Narconon

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Scientology falsely claims that front group Narconon is not part of Scientology.

Narconon in the News

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January 2, 1977article on Narconon Sunday News Journal (Wilmington, DE) article about Narconon, which was introduced into the Delaware prisons in Smyrna and Georgetown in 1972. From 1973 to 1976, about $60,000 in federal funds and about $6,000 in state funds is spent on these Narconon prison programs. In 1976, a study by the Delaware State Agency to Reduce Crime contradicts Narconon's claims of success and raises doubts regarding the connection of Narconon and the Church of Scientology. In the summer of 1976 funding runs out and the program is disbanded. An investigation is launched by the intelligence unit of the state police.
February 11, 1980article on Narconon Detroit News runs a major expos
April 21, 1981Bizarre Brainwashing Cult Cons Top Stars Into Backing Its Drug Program Some of Hollywood's biggest stars have been duped into endorsing a controversial drug rehabilitation program called Narconon, which is actually operated by Scientology. More than 170 celebrities' names have been used as "Friends of Narconon." Although a few are Scientologists - such as Cathy Lee Crosby, Priscilla Presley and Karen Black - others were shocked to learn Narconon was an offshoot of the weird cult.
October 1, 1981article on Narconon at St. Cloud Twin Cities Reader reports on Narconon and its problems at the St. Cloud Reformatory. The story notes that Minnesota Senator Rudy Boschwitz contributed $200 to Narconon. Boschwitz later insists in exchanges with Oklahoma Senators David Boren and Don Nichols, and with the Newkirk Herald Journal, that Narconon never told him of their link to Scientology. His aide, Tom Mason, has noted that the Narconon donation was a very small part of Boschwitz's estimated $56,000 in gifts to charity in 1976. However, Narconon views the senator's donation as an asset far out of proportion to its size and heavily publicises the donation as a sign of the Senator's alleged backing for their work.
December 28, 1981article about Narconon St. Petersburg Times: article about Narconon
October 14, 198620-Year-Old Gives Narconon $10,000 Check A 20-year-old man who said his housecleaning business has made him a millionaire presented a $10,000 check Monday to Narconon, a Los Angeles drug rehabilitation program. Minkow said he has ordered all 330 people employed by his company to take drug tests. Several workers, including a manager and a member of his board of directors, resigned, saying the test violated constitutional rights, he said.
November 2, 1986New Drug Program Has Its Critics Local experts asked to evaluate Narconon's program said that at best it uses unproven theories of doubtful value. At worst, these experts said, the program is potentially dangerous. "I think it's basically charlatanism," said Bob MacFarlane, an addiction specialist at Sharp Cabrillo Hospital.
November 24, 1988Scientology Leader Sent to Jail in Spain A judge in Spain ordered the head of the Church of Scientology International jailed Wednesday pending possible indictment on charges of fraud, criminal association and tax evasion. Judge Jose Maria Vazquez Honrubia said it will be at least a week before Heber Jentzsch of Los Angeles sees a second judge about setting bail. He said Jentzsch was being sent to a prison outside Madrid. The judge said authorities had frozen $1.76 million in bank accounts belonging to officials of the U.S.-based Church of Scientology and the church's drug rehabilitation program, Narconon.
December 12, 1988Narconon One of Many Scientology Organizations St. Petersburg Times: Narconon One of Many Scientology Organizations
January 20, 1989Objection Dismissed In Narconon Case El Pais: Objection Dismissed In Narconon Case
April 27, 1989article on Narconon Newkirk Herald Journal exposes the links between Narconon and Scientology, expressing disapproval in no uncertain terms. Calling Narconon "mental messiahs with forked tongues", it comments: "Their own propaganda says their treatments 'cannot be construed as a recommendation of medical treatment or medication and it is undertaken or delivered by anyone on his own responsibility.' In other words, if it don't work, tough cookies." It concludes that the Oklahoma Health Planning Commission "must have had its head plugged into an E-meter not to discover the true nature of this malignity."
