By KATH GANNAWAY
GET Off Drugs Naturally (GODN) at East Warburton has been fined $3000 and ordered to remove false claims about its Narconon program from its website.
The Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria has found that claims made by GODN in relation to the success rates of their program could not be substantiated.
In a statement issued on 7 May, Consumer Affairs said they had accepted an enforceable undertaking from GODN and naturapath, Dr Nerida James, who established the organisation in 2001.
Narconon was at the centre of a year-long battle last year when it sought to move from East Warburton to central Warburton.
VCAT ultimately backed Yarra Ranges Council and objectors and refused a permit to relocate.
When issued with a substantiation notice by Consumer Affairs Victoria in October last year the association was unable to provide evidence that 10 testimonials were genuinely from patients, or that all the claims made about the treatment program were supported by independently verified scientific evidence.
“Get Off Drugs Naturally also claimed that its ‘detoxification program thoroughly removes the physical cravings for drugs and alcohol naturally and even rids the body of unwanted toxins and chemicals.’
It claimed that more than 70 per cent of participants stayed drug-free ‘for many years’ after completing the program,” CAV said.
Under the terms of the undertaking, Get Off Drugs Naturally must remove all false claims about the effectiveness of its program, and testimonials it was unable to substantiate, from the website.
The Mail endeavoured to contact GODN, but did not get a response by deadline.
