Editing Narconon (section)

===Deaths at Narconon Arrowhead, Oklahoma, United States (2009–2012)===

[[File:Narconon (Scientology front group)Narconon Arrowhead, Oklahoma USA. June 2012.jpg|thumbnail|Narconon Arrowhead, [[Oklahoma]], where various law enforcement agencies are investigating recent deaths.]]
In August 2012, Pittsburg County [[Government of Oklahoma#The County Sheriff|sheriffs]]<ref>{{cite news|last=Leflore|first=Jeanne|title=DA: Narconon Arrowhead under investigation by OKLA Dept. of Mental Health after four deaths|url=http://muskogeephoenix.com/statenews/x44831135/Narconon-deaths-investigation-expands|access-date=5 September 2012 |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120813191528/http://muskogeephoenix.com/statenews/x44831135/Narconon-deaths-investigation-expands |archive-date=August 13, 2012 |newspaper=[[Muskogee Phoenix]] |date=7 August 2012}}</ref> and the [[Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services|Oklahoma Department of Mental Health]] (ODMHSAS), along with the [[Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation]] (OSBI),<ref name=kjrh>{{cite web | title = Narconon Arrowhead sued by parents of patient who died while in treatment | publisher = [[KJRH-TV]] | date = 28 August 2012 | url = http://www.kjrh.com/dpp/news/state/Narconon-Arrowhead-sued-by-parents-of-patient-who-died-while-in-treatment | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130127050919/http://www.kjrh.com/dpp/news/state/Narconon-Arrowhead-sued-by-parents-of-patient-who-died-while-in-treatment | url-status = dead | archive-date = 27 January 2013 | access-date = 4 September 2012 }}</ref> began an investigation of deaths at Narconon Arrowhead following the deaths of three patients in a period of nine months.<ref>{{cite news | author=Joe Childs | author2= Thomas C. Tobin | title = Deaths at Scientology drug treatment program Narconon bring investigation | newspaper = [[Tampa Bay Times]] | date = 16 August 2012 | url = https://www.tampabay.com/news/scientology/deaths-at-scientology-drug-treatment-program-narconon-bring-investigation/1246054/ | access-date =28 August 2012}}</ref>

The investigation included the recent deaths of four patients: Stacy Dawn Murphy, aged 20, who died at Narconon Arrowhead on 19 July 2012; Hillary Holten, 21, who was found dead at the facility on 11 April 2012; and 32-year-old Gabriel Graves, who died at the facility on 26 October 2011. The investigation later expanded to cover the death of 28-year-old Kaysie Dianne Werninck, who died at Narconon Arrowhead on 3 March 2009.<ref>{{cite news | title=Scientology rehab center under fire after string of deaths | url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-08-15/news/33220631_1_sea-org-narconon-centers-scientology | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130130101456/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-08-15/news/33220631_1_sea-org-narconon-centers-scientology | url-status=dead | archive-date=January 30, 2013 | access-date=6 September 2012 | newspaper=New York Daily News | date=15 August 2012 | quote=Stacy Dawn Murphy, 20, who died July 19 at Narconon Arrowhead in Canadian, Okla. ... Hillary Holten, 21, was found dead at Narconon Arrowhead in April, and Gabriel Graves, 32, died there last October, the Muskogee Phoenix reported. Another patient, 28-year-old Kaysie Dianne Werninck, died there in 2009.}}</ref><ref name="deaths_bring_probe">{{cite news | title=Deaths bring probe of Narconon facility in Oklahoma | url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20120724_12_A9_CUTLIN716524 | access-date=6 September 2012 |newspaper=Tulsa World |date=24 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Discovery claimed in Narconon deaths | url=http://muskogeephoenix.com/local/x257411807/Discovery-claimed-in-Narconon-deaths |access-date=7 September 2012 |newspaper=Muskogee Phoenix |date=20 August 2012 |quote=Narconon has been under investigation since the July 19 death of Murphy, 20, of Owasso.  The investigation has expanded to include three other deaths: Hillary Holten, 21, of Carr, who was found dead at Narconon Arrowhead in April; Graves, 32, who died at the facility in October; and the 2009 death of Kaysie Dianne Werninck, 28, according to Pittsburg County Sheriff Joel Kerns.}}</ref>

