TROIS-RIVIERES, Quebec — Throughout Narconon history there has been much dedication from so many people working together to get Narconon where it is today. When Narconon founder William Benitez founded the Narconon program in 1966, he was still within the prison walls of the Arizona State Prison. Although his sentence was carried out and served, like most inmates at the time he was looking at it in more detail. Through his own research he soon discovered that he was put on trial under an incorrect statute. Because of this mistake he was able to return back to court, and was told by the court he was to be re-sentenced with time served and then re-released with time served.

Because Narconon at the time was only a few months old, Mr. Benitez felt if he was released too soon, and did not remain in the prison, the Narconon program would not be a success. Will did not ask the court for an early release, instead he formally requested a shorter sentence in order to finish his work on the Narconon program. After the court agreed upon the request, Mr. Benitez was re-sentenced, and would be released within a 16-month period. This would have given Will the time needed to finish his work on the Narconon program. “It was the best, but toughest decision I ever made in my life, I would have loved to walk away from court a free man,” commented Mr. Benitez at the time.

When word got out that a prisoner of the Arizona State Prison turned down the opportunity to get released, it became a major news story amongst Arizona State newspapers and television stations. In fact, a local television station acquired permission from the prison warden at the time, Frank Eyman, to interview Mr. Benitez and some students of the first Narconon therapy group.

In 1967, William Benitez was formally released from the Arizona State Prison, and then moved to California. It was in California that Will and his staff continued to receive help and guidance from L. Ron Hubbard, whose writings Will had based his unique treatment approach on, of raising and increasing abilities, later resulting in complete recovery for any drug or alcohol addiction. California was also the place where Mr. Benitez and his staff started the first residential Narconon program. Through the dedication of one selfless man, his staff, local Scientologists, and hundreds of volunteers, the Narconon network has grown into 150 different centers in over 40 different countries.

Talking about the success of the Narconon network, Mr. Benitez said: “Its success and expansion are due to the dedication of so many staff and volunteers throughout the world, who have laboured to make the program’s benefits available to everyone in need. Staff and volunteers compensation is in knowing they are providing society and its children a better environment in which to live. My thanks go to them.”

William Benitez passed away in 1999, and he left behind a drug and alcohol treatment solution that has saved tens of thousands of lives.

For more information on the Narconon® program and William Benitez, please visit narconon.ca.

Send2Press® is the originating wire service for this story, Copr. 2009.

National news from leading U.S. wire services including other nodes in the Neotrope® News Network. Business, entertainment and technology news stories of regional and national interest.

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