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Results
Drug Tests During Program
Delivery
Urine samples were taken on
intake, at two weeks, at one month and at two months into the program for a
subset of the full study population. The clients were not warned that samples
were to be taken.
88 clients comprise this study
group. 68 of these 88 clients, or 77%, tested positive for drug metabolites in
urine on intake. The portion testing positive for drug metabolites did vary by
primary drug of abuse.
100% of the clients whose major
drug was crack cocaine had positive urine tests. Other forms of cocaine showed
62% of clients with positive tests for drug metabolites. Almost 70% of
amphetamine users had positive urine tests, 85% of opiate users and 50% of
alcoholics.
As clients progressed through the
program, there was a steady decrease in both the percentage of clients testing
positive for drugs of abuse and the level of drug found in urine. Testing in
this case was occurring during the withdrawal and detoxification treatment
periods. Minute but detectable levels of drug metabolites were found in a
significant proportion of these clients for several weeks.
On intake, 77% of clients tested
positive for drug metabolites. By two weeks, 35% tested positive for drugs of
abuse, though the majority of tests were in the low range.
At one month 15% still tested
positive for drug metabolites. The levels of drugs found at this time were
quite low, not indicative of recent drug use.
At two months, slightly higher
levels of drug metabolites were found in four clients while two demonstrated
low levels of metabolites. Two of those with the higher levels were clients who
staff had suspected of drinking alcohol and they did test positive.
For most follow-up samples, the
level of drug metabolites was less than 1/20th of that found at intake.
Although this does not preclude continuing drug use, the low levels suggest
that what we are seeing is ongoing elimination of drug metabolites in most of
these clients, particularly given the fact that they were on the detoxification
program at the time.
This portion of the overall study
demonstrates that several weeks may be required for elimination of drug
metabolites in some clients. Detectable levels of drugs continue to be
eliminated for some weeks in at least a third of the Narconon clients tested.
Monitoring
Program Delivery
Daily and weekly reports were made
throughout the study period. These assisted Narconon management to isolate
specific problem areas in delivery and correct or improve the quality of the
program.
Among the improvements implemented
during this study were:
- Specific drills to help the
Narconon client gain control over his addiction.
- Staff training enhancements in the
area of detecting clients not qualified for the Narconon program.
- Increased follow-up contact with
graduates to help them stay off drugs and apply what they gained from Narconon
to their everyday lives.
Weekly then monthly calls from
staff helped clients through minor difficulties before they turned into major
ones.
» Continued
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