Following media attention surrounding the deaths, the National Association of Forensic Counselors (NAFC) permanently revoked the Certified Chemical Dependency Counseling certification of several Narconon Arrowhead employees, including director Gary Smith.<ref>{{cite news |last=LeFlore |first=Jeanne |date=27 March 2013 |title=Narconon Arrowhead exec and Narconon Vista Bay advertise revoked certification |url=http://www.mcalesternews.com/breakingnews/x1221100507/Narconon-Arrowhead-exec-and-Narconon-Vista-Bay-advertise-revoked-certification |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140407192006/http://www.mcalesternews.com/breakingnews/x1221100507/Narconon-Arrowhead-exec-and-Narconon-Vista-Bay-advertise-revoked-certification |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 April 2014 |newspaper=McAlester News-Capital |location=Oklahoma, USA |access-date=7 April 2014 }}</ref> In August 2013, the ODMHSAS permanently revoked the facility's permit for medical detoxification after Narconon had exhausted all avenues for protesting the decision.<ref name=leflore>{{cite news|last=LeFlore|first=Jeanne|title=Narconon Arrowhead loses state certification|url=http://www.mcalesternews.com/breakingnews/x1981930665/Narconon-Arrowhead-loses-state-certification|access-date=13 March 2014|newspaper=McAlester News-Capitol|date=7 August 2013 |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005050316/http://www.mcalesternews.com/breakingnews/x1981930665/Narconon-Arrowhead-loses-state-certification |archive-date=October 5, 2013}}</ref>

In August 2013, Inspector General Kim Poff and investigator Michael DeLong, both of the ODMHSAS, who had been investigating the deaths at Narconon Arrowhead, had their employment terminated. No reason was given for the termination, but the investigators' attorney later claimed that the two were wrongfully fired, saying: "Their termination, in part, relates to the Narconon investigation".<ref name=Hertneky>{{cite news|last=Hertneky|first=Dana|title=State Investigators of Narconon Arrowhead Say They Were Wrongfully Fired|url=http://www.news9.com/story/25286412/investigators-involved-in-narconon-investigation-fire|access-date=29 April 2014|newspaper=news9.com Oklahoma's Own|date=18 April 2014}}</ref>

==== Kaysie Dianne Werninck (2009) ====
Kaysie Dianne Werninck died at Narconon Arrowhead on 3 March 2009. Her parents filed a lawsuit against the center claiming her death was "a result of the defendant's gross negligence". The case was settled.<ref>{{cite news|title=DA: Narconon Arrowhead under investigation by OKLA Dept. of Mental Health after four deaths|url=http://mcalesternews.com/local/x44829217/DA-Narconon-Arrowhead-Oklahoma-Department-of-Mental-Health-investigates-deaths |access-date=7 September 2012 |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120911174512/http://mcalesternews.com/local/x44829217/DA-Narconon-Arrowhead-Oklahoma-Department-of-Mental-Health-investigates-deaths |archive-date=September 11, 2012 |newspaper=McAlester News-Capital|date=7 August 2012|quote=In and {{sic}} earlier case, Narconon Arrowhead settled a lawsuit filed by the parents of Kaysie Dianne Werninck, 28, of St. Augustine Florida who died "as a result of the defendant's gross negligence,”on 3 March 2009, according to the lawsuit.}}</ref>

==== Gabriel Graves (2011) ====
Gabriel Graves, who died at the facility in October 2011, was the subject of an [[Freedom of information in the United States|open records request]] made to the ODMHSAS by the ''[[Tulsa World]]'' newspaper, which revealed reports of use and distribution of drugs at the facility. Graves' autopsy recorded his cause of death as "unknown".<ref>{{ cite news |last=Wade |first=Jarrel |title=Letter recounts death at Narconon Arrowhead |url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20120818_11_A1_StateD435534&allcom=1#comments |access-date=7 September 2012 |newspaper=Tulsa World |date=18 August 2012 |quote=In his month there, he describes his observations about the death of fellow Narconon student Gabriel Graves. "I saw the 'nurse' of the facility crying, walking out of (redacted) room with another staffer," the complainant said about his experience on Oct. 26, the day records show Graves died. "I stood there, shocked and scared. ... It was, however, hinted to us that he may have died of a drug overdose because we were told by one of the staff that came to brief us that we might 'end up like him.{{'"}} Graves' autopsy report lists his cause and manner of death as undetermined and unknown, records show. "while I was there the use and distribution of drugs by 'students' ... and staff was rampant," the complainant wrote to Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services officials. "I was asked on numerous occasions if I wanted any drugs, but since I do not do drugs, I declined. I was offered many different types of drugs, ones I had never even heard of. By observation, no one was concerned about the drug use at this time."}}</ref>

