Narconon-Watch.org

Support from the Church of Scientology and Its Membership

When all else fails, critics of the Narconon program try to scare people from the program by twisting information about the Church of Scientology and connecting Narconon to it. Well, if you haven't noticed by the words "L. Ron Hubbard" - that is the connection. The research and developments in the field of drug rehabilitation and education that were made by Hubbard are what make up the Narconon program. This does not mean that Narconon teaches Scientology. Can correlations be made, sure, the information comes from the same source. Is Narconon Scientology? No.

The truth is that Narconon actually works with many faiths, and that is also why it is easily implemented into any culture and has operations in more than three dozen countries. There is also the inter-faith-based substance abuse conference in Oklahoma City a few years ago. It was co-sponsored by Narconon International and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), where both the speakers and attendees were primarily Christian-based.

The man who came across Hubbard's work and asked for his help was named William Benitez, and his story is below. Willie was the founder of Narconon and, while he worked closely with Scientologists for many years, was never himself a Scientologist.

In case you haven't read it, here is the explanation of how Hubbard helped Willie, who was a determined inmate and addict, get his life back together, free himself from addiction and turn around to help others do the same:

L. Ron Hubbard, who developed the drug rehabilitation methodology which the Narconon Program utilizes, was also the founder of the Scientology religion. While the Narconon program is a purely secular program which is open to members of all faiths, it has enjoyed the support of the Church and individual Scientologists since its beginnings.

In 1966, when Arizona State Prison inmate William Benitez wrote L. Ron Hubbard asking for help, it was Scientologist volunteers who helped him to set up the original Narconon courses inside the prison. Hubbard didn't give up on Benitez when all others had, and when Willie found that the principles he applied to himself to get off drugs he could also apply to others, then it was the beginning of something pretty amazing. Former addicts helping others help themselves with a blueprint designed by an author and humanitarian. The rehabilitation techniques worked so well, the Benitez was later hired by the very same Department of Corrections that once kept him under lock and key.

Taking a page from Mr. Hubbard in the 60's and applying it throughout the last four decades, other Scientologists have helped people get off drugs as well. In fact, the majority of new Narconon facilities established since that time have been made possible by the volunteer and financial support given by Scientologists.

It is an important part of Scientology's social mission to reduce the suffering and degradation caused by alcohol and drug abuse on a worldwide scope. Scientology churches join churches of other faiths in seeking to improve living conditions as well as the social and moral environments in which we live. As part of this mission, Churches of Scientology actively encourage their members to support the Narconon program, by helping to open new centers for drug rehabilitation or drug education and by volunteering their time to assist existing Narconon programs.

Therefore, it is common to find Scientologists from all walks of life volunteering to help the Narconon organization by conducting fundraising drives, establishing new centers and making its solutions known to people in need.

The Narconon program brings new solutions to the field of drug rehabilitation and education to all peoples of the world. Scientology Churches and Scientologists are proud to support this program.