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The History of the Narconon Drug Rehabilitation Program

Narconon Founder
William Benitez

The first Narconon was started and founded by William Benitez, an inmate at Arizona State Prison. Mr. Benitez was a heroin addict who could not seem to get off of drugs using traditional forms of treatment.After being sentenced to prison he had a realization that drug addiction had caused most of the problems in his life, including the current one. He set out to change himself through self-improvement.

Narconon - The History of the Program

Serving Our CommunityDuring his quest at self-improvement, he read lots of self-betterment books. One of those books, titled "Fundamentals of Thought" which was a self-help book written by Mr. L. Ron Hubbar.

This had some basic principles that he started practicing and incorporated into his life. He found himself responding favorably to his efforts and wrote the warden asking permission to start a small drug recovery program to help others.

Officials denied permission for the following six months. Mr. Benitez's request to start a program consisting of twenty convicted drug addicts, caused concern to officials who feared such a program might pose a security problem (such programs were rare in prisons during that decade).

Officials had little reason to believe that the request of a habitual drug addict and repeatedly convicted felon, would result in one of the nation's most successful rehabilitation program for substance abusers.

Mr. Benitez persisted and finally assured officials the program was needed and would not pose a threat to the safe and orderly operation of the prison. After being allowed to start the program on a trial basis, he founded NARCONON (NARCOtics-NONe) on February 19,1966.

Today, Narconon has spread from that one program in Arizona State Prison to include community programs in many states and countries such as Denmark, Italy, Holland, Germany, and France.

Crack House Intervention

Early Drug Lecture

40 Years of Success

Narconon SuccessMr. Gordon Weinand, one of the original members of the original Narconon Program in 1967, currently works in Public Relations for Narconon Drug Rehab in Georgia.

"Success equals 40 years of being dedicated to the greatest self-help program in the world – Narconon," says Gordy, "My own personal successes in the past 40 years have given me the strength and courage to be a part of helping others fight their fight."

Today, Narconon has spread from that one program in Arizona State Prison to include community programs in many states and countries such as Denmark, Italy, Holland, Germany, France, Sweden, Spain, Canada, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Columbia, Switzerland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Australia, Taiwan, Argentina, and Brazil.

Mr. Benitez was a Hearing Officer with the Arizona Department of Corrections, the same system which once kept him under lock and key.

He was a husband for 30 years as well as a father and grandfather. Mr. Benitez passed away in June of 1999.

 

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Narconon Success Story

Here is a Narconon success story from someone who just graduated from the Narconon drug treatment program.  It was written by a client who had been abusing alcohol, crack and heroin.

“When I first arrived here at Narconon, my mind had a very foggy cloud covering my perception of the world outside.  I was definitely dazed and confused up arriving. My first few days back in the withdrawal section of the building was filled with a very pleasant atmosphere and home-like feel to the environment around me.  I knew in my mind that I was begin saved yet again, and this was the start of my new path in life because I damn sure needed a new road to travel down. 

I have been applying everything that I have learned on the program and I know that I am going to have a good life.

Special thanks to everyone who helped me."

 


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