Jeannie Trahant completed the Narconon drug and alcohol rehabilitation program in 1973. She was the first female graduate of the program that was founded by an ex-heroin addict, William Benitez behind the walls of Arizona state prison . 36 years later, Jeannie is sharing her amazing story of recovery and how she has been helping other addicts improve conditions in their lives through the Narconon program .
Jeannie started using drugs when she was 14 years old. “My father, a professional football player in the 30’s and 40’s had passed away from an athlete’s heart,” says Jeannie. “I was with my mother who was having difficulty over the loss of my father and she began drinking. Her hopes and dreams died when he died. Because of this situation, I learned at an early age to be on my own, but the loss of him was a major factor of why I turned to drugs.”
By the time Jeannie was 16, she was addicted to heroin. “I remember back then telling myself I could put it all down by the time I was 18," she explains. “T his turned out to be wishful thinking. A s the time passed, I became more and more addicted.”
Jeannie went in and out of jail 3 times, promising the judge each time that she would quit using, only to return to drugs within hours of being released. One day she got so desperate she sat in a hospital waiting room, waiting to be admitted, only to be told by the nurse at the end of the day to “come back tomorrow.” Jeannie never returned to the hospital but quickly went back on her next drug binge.
A few weeks later, Jeannie’s life was saved when she found the Narconon program and was admitted into treatment. “I knew I had a chance from the minute I walked in the center,” says Jeannie. “The care factor was unbelievable and I felt safer than I ever had. The Narconon Program brought out my true abilities that had been covered up through the drug usage and taught me tools I could use for the rest of my life.”
Little by little Jeannie grew stronger until one day she realized that she was no longer a drug addict and the pain that led her into drugs in the first place was gone. “I knew in my heart I was cured,” says Jeannie. “I knew at that point life would be an adventure now and a whole new world for me. I knew my damaged life before was behind me.”
After completing the Narconon program, Jeannie knew she could do whatever she wanted to do with her life so she decided to help save the lives of others addicts through the Narconon technology. Early in her career at Narconon, she met Narconon’s founder William Benitez. “Many times he [Benitez] came to Narconon and visited with the staff and students. He was one of us; someone who had beat addiction through the Narconon Program and won his personal battle with drugs forever.”
Early commentary by Benitez on the purpose of Narconon and his own drug problem are shown on a recently released video one of Willie’s first drug education talks. After establishing the first Narconon program behind the prison walls, Benitez opened the first residential Narconon center in Los Angeles. Benitez and his staff received direction from American a uthor and humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard , on whose works the Narconon program were based — the intention being to raise the abilities of the individual, rather than treat his ‘illness.’ The Narconon program now operates 150 centers in 50 countries.
Following Benitez‘ example , Jeannie works continuously to help people improve conditions in life by giving them the life skills tools of the Narconon drug and alcohol rehabilitation program. “The reason it is important to do the Narconon program,” says Jeannie, “is because if an addict doesn’t, all that is left is death, jail or the psychiatric ward. These are the statistics on drugs.”
If you or someone you know is in need of a drug rehabilitation program that raises the abilities of the individual and offers a drug- free approach to handling addiction, contact Narconon today at (877) 237-3307.