Why I Chose to Fight Addiction with Narconon—as a Mother and Parenting Coach

I was born and raised in Mexico City and spent more than half my life living in the United States. Over the years, I’ve built a life as an entrepreneur and parenting coach, driven by a desire to help others lead better lives.

I first learned about the Narconon program through my church. Even though I was giving parenting seminars and helping families at that time, I felt something was missing. I wanted to do more. I was aware that drug abuse is one of the biggest issues facing our society today, but it wasn’t until I heard about a young person who had overdosed on fentanyl that it truly hit home. While I didn’t know this child personally, he was the same age as one of my children. That tragedy was heartbreaking for me, and I knew I had to take action.

My first experience helping someone with addiction was with a very close family member. I was overwhelmed, frustrated, angry, and unsure of what to do. With the incredible support of the Narconon staff, I was able to get him onto the program. By the end, I watched him become himself again. I’ll never forget his words at graduation as he broke down in tears: “I wanted to stop, but no matter what I did, I couldn’t.”

That moment changed everything for me. I realized how fortunate we were to have found Narconon. Without it, we could have lost him. Addiction is a trap—one that many don’t know how to escape. They need someone to show them the way out. That’s when I decided to dedicate myself to helping expand Narconon’s reach—not just in Los Angeles, but across California, the U.S., and the world.

What makes Narconon stand out is its different approach. Unlike many other rehab programs, it doesn’t rely on substituting one drug for another. Instead, it addresses both the physical and mental aspects and how they relate to addiction. Narconon doesn’t believe that a person is doomed to be an addict for life. It believes in real recovery, and it works. The success rate is proof of that.

“If you're considering becoming involved with Narconon, I, from the bottom of my heart, encourage you to do so. This program works.”

If you're considering becoming involved with Narconon, I, from the bottom of my heart, encourage you to do so. This program works. People struggling with addiction often don’t have the tools, support, or knowledge to help themselves. They’re trapped—and they need people like us.

Many addicts are good, valuable people who simply made a wrong turn and fell into a deep, dark hole. They need someone to reach in and help them climb out. When you know there’s a way out, there’s a responsibility to act. If I were in that hole, I would hope someone who knew the way out would do everything in their power to help me.

Supporting Narconon has brought me a level of fulfillment I never imagined. There’s no greater feeling than watching someone go from being lost in addiction to becoming a hopeful, happy, and empowered individual ready to build a better future, and knowing you had a part in that transformation.

—Marisol M., Narconon Field Representative