Narconon Hastings Celebrates Narconon Day!

19th February is Narconon Day

It is a very special day, for today we celebrate the 43rd anniversary of the foundation of Narconon by Mr. William Benitez.

We want to dedicate this blog post to the thousands of graduates who, since the beginning of Narconon, have turned their lives around and lived successful, productive and ethical lives together with their families. This is the story of how that became possible.

February 19th is the official anniversary of the Narconon Drug Rehabilitation and Education Program. Here's how it all began:

L. Ron Hubbard - Philosopher and Humanitarian

William Benitez - Narconon Founder

William Benitez was a heroin-addicted inmate of Arizona State Prison. Having tried all existing methods to escape his addiction, he continued to search for a way out. In the prison library he came across a book written by L. Ron Hubbard, The Fundamentals of Thought, which outlined an entirely new approach toward solving the problems of life.

On August 2, 1965, after reflecting on what he read, he literally jumped down from his double bunk in the old cellblock where he was housed and made the following notation on his wall calendar: "Decision to set up Narcotic Foundation." He also circled the 18th of the same month, his target date to approach prison officials to request permission to set up a drug rehabilitation program inside the prison walls.

Inmates from the Arizona State Prison with William Benitez

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 ultimately result in one of the nation's most successful rehabilitation programs for substance abusers.

Benitez, far left, with inmates on the first Narconon course

Mr. Benitez persisted and finally assured officials that 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 the NARCONON program (NARCOtics-NONe) on February 19, 1966. Thus this year, 2009, is the 43rd anniversary of Narconon.

Benitez working with wife, June, in the Narconon office in the early '70's

Bill completed his prison term and was released in October 1967. Bill moved to California to expand Narconon and to make it available to persons in need. Mr. Hubbard and his organizations throughout supported the effort which has resulted in worldwide expansion.

Years later, Bill returned to Arizona and was hired as Inmate Liaison by former Arizona Department of Corrections Director, Ellis McDougall, in 1981. Then he became Hearing Officer for the Corrections Director at Central Headquarters on inmate complaints.

Bill and his wife, June, married soon after his release and had two beautiful daughters, Laura and Lana. Reminiscing, Bill attributed his success in marriage, his profession, and his life to principles he learned from Mr. Hubbard’s texts. Bill was quite a joker and believed in not taking life too seriously, but in his quieter moments he expresses, “Sure, I started Narconon, but its success and expansion is due to the dedication of so many staff and volunteers throughout the world who have made this program and its benefits available to the public. Staff and volunteers’ compensation is in knowing that they are providing society and its children a better environment in which to live. My thanks to them.”

William Benitez receiving an Hero’s award with Kirsty Alley and Chick Corea

Mr. Benitez passed away in 1999. Recently Gordy Weinand, his close friend and co-worker, and first graduate of the program, sent us his story about the early days:

Gordy Weinand at Narconon Arrowhead in 2003 being acknowledged as the first Narconon program graduate

Here is his success story :

"After years of drugs and alcohol, I got busted in Phoenix, Arizona. I then wound up at the State Prison in 1967. While there I met William Benitez. After several weeks of working together, he told me about a program he had started called Narconon. It was related to drugs. I told him about my history with drugs and drinking. He then invited me to attend a meeting.

The idea of getting out of my prison cell for two hours sounded good to me, so I went to my first meeting. In the beginning it seemed like a big joke. I took the reading materials back to my cell. The more I read about the effects drugs and drinking had on the body and the mind, the more things began to make sense to me. I began to understand why my behavior was the way it was. Thinking about the times I was told I was no good, I would never be anything, I was stupid and would never have anything, I began to understand why my behavior was the way it was. "It was the knowledge I learned in the beginning that showed me that I had a lot of ability. 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.

Several months before my release, Paramount Studios came to the prison to film a major motion picture. The movie was called "Riot" and featured the great Gene Hackman and Jim Brown. I had a considerably good part. Two weeks after the completion of the movie, I was released--and with a pretty good bankroll!

Upon my release from prison, I met up with William Benitez and other Narconon graduates in Phoenix, Arizona. We decided to move to Los Angeles. During that time, Bill got a job installing carpet. I worked with Bill for about eight years." We decided to try and open a Narconon center. We found an old garage that needed a lot of repairs. It needed a lot of new lumber to keep it from falling down. Our desk was made of saw-horses with pieces of plywood for the desktop.

We began by going out to schools, speaking to students about drugs. In between our work schedules we did everything we could to organize the new center. We were able to incorporate, and that became the basis of our expansion. Soon we were delivering a rehab program.

From those humble beginnings, 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. I'm living proof!"

I am currently working with Narconon Georgia in Atlanta and will always be there to help the Narconon network." - Gordy Weinand

Narconon has also been acknowledged many times over the years around the world by families, friends and celebrities that have never hesitated to answer the call to support Narconon, and here is an example:

Priscilla Presley at the Grand Opening in Michigan

The Narconon center in Albion celebrates its grand opening, a 120-bed residential drug rehab center.

Albion, MI -- With the help of Priscilla Presley, the new Narconon center in Albion celebrated its grand opening on Saturday, June 3rd, 2006.

"I'm not alone here. Many people have had this problem, and I feel that something has to be done about it," said Priscilla at the grand opening, as she spoke of families with loved ones who have fallen into the trap of drugs.

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Since 1966 Narconon has expanded around the world, being the leader in the field of Drug Rehabilitation and we thank the many supporters for the success and expansion of Narconon which has created happiness for the many thousands of graduates and their families.

I hope you enjoyed this short story, and I am sure you will celebrate with us the fact that rehabilitation is possible.

Best Regards,

Alison Withey

Narconon UK
Tel. 01424 420 036


(c) 2008 Narconon United Kingdom. All Rights Reserved. NARCONON is a registered trademark owned by the Association for Better Living and Education International and is used with their permission.