Doors to a Scientology-based drug rehabilitation center are expected to open near Leona Valley after county planners gave conditional approval Wednesday for the facility in rustic Bouquet Canyon.

Drug rehab center meets resistance

• Officials unable to stop advice sent to inmates

LOS ANGELES (AP) - City school officials were surprised to learn that the Church of Scientology was involved in a planned school event, a potential violation of the separation of church and state.

A drug program run by Scientologists and labelled dangerous by medical authorities is being given free rein at dozens of Melbourne schools.

Eschewing psychiatry and antipsychotic drugs, secular arm of church offers rehab. Some corrections officials have promoted its use.

The California Medical Association has declared unanimous support for school districts that have dropped Narconon and other "factually inaccurate approaches" to antidrug instruction from their classrooms, and will urge the American Medical Association to do the same.

It boasts an 80 per cent success rate, the rock star Beck is a fan, and schools are inviting the Narconon centre into the classroom. So why are some people worried? Jamie Doward reports

Scientology-linked teachings inaccurate, superintendent says

Scientologists place a lot of stock in their church's drug-treatment program.

Norway's government has spent large sums sending drug addicts to a controversial Danish treatment run and supported by Scientologists.

Anti-drug teachings tied to Scientology called inaccurate

A drug rehabilitation centre opens its doors next week in one of St Leonards' most notorious drug-dealing areas - to the astonishment of neighbouring residents.

WATSONVILLE -- A woman who says she was raped at a drug- treatment center has sued Narconon of Northern California and its parent company, Narconon International, alleging she was assaulted by a staff member while undergoing treatment in November 2003.The suit alleges that when notified of the assault, staff at the Watsonville treatment center failed to respond in an appropriate manner and took the unidentified, out- of-state woman out of treatment. The Sentinel is not identifying the plaintiff because of the nature of the crime.In February, the incident was reported to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office, which investigated and turned it over to the District Attorney's Office.

COACHELLA VALLEY -- State education officials are investigating the drug-prevention program Narconon, which is closely linked to the Church of Scientology and has made at least one fund-raising stop in the Coachella Valley.

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