The History & Growth of the Narconon Program

Many inmates asked to join the popular first Narconon program in Arizona. It had 60 students before spreading to other prisons. (Benitez, left front)

In 1966 Narconon was the dream of one man: Willie Benitez, a three-time convicted felon and a 19-year, hard-core drug addict. Admitted to the Arizona State Prison after being convicted once again for a drug-related offense, Mr. Benitez read a book by L. Ron Hubbard. The information it contained enabled him to overcome his own addiction, something he had unsuccessfully tried to do for years. Then, after corresponding with Mr. Hubbard who offered advice, he initiated a program to assist his fellow inmates and addicts to overcome their substance abuse problems.

William Benitez (standing in front of the door) in the first Narconon class in Arizona state Prison in 1966.

Starting with 20 inmates, the program grew to include many more prisoners, including even non-addicts who wanted to change their lives.

After he had run the program for seven months, prison officials asked him to start another program for young offenders. Upon his release from prison, he expanded the program further, including non-incarcerated addicts as well. Now the Narconon program is operating more than 106 groups in 36 countries around the world freeing more than 16,000 individuals from the shackles of drugs. And through its drug education lecture program it introduced more than one million children to “the truth about drugs.”