Portrait of John H. Brooks

Born on Februray 26, 1936 in Atlantic City, John Brooks attended Atlantic City schools and received several degrees; general education, business administration and human resources from Rutgers University. John was a heroin addict and ex offender who became inspried to start a treatment facitliy while he was in prison for a drug related offense. In 1969 he founded NARCO, Inc. in a storefront near the St. Augustine Church in Atlantic City on Arctic Avenue. The group began treating drug and alcohol addiction. He served as Executive Director from 1969 to 1993. John Brooks passed away in December 2005.  The John Brooks Recovery Center has saved thousands of lives thanks in part to this drug-treatment pioneer.