalties. But interestingly and sadly, this does not stop the production and demand of illegal drugs. Stopping the actual production and distribution of such substances at this point has proved impossible to control. When every 1 facility that produces drugs is shut down, 2 or 3 more will start right up afterwards. Most of the harder drugs like cocaine and heroin come in from overseas which is really hard to control due to the fact that their production is not on American soil. so we cannot control the flow of illegal drugs. We take one step towards handling drugs in our country and catching the ones responsible, the manufactures and dealers than get smarter and always try to stay 2 steps ahead of authorities. Narconon has been in existence since 1966 and we really have reviewed just about all of the options out there that could be utilized to curb our country’s illegal drug issues. Our stance is that the most effective way to curtail illegal drug use and the old law of supply and demand is really effective prevention and education with our youth and, when we are too late and the issues have already happened, really effective rehabilitation techniques. Narconon Arrowhead delivered drug education to over 35,000 school kids last year and treated over 600 people in the rehabilitation center.
5. Is marijuana addiction real?
Marijuana is a drug just like any other drug out there. It has side effects just like other drugs. It is more of a psychologically addictive drug. This means that the mind becomes used to having the drug to handle certain daily actions and emotions, rather then the body using its own chemicals such as endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine to control these emotions. Coming off of Marijuana can cause such effects as restlessness, mood changes, and loss of appetite. The amount of marijuana treatment admissions is on the rise. It has more than doubled since last year. Over 106 million emergency room visits were reported last year because of Marijuana.
6. Should marijuana be legal? .
There are people and groups that are for pro marijuana legalization. What these advocates fail to mention is the truth about what the drug actually does to a person, such as damaging the lungs, nerves and brain. There are over 400 chemicals found in marijuana smoke and 60 of them have been proven to cause cancer. Marijuana contains the neurotoxin THC, which is a poison that affects the brain and nerves. When someone smokes pot, two things happen two them: 1) There is an almost immediate burn-up of vitamins and minerals in the body. 2) The nerves in the body go numb. So there are a lot of negatives on legalizing Marijuana.
Comments
rehabilitation is never going to be a focus of the government. keeping them locked up and "clean" is good enough for them. and when they get out, the government will just bust them again and again until they can lock them up for long periods of time. another upside for the government is the ability to seize property and money anytime drugs are involved.
Posted by: bill brasky | April 9, 2008 12:52 PM
I have an earlier post about when Drug Warriors Talk Drug Treatment.
DEA agents don't raid your house to take you to rehab. When the highway patrol finds a dimebag in your pocket they take you to jail, not therapy.
When drugs are legal, we can quit chasing and arresting users. We can use the resources we spend on jail, and get addicts the help they need.
Posted by: Robert Guest | April 9, 2008 12:59 PM
If anyone has been harmed by Scientology's "NarCONon" and would like to sue the Scientology corporation to get their money back, you can contact the attorney listed on the http://www.crackpots.org/ web site.
My opinions only and only my opinions.
Posted by: Fredric L. Rice | April 9, 2008 2:19 PM
You know Narconon is in the business to Save lives and that's it. Comments like that don't do anything but hurt. I came to this center to get my life back and that's what it did. You are free to follow any religion you want and no one forces anything on anyone. Our president is a Baptist and her husband is a Baptist Reverand, and i'm a strong christian. Being critical about something you have no idea about is wrong. I'm leaving it at that.
Posted by: Chad Ridinger | April 9, 2008 4:00 PM
I never interview experts to start a religious debate. I enjoy divergent views and comments. Please be respectful of eachother.
Posted by: Robert Guest | April 9, 2008 4:17 PM
"Over 106 million emergency room visits were reported last year because of Marijuana."
Got a reference for that? I ask because there were only 113 million emergency room visits in the years (plural) 2003-2005 (source: Centers for Disease Control, National Center for Health Statistics/ National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey).
Of those 113 million visits, only about 1.2 million were for alcohol and drugs (defined as: "Includes alcoholic psychoses, drug psychoses, alcohol dependence syndrome, drug dependence, and nondependent abuse of drugs.Also includes tobacco use disorder.") More people visited the emergency room over those three years for sore throat than all alcohol/ drug related causes combined.
If there were really 106 million emergency room visits for marijuana in 2007 alone, then those visits have increase by at least two orders of magnitude (more likely three or more) over the past two years.
Got any more BS you'd like us to sniff?