May 18, 1989letter from Narconon president John Duff In a letter printed on the front page of the weekly Newkirk Herald Journal, Narconon president John Duff wrote: "There will be those that will not want Narconon to succeed at Chilocco because they are for drugs and are on the other side in the battle against drugs," prompting an angry response from community leaders, including Jones, the Baptist minister Mark Jones, who responded the following week, writing he "resented the implication, or more accurately the accusation, that was made by Narconon's Mr. Duff. He accused me of supporting illegal drug use in our area if I did not swallow his program hook, line and sinker."
July 6, 1989Narconon One of Many Scientology Organizations (reprint from SP Times) Newkirk Herald: Narconon One of Many Scientology Organizations (reprint from SP Times)
August 17, 1989Commission, Chamber, School Board, City Leaders Call for State Review of Narconon Program at Chilocco Indian School North of Tow Newkirk Herald Journal: Commission, Chamber, School Board, City Leaders Call for State Review of Narconon Program at Chilocco Indian School North of Town.
May 24, 1990editorial on Narconon Newkirk Journal editorial on Narconon: "Thanks to your enduring help, the Oklahoma State Legislature has passed (91 to 0 in the House and similar in the Senate), and Governor Henry Bellmon has signed a law which should insure that Oklahoma will certify only legitimate, medically safe drug and alcohol treatment facilities for operation in our state. Practitioners of Body Thetan exorcism and other hocus pocus won't cut it."
June 7, 1990editorial on Narconon Harold's Journal Editorial Opinion lists falsehoods told by Narconon as they prepared to establish the Narconon center in Oklahoma.
May 9, 1991editorial on Narconon Newkirk Journal editorial on Narconon: "While we've been content, lately, to let the system work, Goofyology has been milking the media for publicity every chance it gets. This week, they really got their wish... compliments of Time Magazine. For those of you who have been unable to locate a copy of the May 6th Time Magazine anywhere in the county, we are reprinting the entire cover story in today's Herald Journal. Including a page from the International Edition that didn't appear in the domestic issue. The Time story, as did the Los Angeles Times series last summer, further confirms everything we have uncovered about the menace of the Rondroids. Empty news stands all over the county attest to the high interest this story has generated... or the high interest someone has in preventing you from reading it!"
December 19, 1991Narconon Backers Demand Probe Group Fights State Rejection Of Certification Wichita Eagle: Narconon Backers Demand Probe Group Fights State Rejection Of Certification
March 12, 1992Narconon To Ignore BIA Order To Close Chilocco Facility Daily Oklahoman: Narconon To Ignore BIA Order To Close Chilocco Facility
March 25, 1993Indian Leaders Want Narconon Chilocco Audit Some Indian leaders are disappointed with the amount of revenue being generated by a drug and alcohol abuse treatment center that promised to pay five tribes millions of dollars over the next two decades. The leaders of the Kaw and Pawnee tribes have asked the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs to audit the Narconon Chilocco New Life Center to determine whether the non-Indian facility is meeting payment terms of a 25-year lease.
April 11, 1994US Drug Program Being Peddled On Reserves A drug treatment program backed by a controversial church is trying to sell Alberta Natives addiction-cure services that medical experts have warned are unsafe and ineffective. As many as 10 Alberta reserves have been approached by Narconon, a U.S.-based program associated with the Church of Scientology. The program - which costs about $18,000 U.S. and prescribes daily saunas and megavitamin doses - has been rejected by a U.S. and state board of health because it "may endanger the physical or mental well-being of (its clients)."
October 11, 1996Letters To The Editor: Narconon Ponca City News: Letters To The Editor: Narconon
December 22, 1996article on Narconon Ponca City News: "Three of Narconon Chilocco's senior executives have been certified as chemical dependency counselors by the National Board of Addiction Examiners...
March 3, 1998Boston Herald: Scientology Reaches into Schools through Narconon An organization with ties to the Church of Scientology is recruiting New England schoolchildren for what critics say is an unproven — and possibly dangerous — anti-drug program. And the group — Narconon Inc. of Everett — is being paid with taxpayer dollars without disclosing its Scientology connections.
