Successful Drug Rehab Celebrates 39 Years of Saving Lives
The Narconon® Drug Rehabilitation and Education Program started nearly four decades ago and has blossomed to save thousands of lives and educate millions across the globe.
(PRWEB) February 20, 2005 -- February 19th marks the official anniversary of the Narconon® Drug Rehabilitation and Education Program. Thirty-nine years ago an inmate in Arizona State Prison named William Benitez received permission from prison officials to start a program to help fellow inmates as well as himself to get off drugs. It worked.
Mr. Benitez persisted with officials for six months and assured them that the program was needed and would not pose a threat to the operation of the prison. His efforts became the NARCONON program (NARCOtics-NONe) and in February of 1966 the continuing trend of saving lives began.
The idea and inspiration for the program came when Benitez, who had tried several times before to beat his heroin addiction unsuccessfully, came across a book by American author and humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard. Benitez found some of the principles in the book to work when he applied them to himself, and he found it worked with others too.
Mr. Benitez passed away in 1999, but a fellow graduate of his program in the 60s and long-time friend of Willie still contributes to this day. His name is Gordy Weinand and he was recently honored at an anniversary celebration for Narconon Arrowhead, which is the largest program of the network and also the international training center. He now helps with the program in Georgia.
"It was the knowledge I learned in the beginning that showed me that I had a lot of ability," says Weinand. I could confront any problem instead of running away from myself and getting high. I could deal with anything. Things began to change for the better."
When Benitez, Weinand and others were released from prison they moved to Los Angeles, where they decided to set up a residential program and continue to help addicts recover. Mr. Hubbards research and developments in the field of drug rehabilitation is now the basis for the overall program, which has expanded and evolved from that prison cell so long ago. Today there are more than 120 Narconon® Drug Rehabilitation and Education centers around the world in 40 countries, and it continues to grow because of its effectiveness.
"From those humble beginnings," Gordy continues, I learned what a great feeling it was to be able to help someone else. I have dedicated my life to being able to help others. I look into the eyes of children and tell them what great people they are."
"If you're asking 'Does Narconon work?', I say, 'Ask Gordy Weinand. He's living proof!'
Weinand has been joined by many thousands of people whose lives have been changed for the better because of this program and who are now living drug free or who never started using drugs in the first place. To learn more about the program or to get help for a loved one in need, contact Narconon Arrowhead today at 1-800-468-6933 or log on to www.stopaddiction.com.
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