Founding Narconon Graduate Celebrates Anniversary

It was 40 years ago today that Gordy Wienand, now Public Relations Director of Narconon of Georgia, walked into his first Narconon meeting in an old empty building at the Arizona State Prison.

 Narconon was a brand new concept, so Gordy really had no idea what to expect.   He had a drug problem when he arrived to prison, but admits that he really enrolled in Narconon (www.drugsno.com) “as a way to get out of his cell for two hours every night.”  Little did he know just how much and how fast his life would change for the better.

Gordy describes his first class with Narconon: “I didn’t really understand how the communication exercises would help me and I didn’t take it seriously that first night.  I did what I was told so I could come back the next Thursday, but it really didn’t sink in that I was working on developing life-changing skills.

“By the third Thursday, my world started to change. I read the first chapter of Fundamentals of Thought, by L.Ron Hubbard, which had inspired William Benitez to start Narconon. I realized that there was a way to make sense out of my life.  Here was an orderly approach to looking at the confusions in my life and in my past.  After reading this chapter, the communication exercises made more sense. To this very day I continue to use the skills I learned that night.  Every day when I wake up I create my goals for the day, based on the things that I learned through the Narconon program forty years ago.

“The program in the prison lasted 5 months. I learned that Willie cared deeply about others and had a great sense of humor.  He truly believed, after being addicted to heroin for 18 years that he had found the answer and he wanted to share it with others. Because of his efforts and the technology of L. Ron Hubbard, I graduated a new man with a new purpose.  I have been clean for 40 years and have helped others get clean and stay clean through the Narconon program.”

Narconon is a non-traditional drug abuse treatment program which was founded in 1967.

Narconon of Georgia was founded in 2001.  While many drug rehab statistics are nebulous, Narconon boasts a 76% success rate (based on a two year follow-up) through a non-12 step drug treatment program.  This program provides body detoxification through a sauna and exercise program that helps eliminate or reduce cravings.  After the sauna program, the client learns those life skills essential to success in life and the ability to stay clean.  They graduate from Narconon with a life plan and continued support to make sure they make it in life.

Copyright @ 2007. Narconon of Georgia Inc. All rights reserved. Narconon and the Narconon Logo are trademarks and service marks owned by the Association for Better Living and Education International and are used with its permission. Narconon of Georgia is a non-profit 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation.