The SPC program for combating bad habits and addictions was initially tested and researched in at least four different college and universities.

The results achieved at East Los Angeles College, UCLA, Santa Monica College and Southwest College will give you some idea of how effective this program can be for habits of excess.  An anonymous questionnaire given to a total of 313 students at the completion of the SPC class asked the students to (a) list those areas they had been excessive in prior to the class and (b) indicate which of these areas they had overcome as a result of the class.  The following are the tabulated results of the percentages of students overcoming their excesses:

Positive results have also been reported in SPC's application at Aliviane, a Texas-based hard core drug program.  Here, the SPC techniques were used mainly as an adjunct to their prevailing method of treatment.  It served the very useful purpose of getting the clients into a more relaxed, positive and construc­tive mood prior to group therapy and they were consequently able to get more out of their sessions.

A more direct use of SPC with drug addicts and alcoholics was its applica­tion at Bridgeback and the House of Uhuru in the predominately African American area of Los Angeles.  Both are rehabilitative centers for hard-core drug and alcoholic offenders many of whom had been sent to prison for drug-related crimes.  The type of results achieved are best illustrated in the following two letters:

The first was written by a resident at Bridgeback and addressed to-whom-it ­may-concern.

For many years (since 1959) 1 had been a drug-addict.  Now I'm a resident at Bridgeback.

For a long time I thought there was no hope.  I had been told that once a dope-fiend always a dope-fiend.  Not having too much on the ball, as far as a future, I let this saying make a nest in my subcon­scious.  Because of this I would not deal with anything.  Through the years I tried several times to break the habit but each time would go back.  Well, I finally gave up and said it's time to get help.  I signed up for the Bridgeback Drug Program.  There I thought that I could get help by just grouping [note: this is a form of encounter group ther­apy and has been a main form of therapy currently used by many drug rehabilitative programs] but I couldn't.  So along came Dr. A.A. Barrios.  He had a very unique program called SPC (self-pro­gram control).

At first I just sat in class and didn't get involved, then he started saying things that sounded good.  He said he could change a person's entire life if they got involved.  I didn't believe it at first.  So, I said what can I lose.

I started out by using the Spiral Mind Technique.  I began getting so involved, I purchased a kit.  Every morning I would use it.  Then it started taking effect.  The next thing I know I had no desire what­soever to use or even be around dope.

Then I had this Mural to paint, 75 feet long and 25 feet high.  I just knew I wouldn't finish it.  So I programmed in that I would complete the Mural, and now it's one of the best in the city of L.A. and I'm always getting recognition for it.

Now, still using Dr. A. A. Barrios' SPC  program, I'm enjoying life in a much more rewarding way.  I attend L.A. Business College where I'm studying accounting.  Upon completion, I hope to become an accounting clerk.  Next, I applied for a job for the State of Cali­fornia as a claim's examiner's assistant.  My application was accepted.  I took the test and I found it was so easy, it was as if I had taken it before.  It's really something to see how these techniques work.  I just know I did well on it because I got under the Spiral that morning.

Oh yes, let me include this in this short story of my changed life-style.  My grades in high school were C's and D's; now they are, believe it or not, A's and Bs.

I'm going to close with these last few words.  There was this young lady that came to the program.  I saw where I could help her with this new program.  She was like me at first, skeptical; now she's getting involved and she's really doing fine now.

The following letter was written to the Director of the House of Uhuru by one of the peer-counselors who had taken part in the pilot SPC study there:

I am writing concerning a program I feel would be of great inter­est to you and which I highly recommend for incorporation into the House of Uhuru.  First of all Mr. Anderson, allow me to state that this program, Self-Program Control (SPC), works!  It is a truth, in that by means of it one can be in control of his life and destiny.

Unhealthy habits, such as over-eating, excessive smoking and drinking, drug taking and abuse and countless others can be mini­mized and eventually alleviated by applying the techniques acquired and practiced until they become second nature by believing you can do it.  I know this is possible because I've seen the program work not only with me but many others as well, thanks to being in the SPC class Dr. Barrios taught here this past semester.

At the beginning of the class we were asked if there was anything that we wanted to focus upon within ourselves.  One of the goals I set was to become adept at tension control.  Before utilizing the SPC techniques I experienced headaches often, lost my temper at the drop of a hat, and underwent mood changes quite frequently (de­pression, despondency, self-pity, etc.). Now, as I'm sure you are aware of, my temper and mood variations have displayed positive movement toward a more balanced equilibrium, and my headaches are almost non-existent.

In March of this year my husband was incarcerated, and would be away for 18 months.  As a result of this occurrence, I felt afraid and completely alone.  I started drinking alcohol everyday.  I'd get off from work, stop at a liquor store and after getting home, would drink myself into a stupor.  During this time I had forgotten about SPC and just about everything else.

Then one evening after I had taken my first drink, I remembered the SPC 20 to 10 Countdown Technique for relaxation.  I went through the technique twice, programmed in the goal of not having to drink to deal with my fears, insecurities, and poured the pint of bourbon down the kitchen drain.  I felt and continue to feel good about myself!

With the continued usage of the techniques learned through SPC, and reading excerpts from the book Psycho-Cybernetics by Max­well Maltz, I became more confident and aware of my abilities to change and control my life as I deem fit.

In regards to Self-Program Control being incorporated and imple­mented as an on-going therapeutic phase of the Uhuru's philosophy, I am strongly in favor of the idea.  Not only have I seen the positive effects of the class on myself and the others taking it, but I have also seen that we ourselves could very easily teach it to others in turn.

During the last four classes ten clients participated who were from the residential component.  These ten clients were taught SPC by us without Dr. Barrios.  We, the class, introduced to them a few of the SPC techniques that were ideal for tension control and relaxation.  At the end of the very first session, all of the residential clients were very enthused and expressed a desire to attend and learn more from additional sessions.

At the conclusion of the fourth session, clients were relating to me how they had used the Deep Breathing Technique to relax and had as a result stopped taking sinnequans, a tranquilizing medication.  Also while participating in the regular intensive grouping sessions, by using the 20 to 10 Countdown Technique the clients were able to control their tempers and display a more positive attitude and be­havior pattern.  Many of the clients also reported that they were now able to go to sleep at night without the aid of medication simply by using the techniques learned in SPC.  One client especially stated she had gotten so upset one day that her blood pressure went up high enough for our doctor to feel medication was necessary to restore it to normal.  At this time the client went through the techniques learned in SPC, and as a result her blood pressure returned to normal without her having to be administered medication. Each day SPC is being heralded by these ten residents who were fortunate enough to be included in the SPC class, and they them­selves are now teaching the techniques of SPC to new residents. These ar some of the incidents that lend credence to the benefits that can be acquired through SPC.

 The above letter illustrates once again a major advantage of the SPC pro­gram - how easy it is to teach.  Please also note the chain reaction effect.  The students I taught in turn taught the program to ten other residents who in turn started teaching the program to others.  Again this is all in keeping with the "demystification" approach of Ivey and Alshuler (1973) that says we don't have to be Ph.Ds or so called experts in order to help others.  I believe strongly that we need this chain reaction effect if we are going to help turn this world around in time.  As I alluded to in the beginning of this book, we are currently in a life or death race, ". . . for at the phenomenally fast rate at which technology has advanced during the past century, man now has the means to totally destroy himself, and will unless we can get to him first."