Over the past three decades, at such centers as these, Narconon has freed more than 25,000 people from drug addiction and has reached millions with its message that a drug-free life is a happier and more fulfilling one.

hroughout history, man has turned to drugs in many forms in efforts to relieve pain or to eliminate physical or mental problems. While the use of herbs and plants is as old as mankind, the wholesale abuse of these substances (and of a broad range of powerful, man-made chemicals) to deaden human consciousness can only be observed in our century.

      The Narconon drug rehabilitation and prevention program began in 1966 in an Arizona state prison when inmate William Benitez, a hard-core addict since the age of 13 who was serving his fourth prison term, sought to cure himself of drug addiction. His search for solutions led him to L. Ron Hubbard’s book, Scientology: The Fundamentals of Thought. With its principles, he was at last able to kick his addiction.

      As Mr. Benitez continued his studies, he realized that Mr. Hubbard’s discoveries offered the first genuine hope to addicts, and he began to apply that material to help his fellow inmates.

      Mr. Benitez corresponded with Mr. Hubbard, who encouraged him to expand the program. And expand it did, first within the prison, with the approval of prison officials, and then to actual Narconon centers. The first opened in Los Angeles in 1971.

      Today, Los Angeles serves as the international headquarters of Narconon, with 39 drug rehabilitation and prevention centers in the United States, Mexico, Colombia, Canada, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, England and Russia.

Continued...

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