Posted by: Scooby | April 10, 2008 8:48 AM
Does Narconon use any tech of L. Ron Hubbard?
Does Narconon make participants and their families aware of its ties to scientology?
Does narconon use hypnosis?
Posted by: Nofuc Kinway | April 10, 2008 11:53 PM
I made a mistake in my Stat reading that only 2 million were actually related to Marijuana usage. I appologize for the mis quote and would actually like to thank scooby for bringing it to my attention. To answer the other questions. Yes Narconon does use some of the Tech by L. Ron Hubbard. The only ties to scientology that Narconon Has is the Literature that he Produced Specifically for Drug Rehabilitation, and no we do not use Hypnosis.
Posted by: Anonymous | April 11, 2008 8:48 AM
I really enjoy The Questions that you guys have and have no issues with some of the more abrupt comments. I'm here to help people understand the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Again I appologize about the mis quote on the "Emergency Room" stats. Some days i feel i would lose my head if it wasn't attached.
Posted by: Chad Ridinger | April 11, 2008 8:51 AM
I still think your "2 million emergency room visits last year related to marijuana" is completely made up. It is 66% bigger than the total number of emergency room visits related to ALL DRUGS AND ALCOHOL (including ones that cause actual overdoses) for THREE YEARS (not one).
Please provide a credible source.
Posted by: Scooby | April 11, 2008 2:55 PM
2 million where illict drug usages along with Marijuana. Marijuana by it self was over 200,000 visits. I should have been alittle more clear on what i was trying to say. So yes along with 2 million you can add in marijuana into the mix. but if you want to look for youself on these stats goto www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov. LLook Facts and figures undeer Marijuana.
Posted by: Chad Ridinger | April 11, 2008 4:12 PM
"A little more clear" is a retraction from a (at least) 53,000% exaggeration. Like I said, three orders of magnitude.
If you're not being intentionally dishonest, then you might want to check your stats before spewing them.
Posted by: Scooby | April 13, 2008 10:29 PM
It was a long week. we all have them once in awhile. I appologize for the wrong stats.
Posted by: Chad Ridinger | April 14, 2008 8:42 AM
How does marijuana cause an emergency room visit by itself? I can understand the "in combination" because it is more the other drug (including alcohol) than the pot. Like the bogus statistics used by MADD and NHTSA these statistics seem dubious to me.
Posted by: Don | April 14, 2008 12:14 PM
Marijuana if you might not know already Fogs the mind and causes the person to not be in the normal nor capable state of mind. Some Strains of Marijuana cause Hallucinations as well as other effects. People Have been involved in car accidents, Domestic Violence, a large amount for Asthma attacks, COPD Incidents. Not only do i work here but i was also an EMT, Paramedic for years and have seen cases myself.
Posted by: Chad Ridinger | April 14, 2008 4:11 PM
Just because Marijuana isn't a big killer nor has alot of incidents you still have to realize that Marijuana effects every person differently. Just because one person can function fine on it doesn't mean the other person will be able to.
Posted by: Chad Ridinger | April 14, 2008 4:15 PM
Chad,
Were you using while you were an EMT, when you gained all this insight? Could, perhaps, your judgment of events and circumstances be clouded by your drug use?
Posted by: Scooby | April 15, 2008 11:33 AM
I never used while i was working. It was dangerous enough doing that job. I understand that my life with my family was destroyed by drug usage but i wasn't ready to destroy someone else's life that i was supposed to be saving. I was a professional at work and a junky at home.
Posted by: Chad Ridinger | April 15, 2008 1:40 PM
Drug addiction is very dangerous situation. It can lead to various disorders and can even lead to death of the drug sufferer. There are many programs operated by different drug rehab centers for addiction treatment. Many drug rehab centers offer affordable drug rehab treatment for low income patients.
http://www.drugrehabscenters.com/
Posted by: Drug Rehab | May 1, 2008 3:40 AM
There are different methods employed for the treatment of drug or alcohol addiction. But it’s not necessary that the method that is used for some patient must be successful for another. So the addiction treatment programs are designed for individual patient based upon its illness.
http://www.drugrehabscenters.com/
Posted by: DrugRehabsCenters | May 5, 2008 1:45 AM
SCIENTOLOGY SUPPORTS NARCONON! ITS A FRONT FOR EVIL!
Posted by: Anonymous | May 15, 2008 3:58 PM