April 13, 1999School Panel Rejects Anti-Drug Program A Pinellas school district committee has refused to allow students to hear an anti-drug program based on the teachings of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. The program is a product of Narconon International. Presentations included Scientology's tone scale and required giving thanks to L. Ron Hubbard.
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Narconon in the News

Datesort iconTitle
February 19, 1966Narconon, founded Narconon is founded.
April 1, 1970Short-lived Narconon, Menard County, Illinois, January 1972 Short-lived Narconon program is established in Menard County, Illinois, but is no longer listed by January 1972. [April 1970; exact date unknown]
May 1, 1970Narconon New Life Program, State, California, non-profit corporation Narconon New Life Program is incorporated in the State of California as a non-profit corporation.
May 16, 1970Narconon's, Henning Heldt, Arthur Marin, William Benitez Narconon's original incorporation papers are signed by Henning Heldt, Arthur Marin, and William Benitez.
May 20, 1970Narconon's, papers, Henning Heldt, Arthur Marin, William Benitez, Secretary, State, California Narconon's original incorporation papers, signed by Henning Heldt, Arthur Marin, and William Benitez, are filed with the Secretary of State of California.
June 1, 1972Narconon New Life Program, Los Angeles, CA, out-patients. There, time Narconon New Life Program begins in Los Angeles, CA as an office that deals with out-patients. There is no official funding at this time. [June 1972; exact date unknown]
November 7, 1973Following, Narconon, $330,000, funding, Narconon New Life Program Following a proposal by Narconon for $330,000 of state funding, Narconon New Life Program receives its first [Senate Bill] 714 funding and a contract is awarded on behalf of the State of California.
June 27, 1974Narconon New Life Program's, $13,039.33 Narconon New Life Program's reserve account records a sum of $13,039.33.
July 1, 1974Following, Narconon, $497,000, funding, State, California Following a proposal by Narconon for $497,000 of state funding, a second contract is awarded on behalf of the State of California.
October 31, 1974California State Evaluation Committee, Narconon, State, continued The California State Evaluation Committee faults many aspects of the Narconon program and in the end recommends that State funding not be continued.
March 1, 1977Narconon, Michigan Corrections Department, program. With, program's success, Narconon, $19,583, Narconon Program, Ionia State Pr Narconon offers the Michigan Corrections Department a free three month pilot program. With no evaluation of the program's success, the department then awards Narconon a $19,583 contract to establish a Narconon Program in Ionia State Prison, MI. [March 1977; exact date unknown]
August 28, 1981Officials, St. Cloud Reformatory, Men, St. Cloud, Minnesota, Narconon. In September, Narconon's, Minnesota Dept., Corrections, t Officials of the St. Cloud Reformatory for Men in St. Cloud, Minnesota begin an investigation into Narconon. In September, Narconon's contract with the Minnesota Dept. of Corrections is terminated.
August 31, 1981At, St. Cloud Reformatory, Men, St. Cloud, Minnesota, Narconon's, Scientology At the St. Cloud Reformatory for Men in St. Cloud, Minnesota, a prison meeting is held to deal with Narconon's links to Scientology.
June 6, 1988Leroy Bridges, Oklahoma Department, Mental Health, Oklahoma Secretary, State's, Treatment Development Corporation. Treatment Dev Leroy Bridges, an employee of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health, files a document with the Oklahoma Secretary of State's office in which he applies to reserve the name Treatment Development Corporation. Treatment Development Corp. was hired by Narconon International to help the Los Angeles based firm with its certificate of need application to open a Narconon center in Oklahoma. Bridges denies any wrongdoing, but his activities are probed by federal investigators.
