NARCONON AUTHOR

Sue Birkenshaw

Sue has worked in the addiction field with the Narconon network for three decades. She has developed and administered drug prevention programs worldwide and worked with numerous drug rehabilitation centers over the years. Sue is also a fine artist and painter, who enjoys traveling the world which continues to provide unlimited inspiration for her work. You can follow Sue on Twitter, or connect with her on LinkedIn.

ADDICTION

Addiction among Working Americans

Addiction among Working Americans Not so long ago, addiction was thought to be limited to musicians or those living on the fringes of society or deep in urban slums. Americans are gradually waking up to the fact that addiction exists at every level of...

PROFESSIONALS, ARTISTS & ADDICTION

What’s the Real Reason So Many Artists and Actors Use Drugs?

In the field of the arts, it’s far too common for our beloved actors, musicians , artists and writers to suffer the destruction of addiction to drugs or alcohol. Why are they so often prone to drug and alcohol abuse?

NARCONON OJAI REVIEWS

Sober for the Rest of My Life.

When I got to Narconon Ojai I was at an all time low. I know with complete certainty that I am going to make it and I’m going to be sober the rest of my life. Thank you for believing in my and pushing me when I wanted to give up.

ADDICTION

A Poignant Poem from a Beautiful Life that was Lost

This poem accurately expresses the anguish a good, loving person feels as they are dragged through the degradation drugs like heroin and methamphetamine cause. Her poem reveals the truth: That good, loving person is still there. She or he is simply imprisoned...

STATISTICS & TRENDS

DEA Guide Offers Insight for Parents on Drug Abuse Trends

In June 2017, the Drug Enforcement Administration released its new edition of the Drugs of Abuse guideline which provides a guideline for parents on drugs their kids could be abusing.

DRUG INFORMATION

Do We Want to Become “Cannafornia”?

The signs that California has been inundated with marijuana businesses have been there for years. With legalization we can expect even more impact and need for treatment of those who become addicted.

ADDICTION

The Terrible Toll Drugs Take on Small Children

Drug use is hard on everyone, from the individual who can’t stop using them to their parents, siblings and close friends. But it might be harder on small children than anyone else.

ADDICTION

What Stole Our Beloved Carrie Fisher Away?

Following the tragedy of Carrie Fisher’s death, the toxicology report shed detailed light on the way her toxic cocktail of drugs contributed to her death.

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Deadly Fentanyl Can Now be Found Just About Anywhere

There’s one thing you can be sure of when it comes to the illicit drug market: It always changes. A drug that someone has been using for years could be replaced with a markedly different substance without warning.

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Does Giving Your Kids Every Advantage Protect Them from Drug Abuse?

Recent study shows that the pressure and demands that privileged kids face may lead them to be more susceptible to drug abuse.

PROFESSIONALS, ARTISTS & ADDICTION

Drug Use in the Culture of Surfers and Skaters

Surfers and skaters like many other athletes have their troubles with drug abuse and addiction. Does the culture in which live and compete make them more prone than others?

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Is the Focus on Opioid Fatalities too Narrow?

While the opioid crisis must be addressed on an emergency basis, we must not lose sight of the broader issue of preventing any drug abuse from occurring.

PROFESSIONALS, ARTISTS & ADDICTION

Stable Recovery a Must for Airline Pilots

Like anyone else airline pilots are not immune to alcohol or drug addiction. Efforts to ensure their sobriety is a vital and potentially life-saving endeavor.

DRUG PREVENTION

Recognizing Drug Abuse Could Be a Parent’s Stiffest Challenge

It may not be easy to accept that your may child is using drugs, the intitial denial is a natural reaction. Yet a parent needs to learn the signs and be able to face the issue.

PROFESSIONALS, ARTISTS & ADDICTION

Children of Affluent Families May Be More Likely to Fall into Drug Abuse

Study finds that children in suburban, upper-middle-class families were actually more likely to use drugs and struggle with emotional problems than their inner city counterparts.

PROFESSIONALS, ARTISTS & ADDICTION

When Key Executives Need Addiction Recovery

Executives are often under pressure and turn to drugs and alcohol as a method of coping with the hectic pace and stress. Once addicted it’s important they get help before everything crashes around them.

DRUG REHABILITATION

Why Rehab for your Loved One Must Not Wait a Single Day

Any person using drugs today could be taking his (or her) life in his hands every time he gets high. This has been somewhat true for a long time but it is easier now than ever before to lose everything to a single dose of drugs.

STATISTICS & TRENDS

Pill Presses and our Opioid Epidemic

Unless you are a pharmacist or have a company manufacturing drugs or nutritional supplements, you’ve probably never given any thought to the idea of buying a pill press. Yet as the drug trade focuses more on counterfeit prescription painkillers such...

ADDICTION TREATMENT

The Irony of Medication-Assisted Treatment

Treating addiction to one drug by giving a person a second drug is not a new concept. But the question remains, do substitute drugs just give a person a new addiction?