On October 25, around 100 people gathered at the Narconon Tijuana drug rehab center to celebrate the second anniversary of the center’s grand opening in 2012. It was not long ago that Padre Jaime Lares Chairez, a Catholic priest working in Tijuana, decided to open a Narconon center, but in that time the organization that he established has saved many lives and has begun shining the light of hope into a city plagued by the effects of drug abuse and addiction. It all began when Padre Lares, who had already been working to help addicts in his community, attended a workshop that Narconon International provided to Twelve Step centers in Tijuana.
In his work with addicts, Parde Lares recognized that there was enormous room for improvement in the field of addiction treatment, and he knew that he and others like him needed something more effective to combat the spread of drugs in Mexico. He recognized that Narconon offered just such a solution, and he appreciated the fact that the Narconon program, unlike so many other rehabs, does not take a fully materialistic approach to treating an addict, but addresses a person who can grow, improve and change beyond the bare coping that is the result of many other programs.
Catholic Priest Opens Narconon Center in Tijuana
Padre Lares was determined to bring the answers provided by Narconon to Tijuana and the surrounding region of Mexico, and so he set about getting training for himself and his staff in delivering the program. At the same time, it was necessary to provide a place to house the center, so Padre Lares oversaw the construction of a new facility, the new home of Narconon Tijuana.
This was achieved through the support of the Catholic Church and donations from parishioners locally, as well as contributions which flowed in from throughout the world, including as far away as Japan. People from across the globe and from all walks of life were determined to help Padre Lares bring effective drug rehab solutions to Tijuana, a city whose name has become closely associated with the international drug trade. Since the center opened its doors two years ago, it has been necessary to expand into a separate women’s wing, given that the strictures of the Catholic faith would prohibit a co-ed facility.
At this point, Narconon Tijuana welcomed Sister Veronica and Sister Angelica from the Catholic Samaritan Order of Jesus and Mary of Guadalupe to the staff, a pair of nuns who had been trained in the delivery of the Narconon program. Now, Narconon Tijuana was fully equipped to offer its help to everyone in the region, and they have been doing so since then.
The second anniversary celebration at Narconon Tijuana was attended by around 100 people, including staff of the center, current and former students, as well as family friends and others who were on hand to help commemorate the occasion. The principal speaker at the event was Dr. Humberto Gurmilan, a physician who works with addicts in San Diego and Tijuana. Remarking on the unique approach taken by Narconon Tijuana and other Narconon centers, Gurmilan said, ”It is such an error to think that the addict does not deserve our love and attention.
Addiction affects all parts of the personality – physical, emotional, mental and spiritual, and treatment needs a spiritual address to reach all of these.” The guests arrived in the morning for breakfast festivities, and over the course of the celebration they enjoyed dance performances as well as speeches from staff and individuals who shared their own stories of success on the program.” It was a rich and joyful celebration of everything that has been accomplished since Padre Lares decided to bring Narconon to Tijuana, and it served as a confirmation that the center has a bright future moving forward as it continues to save lives over the coming years.