May 1, 1989Oklahoma, Narconon, operating Oklahoma state officials tell residents they believe Narconon is a legitimate enterprise and would be inspected by the state once operating. [May 1989; exact date unknown]
May 8, 1989At, Newkirk, OK, Leroy Bridges, State Mental Health Department, 80 At a public meeting in Newkirk, OK, Leroy Bridges of the State Mental Health Department tells a group of about 80 people that there would be "no Oklahoma patients" treated at the Narconon facility, except for a few indigent Indians. Mr. Bridges also says that no state money would be involved. But a 1988 document in the package by John Duff, president of Narconon International, lists local and Oklahoma people as the top priorities in the Narconon marketing plan. It also lists "State Contracts that pay for beds," as a priority. At the same meeting, Mr. Bridges tells the citizens of Newkirk that Narconon had voluntarily placed itself under jurisdiction of the state for matters of law enforcement and inspection of their program and facilities. However, a letter from Sheriff Glenn Guinn says, "As I understand it, I have no authority on Chilocco land. Everything at Chilocco comes under the F.B.I., and we have one F.B.I. agent in this area stationed at Enid."
May 26, 1989Garry Bilger, Mayor, Newkirk, Oklahoma, Narconon's, Chilocco, states. City Commission, Chamber, Commerce, School Board, Mayor, S Garry Bilger, the Mayor of Newkirk, Oklahoma, begins an inquiry into Narconon's planned Chilocco facility after receiving adverse reports from at least five other states. The City Commission, Chamber of Commerce and School Board join the Mayor in urging a State review of the issue.
June 1, 1989North Central Major Crimes Task Force, Oklahoma newspaper, works. Western Investigating, Scientology The North Central Major Crimes Task Force runs an ad in a local Oklahoma newspaper, asking readers to identify who is selling drugs and where the suspect lives and works. The ad is similar to one by Western Investigating, a private investigation firm hired by Scientology. The latter ad also asks readers to list "anyone who may be opposed to effective drug rehabilitation programs." Narconon officials have been attempting to quash criticism by claiming that anyone who opposes their program is promoting drug abuse. [June 1989; exact date unknown]
June 30, 1989Narconon, Gary Smith, 6-month-old, Newkirk, Garry Bilger, Associated Press, Narconon. However, time, Narconon, Scientology Narconon spokesman Gary Smith uses a 6-month-old letter of support from Newkirk mayor Garry Bilger to suggest to The Associated Press that the mayor supports Narconon. However, by that time, the mayor had withdrawn his support for Narconon, having found they were being dishonest about their connection to Scientology. [late June 1989; exact date unknown]
August 31, 1989Oklahoma State Health Department, Narconon's, Chilocco The Oklahoma State Health Department applies for an injunction to halt Narconon's operations at Chilocco.
June 29, 1990Narconon, Chilocco;, $2,000.00 apiece. donors Narconon holds a grand opening ceremony in Chilocco; tickets have been sold for $2,000.00 apiece. The ceremony features a recognition ceremony for donors, a reception with "opinion leaders, celebrities, politicians and Native American leaders from around the United States," tours, an Indian Pow Wow, and Western barbeque. It's all designed, according to a flyer, to "help establish overwhelming public popularity for LRH." Its initial Certificate of Need will expire the following day.
June 30, 1990Narconon's, Certificate, Need expires. Although Narconon, date, May 21, 1990 Narconon's initial Certificate of Need expires. Although Narconon is supposed to apply for state licensing and certification before this date, they have not done so as of May 21, 1990.
August 2, 1990Oklahoma State Health Department, Narconon's, Chilocco The Oklahoma State Health Department applies for an injunction to halt Narconon's operations at Chilocco.
September 13, 1990District Judge Neat Beckman, Oklahoma Department, Mental Health, October, Narconon Chilocco New Life Center, approval, open. In, District Judge Neat Beckman orders the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health to determine by October whether the Narconon Chilocco New Life Center, operating without state approval, should be certified to remain open. In the meantime, the center will be allowed to operate, but is prohibited from accepting new patients.
September 14, 1990Scientologist Pius Keel, suicide Scientologist Pius Keel commits suicide: "after less than two months at Narconon, Pius packed his bags and threw himself under a train."