An unregulated rehab centre linked to the Church of Scientology put mentally ill people through intense psychological drills that allegedly left them “traumatised” and in “trance-like” states, an investigation by the Observer can reveal.
Former patients and staff at Narconon UK say vulnerable people seeking help for addiction were expected to complete mental exercises, similar to methods used in Scientology’s controversial “auditing” process, at a secluded compound in rural Sussex.
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The allegations raise questions over how a rehab with links to one of the world’s most controversial religious movements, accused of abusive practices, is able to operate unregulated in Britain.
Marketed as “world class”, and listed in an NHS directory, Narconon’s Sussex facility, on a nine-acre campus near the town of Heathfield, opened in 2015. But it has not been inspected since 2016, and has never been assessed to ensure its programme is effective or safe. Instead, it has been operating without oversight for the last five years due to a regulation loophole, the Observer’s investigation has found, and remains free of the same scrutiny that other addiction programmes face.
While the Care Quality Commission (CQC) oversees substance misuse services, it says Narconon’s programme is not within its remit and suggested this was because its approach was “alternative”.
It’s easy to forget that one of their big centres outside the US is East Grinstead (described as “Britain’s weirdest town”). It’s where Neil Gaiman was brought up when his family were heavily involved with Scientology.
They seem to be getting away with quite a bit because they are a “religion” and “alternative” but such abuse shouldn’t be allowed in this day and age no matter who is doing it.
The road goes right past that Mormon church that is on the outskirts of East Grinstead, as a kid I always thought that was the Scientology one and you regularly saw scientologists in surrounding towns such as Tunbridge Wells trying to recruit people into that bullshit.
I haven’t seen any in more recent times, though I do live further away now so only pass through from time to time visiting my home town.
I think we can pretty definitively say his family still are heavily involved in scientology. His parents were their whole lives, his sister Claire is high up and his other sister is also involved.
Erm, if the CQC does not have the remit to regulate “alternative” services as they claim, why the hell had the CQC given this provider a rating?
And why is a programme which has never been assessed listed in an NHS directory?
Scientology in abuse shocker.
I think the shocker is that it has been allowed to happen with little oversight from the authorities.
Not only authorities but all society, contest it could open a precedent to contest other religious forms more accepted but equally baseless.
Then whoever was overseeing said “rehab” should be arrested. Right?
This is the best summary I could come up with:
An unregulated rehab centre linked to the Church of Scientology put mentally ill people through intense psychological drills that allegedly left them “traumatised” and in “trance-like” states, an investigation by the Observer can reveal.
Former patients and staff at Narconon UK say vulnerable people seeking help for addiction were expected to complete mental exercises, similar to methods used in Scientology’s controversial “auditing” process, at a secluded compound in rural Sussex.
In some cases they took part in the repetitive “drills” for so long, while in vulnerable states due to their mental health or past substance use, that they would zone out, become paranoid or break down, according to corroborating testimony from people familiar with the programme.
Participants were also allegedly left feeling suicidal and as though their minds had been “shattered” by the exercises – which often involved following commands such as “stand up, sit down”, or pointing at different objects.
Despite this, Narconon continues to display a “good” CQC rating on its website, from a prior inspection which assessed its accommodation, management and provision of personal care – but not the programme itself.
Narconon UK, the charity behind the facility, said its “students” were assessed by a GP before the programme, which also includes long sauna sessions, high doses of vitamins and costs about £15,000.
The original article contains 761 words, the summary contains 216 words. Saved 72%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
