New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Project
| Company type | Non-profit organization |
|---|---|
| Industry | Healthcare, Detoxification |
| Founded | 2003 in New York City, United States |
| Founder | Tom Cruise (co-founder) |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | New York City and Long Island |
Key people | Tom Cruise (co-founder and chief fundraiser), Jim Woodworth (director) |
| Products | Detoxification treatment using Purification Rundown |
| Website | web |
The New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Project was launched in New York City in 2003 with the goal of treating rescue personnel exposed to harmful substances from the smoke following the September 11 attacks. It runs two treatment centers: one located on Fulton Street near the World Trade Center site, called Downtown Medical, and another facility situated in Williston Park, Long Island. Actor Tom Cruise serves as the project's co-founder and chief fundraiser. The initiative utilizes the Purification Rundown, a detox regimen created by L. Ron Hubbard as part of Scientology's Bridge to Total Freedom. This approach has faced extensive criticism from medical experts, who label it pseudoscientific and potentially unsafe. By October 2007, a total of 838 participants had completed the program.
Although some government officials have expressed support and the project has received limited public funds, it has also been scrutinized for its financial association with the Church of Scientology, concerns over health risks to rescue workers, and its discouragement of conventional medical interventions. There have been reports that some participants subsequently joined Scientology, with instances involving family estrangement.
Tom Cruise's critique of EPA
In a Scientology promotional video leaked in January 2008, Tom Cruise articulated his reasons for initiating the project. After the World Trade Center attack, the Environmental Protection Agency declared the air safe; however, Cruise rejected this claim, asserting that the toxins were deadly. He dismissed the EPA’s statements as falsehoods, saying, "Of course, as a Scientologist, you go, that's a lie. Outright lie. Liar... Finally you say, dammit, just go there and do it. Put it there, let's go, here's the money."
During an appearance on Larry King Live, Cruise expressed his concern that survivors of 9/11 might develop illnesses such as leukemia, Parkinsonism, multiple sclerosis, or cancer due to toxins stored in fatty tissues. He advocated for Hubbard’s purification program as the sole effective remedy, arguing that medical doctors often fail to properly diagnose chemical exposures and tend to prescribe ineffective medications and steroids.
Detoxification within Scientology
The detox protocol is outlined in Scientology’s publication Clear Body, Clear Mind. Known as the "Purification rundown" or "Purif," this regimen is promoted by Scientology-related organizations including Narconon and Second Chance. The method claims to eliminate toxins stored in fat through a combination of physical exercise, sauna sessions, oil intake, and high doses of vitamins—especially niacin.
Healthcare professionals have deemed this approach unproven, ineffective, and potentially harmful. A report from California health authorities described excessive vitamin dosages as "hazardous" and occasionally fatal. Literature from Scientology acknowledges possible side effects such as dehydration, electrolyte disturbances like hyponatremia and hypokalemia, along with heat-induced illnesses. While some participants report improvements in both physical and mental well-being, numerous families hold the program responsible for fatalities and legal actions have been brought against Scientology.
Participants in the project were required to engage in this regimen for three hours daily over a period ranging from 21 to 40 days. It was marketed as a treatment addressing memory impairment, respiratory difficulties, fatigue, and other health issues experienced by workers at Ground Zero.
Finances and organization
Between 2003 and 2007, Downtown Medical secured $900,000 in public grants, with $630,000 coming from the City of New York. Funding from private sources was spearheaded by Tom Cruise, alongside contributions from other celebrities including Paul Newman, Paul McCartney, Adam Sandler, Leah Remini, Will Smith, and Jada Pinkett Smith. By the end of 2004, total donations had reached $2.3 million. The detoxification program was provided at no cost to rescue personnel and some residents of New York City, although certain participants paid fees up to $5,000.
Financial disclosures reveal that a portion of the project’s revenue was allocated to two Scientology-affiliated organizations promoting the Purification Rundown: the Association for Better Living and Education (ABLE), which received 5% of donations, and the Foundation for Advancements in Science and Education (FASE). In one fiscal year, payments totaling $173,300 were made to Dr. Steven Lager, who is a practicing Scientologist. By 2007, leadership of the initiative was under Jim Woodworth—previously executive director of HealthMed and a former addict who credited his recovery to the Purification Rundown.
