The Origins of the NARCONON Program

William Benitez, an inmate of Arizona State Prison, founded the NARCONON Program in 1966. Benitez read a book by American author L. Ron Hubbard, and by applying the principles it contained on increasing one's abilities, he and dozens of other inmates were able to permanently end their addictions to heroin.

The NARCONON Program has evolved from that simple beginning to a worldwide network of drug prevention and drug-free social education rehabilitation centers.

The NARCONON network consists of over 100 rehabilitation and drug prevention centers around the world. Our rehabilitation centers produce graduates, the majority of whom have demonstrated they can live stable, ethical, productive, drug-free lives. The NARCONON drug prevention centers educate hundreds of thousands of people each year with live presentations and bring the truth to many more through video presentations and written materials.

The NARCONON drug rehabilitation program is an entirely drug-free social education program. This methodology has been used successfully by hundreds of thousands of people around the world to rid themselves of the need for drugs and to regain control of their lives.

Support for the NARCONON Program

NARCONON activities, from free-standing residential treatment centers to drug education, receive support in many ways, varying with the country and community.

Direct Government Funding

In parts of Sweden, Denmark, Holland and Switzerland, once the NARCONON method received official recognition as a drug rehabilitation program, it became eligible for government funding, as prescribed by local laws, distributed from the Social Boards of each country. The Ministry of Health in England has also directly funded NARCONON residential rehabilitation. NARCONON Colombia has received funding for services to youth.

Other Benefactors and Volunteers

As with other charities, non-profit associations and corporations around the world, many NARCONON centers are fortunate to receive support in different forms from volunteer agencies, churches, civic volunteer organizations, etc. This has included, to give only a few examples:

• Police and other social agencies giving close support and working hand in hand with drug education teams in Sweden, Norway and other countries.
• A Taiwanese Buddhist social betterment group significantly funding and promoting the use of NARCONON rehabilitation services for adults and juveniles.
• Catholic sisters in Holland fundraising to help provide student scholarships at NARCONON Zutphen.
• Indigenous Maori organizations in New Zealand donating land, facilities and operating expenses.
• Celebrities and other notables giving their names and public drawing power to aid in NARCONON fundraising events, as with the many "NARCONON All-Stars" softball games in Hollywood, stunt shows, etc.

Fee-For-Service

NARCONON centers maintain their viability and continued production by charging fees for service. In the United States, where this is the norm, NARCONON centers have been largely self-supporting for 25 years.

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