Narconon International Releases Unique Ensenada Prison Non-recidivism Study
(PRWEB) July 10, 2013 -- Even compared to 30 years of earlier studies reporting significant reductions in criminal recidivism for Narconon drug rehabilitation program participants, a 2001 Ensenada Prison study set a high standard -- only 9.51% of 1,682 former drug-addicted inmates were found to have returned to Baja prisons after release, from October 1995 to August 2001. The judicial and incarceration savings to Mexico from this non-recidivism, the study estimated, totaled more than 80 million pesos.
Four scholars contributed to the paper, recently published on Narconon International’s website as part of a 40 year compilation of program studies. Overall responsible was Lic. Heriberto García García, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law of the Autonomous University of Baja California. Also from the Law Faculty was Lic. José de Jesús Diaz de la Torre. Dr. Eduardo Cooley Lugo of the International Faculty of Education Sciences contributed, and consulting was internationally known UCLA addictionologist, Dr. Alfonso Paredes.
The study was simple in design -- under supervision, post-grad students would check Baja California prison records for the recidivism of all Ensenada "Cereso" voluntary participants of the Segunda Oportunidad drug rehab program, after release from prison from 1995 until 5 years later. "Cereso" stands for Centro para Rehabilitación Social (Center for Social Rehabilitation) and is the title of "state prison" in Mexico. Segunda Oportunidad was licensed by Narconon International to use the Narconon drug rehab program model, which had originated in a prison setting although it is now used in more than 50 free-standing residential rehab centers worldwide.
The Ensenada study states that of 1,682 Narconon students released from prison, 36 recidivated from June 2000 to August 2001, and only 124 from October 1995 up until August 2001 (there were two study groups). It also reports, interestingly, that for those who did return to state prison the rate of recidivism was inversely related to the number of Narconon program courses completed -- the more Narconon courses completed, the fewer persons returned later to jail. Specifically, 68% of the recidivists had completed only Narconon drug-free withdrawal before being released. 14% had completed communication skills course and the sauna drug detoxification program. 13% had completed through the third program step (learning skills). And 0% of those who had completed the full Narconon program later returned to prison. The Segunda Oportunidad program included the traditional 8-step Narconon program, along with 4 additional courses especially needed by this population (including How to Handle Conflicts, Family and Marriage, and How to Handle Work.)
García and Diaz de la Torre stated that the estimated savings to Baja California was 20,000 pesos incarceration costs per year per inmate and 175,000 pesos judicial costs per inmate.
The study staff were not funded nor equipped to check state and federal prison records throughout Mexico. The focus of the study, the authors state, was limited to evaluating the impact and benefits of the Segunda Oportunidad / Narconon program to Baja California.
The study authors estimated that the great majority of Ensenada Prison's inmates were drug addicts, principally to heroin, as at the time of the study 53% of the prison population had volunteered for the Narconon program, including to undergo on-site drug-free withdrawal. They also reported that Mexican studies had found that 80% of incarcerated persons are interned due to committing crimes under the influence of drugs or “intimately related with drugs.” This correlates to similar percentages in the US, Europe, and Asia. At the time, the most consumed drugs in Baja, after marijuana (and alcohol) were 'crystal' (methamphetamine) and heroin.
The authors also quote extensively from a letter written to them by Dr. Paredes, who visited Narconon Ensenada and interviewed program inmates. Paredes has been studying longitudinal outcomes of cocaine addiction for 30 years and is well familiar with psychopathic, criminal, addictive behavior. In his letter, Paredes states, "Part of the credit of the design of the rehabilitation method...must be given to William Benitez, an ex-intern [inmate] of Mexican origin in the Arizona State Prison, who was motivated by his own predicament and inspired by the lectures and research of L. Ron Hubbard, with whom he established a close communication line." The Segunda Oportunidad [Narconon] rehabilitation philosophy, he stated, "is humanist. It does not follow religious or confessional principles...The methodology of the program is primarily educational." He concludes his letter stating that "although it does not come from the academic world, [the Narconon program model] has shown considerable success in helping to solve some of the most serious and disturbing social and health problems that communities and countries are confronting -- drug addiction and crime."
The Segunda Oportunidad program continued in Ensenada Prison until 2003, when Baja California funding was withdrawn for prison drug rehabilitation services. The Narconon program has continued, however, delivering service in Baja California as well as throughout Mexico. Narconon Navajoa in the state of Sonora has been delivering residential program services for 8 years, supported throughout by the Navajoa city government DIF (Development for Family Integrity). There is also a residential center in Celaya, Guanajuato, and most recently opened is Narconon Tijuana, a 60 bed facility on the outskirts of the crime-ridden metropolis, staffed entirely by former Twelve Step recovering addicts who have completed the Narconon program and then trained as staff on its rehabilitation procedures. As in Ensenada Prison, where the majority of the staff were themselves recovered addicts, trained inside the prison, Narconon Tijuana follows the long Narconon tradition of recovered addicts setting the example and helping others to find drug-free, crime-free and ethical, happier lives.
For more information on this and other Narconon studies from the last 40 years, please visit http://www.narconon.org. Narconon Tijuana can accept Spanish-speaking program applicants from the United States. Those interested should call 1 (800) 210-3060 (both English and Spanish spoken).
Clark Carr
President
Narconon International
Source References:
http://www.narconon.org/about-narconon/2001-ensenada-program-study.pdf
Clark Carr, Narconon International, 323-962-2404, [email protected]
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