Celebrating a Chemical Society

The AP just reported that this year marks the 40th anniversary of a drug that was lauded in the medical community and among executives and women across the nation: Valium®. Having been approved by the FDA in 1963, the manufacturer of the drug (Hoffman – La Roche) has sold billions of pills in the U.S.
Though Valium supposedly had little side effects, Roche USA clearly states on their website that there is a risk of seizure in the withdrawal stage and common side effects include ataxia, meaning an inability to coordinate voluntary muscular movements that is symptomatic of some nervous disorders (Merriam-Webster online edition). In addition, the category of drug has a high potential for abuse and physical dependence.
Though this drug itself apparently may not have caused much damage to people, its use became somewhat commonplace and the idea of taking a “chill pill” spread throughout society and opened the door for many other drugs to become socially acceptable. This trend in popping a pill for any malady has only increased since then, and the accessibility and variety of drugs now used by millions of Americans is higher than ever as new pharmaceuticals become available and are advertised, regardless of the damage caused in exchange for their marketed value or intended use.
In Clear Body, Clear Mind, L. Ron Hubbard wrote, “Too often the attitude is ‘If I can’t find the cause of the pain, at least I’ll deaden it.’” This includes physical and mental discomfort, depression or anxiety.
Hubbard’s decades of research in the field of substance abuse and rehabilitation helped form the basis for what is now called the Narconon® Drug Rehabilitation and Education Program, a secular network of treatment and prevention centers in 35 countries.
In a new book published by Narconon Arrowhead called Helping Someone Overcome Addiction, the reason why people begin to take drugs and how many become dependent on them is clearly depicted based on the many years of results obtained through the non-traditional, drug-free approach.
“Having a clear understanding of the cycle of addiction is vital to anyone dealing with it personally or trying to help a family member,” says Luke Catton, president of the organization. “The amount of misinformation associated with drug use and supposed remedies runs rampant through our culture today. People need to know the truth about what all drugs really are and what they can do to an individual.”

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