==== Hillary Holten (2012) ====
Hillary Holten died on April 11, 2012. Her parents filed a lawsuit against Narconon Arrowhead, and alleged Hillary had died due to lack of medical care. Their lawsuit states that she "had a history of [[congenital adrenal hyperplasia|Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia]], a condition that required the daily administration of [[Dexamethasone]] and in extreme circumstances, an injection of liquid [[cortisone]]", and that Narconon Arrowhead did not properly manage her condition. Gary Smith of Narconon refrained from comment, adding that "there are federal rights to privacy laws which prohibit us from discussing anything about former clients."<ref>{{ cite news |last=Peterson |first=Rachel |title=Yet another Narconon lawsuit under way |url=http://mcalesternews.com/breakingnews/x252487212/Yet-another-Narconon-lawsuit-under-way |access-date=7 September 2012 |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121213003618/http://mcalesternews.com/breakingnews/x252487212/Yet-another-Narconon-lawsuit-under-way |archive-date=December 13, 2012 |newspaper=McAlester News-Capital |date=27 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = News9 OKC Narconon Arrowhead Continued Coverage | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuUCZqWMluU | publisher = News9 | location = Oklahoma, US | date = 23 August 2012 | access-date =7 September 2012 | quote = Hillary Holten entered in Narconon's Arrowhead facility for help with her prescription drug addiction in April. Less than 48 hours later she was dead. In a lawsuit filed Thursday, attorneys say Holton had a medical condition, but employees at Narconon didn't provide her with the care, or medication she needed. }}</ref>

==== Stacy Dawn Murphy (2012) ====
Stacy Dawn Murphy died on July 20, 2012 at Narconon Arrowhead. Stacy's father said Narconon officials told him that, when his daughter was found dead alone in the "detox" room, she had not been checked on for two and a half hours. "That's too long, if they thought she was overdosed, why didn't they have someone with her the whole time?" he said, adding, "We sent her there to get better, not to die".<ref name="not_to_die">{{cite news|title="Somethings terribly wrong there" says father of woman who died at Narconon Arrowhead|url=http://mcalesternews.com/breakingnews/x453795015/-Somethings-terribly-wrong-there-says-father-of-woman-who-diedat-Narconon-Arrowhead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724011415/http://mcalesternews.com/breakingnews/x453795015/-Somethings-terribly-wrong-there-says-father-of-woman-who-diedat-Narconon-Arrowhead |archive-date=July 24, 2012 |access-date=6 September 2012|newspaper=McAlester News Capital|date=21 July 2012}}</ref> Gary Smith responded in an email statement that, "It is always deeply saddening when drug addiction takes a life or destroys a family. ... For the family the pain of losing a loved one to addiction is unimaginable."<ref name="deaths_bring_probe" />

A patient who was resident at Narconon Arrowhead at the time of Stacy's death said,<ref>{{cite news|last=Ortega|first=Tony|title=Scientology Drug Program Narconon's Licensing "Extremely Vulnerable" After Oklahoma Deaths, Says Insider|url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2012/08/scientology_narconon_extremely_vulnerable.php|newspaper=Village Voice|access-date=19 September 2012|date=11 August 2012|quote=Rick says Stacy was sent to the "withdrawal unit" of the facility that night once it was discovered that she'd used. And it was there that her condition became grave.  "There was no doctor there, no nurse on staff. There's nothing like that there," Rick says. "The staff, they're all former patients. The exception are the people who would drive you to the airport, or the security people. My understanding is that everyone there is pretty much a former patient."  Rick says he doesn't hold the staff responsible for what happened. "You really can't expect them to be able to diagnose a drug overdose. I'm not upset with them. It's the direction from the top down that has to be illegal."  The staff was just overmatched for what was happening, he says.  "The drugs that would have saved Stacy's life were either not available or no one there knew how to administer it."  Thursday morning, July 19, he heard that she was dead.  "She died before 10 am. I heard about it pretty immediately," he says. His own tenure at the facility ended soon after. "I got kicked out because they found out I was going to the police and the media. That's how upside down the place is."  Now, he's trying to stay sober on his own, and Rick says he is fearful after going to the authorities.  "I have to pause multiple times a day because of Stacy's death. I feel sick about it. They should have saved her," he says. Instead, he fears that he'll suffer retaliation for helping with the investigation. "I'm afraid for my life."|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120917022628/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2012/08/scientology_narconon_extremely_vulnerable.php|archive-date=17 September 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref> "There was no doctor there, no nurse on staff. There's nothing like that there ... The staff, they're all former patients. ... My understanding is that everyone there is pretty much a former patient. ... The drugs that would have saved Stacy's life were either not available or no one there knew how to administer it." Now told reporters that he feared retaliation by Narconon for talking to the police and media: "I'm afraid for my life." Stacy's roommate, Destanie Ramsey, called police on the night of her death in order to leave Narconon Arrowhead, where she claimed she was being held against her will.<ref>{{cite news |title=Woman "held against her will" at Narconon Arrowhead |url=http://mcalesternews.com/breakingnews/x228004195/Woman-held-against-her-will-at-Narconon-Arrowhead |access-date=7 September 2012 |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829113444/http://mcalesternews.com/breakingnews/x228004195/Woman-held-against-her-will-at-Narconon-Arrowhead |archive-date=August 29, 2012 |newspaper=McAlester News-Capital |date=21 July 2012 |quote=A young woman says she was held against her will at Narconon Arrowhead and had to be rescued by Pittsburg County Sheriffs officers late Thursday night. ... Ramsey said she wanted out because of the recent death of her roommate at the facility, Stacy Dawn Murphy.}}</ref>

