Narconon Community Celebrates 60 Years of Drug-Free Lives

Celebrating 60 years of its effective and lifesaving drug rehabilitation program, Narconon International hosted a panel of its graduates for an inspiring discussion before an audience of recent and long-term graduates, family, and friends.

Attendees had traveled from across the U.S. and the wider Los Angeles area to participate in the celebration, rekindle friendships, and congratulate one another on their continued sobriety. The event was held at Narconon International’s Hollywood, California headquarters on Saturday, February 28th.

The Narconon International Outreach Coordinator and emcee of the event, Ms. Danielle Blasco, introduced all graduates present and had them stand to be recognized for the number of years they have now been sober and drug-free. Mr. Tony Bylsma was applauded for celebrating his golden anniversary—50 years since graduating the Narconon program—as were two other graduates, Mr. Mike Baron and Mr. Robert Hernandez, who have also been sober for over 50 years.

“I knew that I found something that was worth fighting for, which is helping others...”

 

Having completed the Narconon program within the past five years, graduate panelist Khallid is now giving back to his community. A young recording artist of some renown, his addiction began just as his career was taking off and he had just signed a record deal. “It was just a little $20 problem, then a $50 problem, and then you wake up with half a million dollars in your bank account, and it’s a $1,000 problem.” He successfully graduated from the Narconon program, but added while on the program, “Who came to see me?... Who contacted me and wished me well and checked up on me? And it wasn't a lot of people.” After completing the program, he ultimately decided to return to Narconon, this time as a certified drug rehab specialist. Now he says, “I knew that I found something that was worth fighting for, which is helping others, and I can still keep something that I love to do and that I know I'm meant to do, which is my music.”

 

Another panelist and former fentanyl user, Stacy, described her experience: “I know rock bottom might look different for every single person, but for me, rock bottom was having my life completely unmanageable, losing people that I love in my life. I saw a lot of death and things people shouldn't see, so I knew it was time to change my life and take it seriously.” Having graduated from the Narconon program within the past year, she noted, “The friendships that I have created with the people who helped me get through the toughest times at Narconon, you know, are people that I hold really dear to my heart today…Without Narconon, I think I would have been in a county rehab that would have put me on Methadone or Suboxone and I would have still been acting the same way because you put substances into your body and you still have those same behaviors.”

“The friendships that I have created with the people who helped me get through the toughest times at Narconon, you know, are people that I hold really dear to my heart today…”

Another graduate who spoke, Jessica, was affected by the 2025 Los Angeles fires and ended up cutting off ties with family and friends, sinking into a world of alcohol and cocaine that she couldn’t escape. Finally, someone reached out and told her about the Narconon program. “My health was declining...I was ready to change... I realized drugs were only a symptom of what I was facing. I wanted to be truly drug-free…finally.”

When graduates were asked which part of the program had the greatest impact on their daily lives, several mentioned the Narconon program’s communication skills training, especially the “training drills”—exercises that address being present, learning to be in control, using intention to accomplish goals, and improving communication. “If you really learn and use these tools, you don’t need to take drugs,” was how one graduate put it.

As more life-changing stories were shared, it became clear that it was typically a close friend or family member who helped the person find the program and ultimately introduced them to Narconon. Many individuals had tried other programs, but to no avail. They noted that those programs never fully addressed the craving for drugs and/or alcohol, and the inability to cope with life’s triggers often sent them back into addiction. An important part of the Narconon program targets this issue through a specific sauna, exercise, and nutrition protocol designed to help eliminate residual drugs left in the body after withdrawal.

In the past 60 years, the Narconon program, with 32 facilities around the world, has helped tens of thousands break the cycle of addiction and begin a new life.

For more information about creating a new drug-free future through Narconon's drug and alcohol rehabilitation program, contact us.