Endorsements and criticism
Reactions from public officials varied considerably. Margarita López, a former City Council member, endorsed the initiative and played a role in securing its funding; she subsequently received nearly $115,000 in campaign donations from individuals associated with Scientology. Councilman Joseph Addabbo Jr. expressed support after personally observing the program’s impact. Conversely, Mayor Michael Bloomberg opposed its funding on grounds that Scientology is "not science."
Councilman Hiram Monserrate took part in the program himself and issued official proclamations honoring Tom Cruise and L. Ron Hubbard while distancing his stance from Scientology as a religion but endorsing the detoxification approach. Peter Vallone Jr., then Council Chair, criticized the project for blurring lines between "cult and state."
Promotional materials highlighted endorsements from Senator Chuck Schumer and New York Deputy Secretary for Public Security Michael Balboni; however, Schumer later retracted his support and Balboni denied any official endorsement. Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn dismissed the program as lacking merit. U.S. Representative Carolyn B. Maloney expressed backing for it. Dr. Bob Hoffman from NYC Poison Control cautioned that the Purification Rundown could pose health risks.
Neither the New York Police Department nor the Fire Department officially supported the program. The Uniformed Firefighters Association initially endorsed it but withdrew after discovering its connections to Scientology; their president acknowledged benefits but rejected religious involvement. FDNY officials voiced concerns about firefighters discontinuing prescribed medications to participate; their deputy chief medical officer stated there was no validated evidence demonstrating effectiveness.
Actress Janeane Garofalo encountered criticism for permitting Scientologist Leah Remini to promote the detox program on her radio show.
Outcomes
By October 2007, 838 participants had completed the detoxification regimen. The clinic displayed towels stained with various colors, which were purportedly evidence of toxins eliminated through sauna sessions. Director Jim Woodworth described firefighters experiencing unusual bowel movements and sweating out heavy metals such as mercury, aluminum, and magnesium. Nonetheless, FDNY’s chief medical officer Dr. Kerry Kelly expressed skepticism regarding these claims due to lack of objective proof supporting the stained towels’ significance.
An inquiry by New York Press found no independent medical validation for the Purification Rundown’s claimed efficacy; some physicians labeled it hazardous. No peer-reviewed studies substantiate the program’s benefits; existing research lacks scientific controls and methodological rigor. Deputy Fire Commissioner Frank Gribbon noted that Fire Department physicians concluded the treatment did not achieve detoxification goals. Cham Dallas, a bioterrorism expert at the University of Georgia, also dismissed its effectiveness.
In 2007, James Dahlgren and collaborators published a small pilot study reporting elevated levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) among rescue workers with improvements during treatment. Dahlgren advocates for the Purification Rundown as a detox method. However, scientists at Cambridge Environmental criticized this study, indicating that firefighters’ toxin levels were within normal ranges and attributing most PCB exposure to dietary sources rather than post-9/11 air quality issues. They concluded that applying this "potentially hazardous" procedure to address health problems in 9/11 responders was "unjustifiable."
Many participants reported enhancements in both physical well-being and mental health; others simply utilized the complimentary sauna facilities. A Fire Department lieutenant described colleagues as desperate for relief after 9/11 and willing to try any available solution. Officials raised alarms about firefighters being asked to cease use of inhalers, medications, and conventional treatments; one firefighter fainted due to severe asthma after stopping his inhaler under pressure. The clinic’s associate medical director stated that decisions to discontinue medications were made by participants themselves rather than mandated by staff.
A former employee at Downtown Medical alleged that personnel were discouraged from calling emergency services when necessary and that one staff member was compelled to end a relationship because of Scientology connections. The clinic refuted these accusations, affirming a strict policy requiring staff to call 911 whenever emergencies arise.
See also
External links
- New York Workers Detoxification Project at nydetox.org (archive)
- International Academy of Detoxification Specialists (detoxacademy.org)