====Public and media response====
Protests over the deaths took place outside Narconon Arrowhead; one protest in late June 2012, planned to include bereaved family members, was disrupted by road resurfacing works outside the facility, paid for by Narconon. Pittsburg County Commission Chairman Gene Rogers explained that, "[Gary Smith] called me and said they might be having a problem with the public that weekend and he wanted help policing the area and he asked about doing overlaying [of the road]".<ref>{{cite news|last=LeFlore|first=Jeanne|title=During a planned protest of Narconon Arrowhead, the facility spends $50,000 to work on county road where rally was to take place|url=http://mcalesternews.com/local/x825331230/The-same-time-as-a-planned-protest-of-the-recent-deaths-at-Narconon-Arrowhead-the-facility-spent-nearly-50-000-to-repave-the-half-mile-of-county-road-where-the-rally-was-to-take-place |access-date=7 September 2012 |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105171430/http://mcalesternews.com/local/x825331230/The-same-time-as-a-planned-protest-of-the-recent-deaths-at-Narconon-Arrowhead-the-facility-spent-nearly-50-000-to-repave-the-half-mile-of-county-road-where-the-rally-was-to-take-place |archive-date=November 5, 2012 |newspaper=McAlester News-Capital|date=21 July 2012|quote=The road work took place in June 23 and June 24 during a planned protest by Shirley Gilliam, the mother of Gabriel Graves, a 32-year-old man who was found dead at the facility in October, and Collin Henderson, a former Narconon patient. ... Pittsburg County Commission Chairman Gene Rogers said he was contacted by Smith for help the weekend the protest was scheduled — June 23 and 24th.  "He (Gary Smith) called me and said they might be having a problem with the public that weekend and he wanted help policing the area and he asked about doing overlaying (of the road)," Rogers said.  Safety, not the protest, was the reason the small section of county road was resurfaced, according to the Narconon director.}}</ref>

Oklahoma State Senator [[Tom Ivester]] commented that, "Clearly something isn't right and we have a moral obligation to do everything in our power to end this predatory business being run by the Church of Scientology disguised as drug treatment", adding, "This is a disgusting business that preys on desperate family members and their sick loved ones, scamming them out of thousands of dollars with the promise of providing hope and new life. It's a disgrace to have these people operating in the state of Oklahoma."<ref>{{cite news |last=Denwalt |first=Dale |title=Deaths at drug treatment center being investigated |url=http://thedailyelkcitian.com/elk-city-oklahoma-top-stories/1790-state-senator-vows-fight-against-narconon |access-date=7 September 2012 |newspaper=Daily Elk Citian |date=22 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313154429/http://www.thedailyelkcitian.com/elk-city-oklahoma-top-stories/1790-state-senator-vows-fight-against-narconon/ |archive-date=13 March 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In direct response to the Arrowhead deaths, Ivestor introduced legislation to expand Oklahoma's ability to regulate rehab facilities.<ref>{{cite news|last=LeFlorre|first=Jeanne|title=Legislation affecting Narconon Arrowhead passes Senate|url=http://www.mcalesternews.com/local/x986697222/Legislation-affecting-Narconon-Arrowhead-passes-Senate |access-date=13 March 2014 |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313094445/http://www.mcalesternews.com/local/x986697222/Legislation-affecting-Narconon-Arrowhead-passes-Senate |archive-date=March 13, 2014 |newspaper=McAlester News-Capitol|date=27 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Oklahoma Senate Unanimously Passes Bill Aimed at Narconon Arrowhead|url=http://www.newson6.com/story/22136554/senate-passes-bill|work=Newson6.com|access-date=13 March 2014|date=1 May 2013}}</ref>

In response to an [[NBC]] ''[[Rock Center]]'' segment on the facility,<ref name="nbc_rock_center">{{cite web | title = Families question Scientology-linked drug rehab after recent deaths | publisher = [[NBC]] [[Rock Center]] | date = 16 August 2012 | url = http://rockcenter.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/16/13312825-families-question-scientology-linked-drug-rehab-after-recent-deaths |access-date=3 September 2012}}</ref> Narconon President Clark Carr called its criticism of Narconon "bigoted" and described the program as addicts' "last chance for a decent, honest, drug-free life".<ref>{{cite web | title = Statement from Narconon International | publisher = [[NBC]] [[Rock Center]] / [[Narconon International]] | date = 18 August 2012 | url = https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna48694961 |access-date=3 September 2012}}</ref>