In 1978, 20 volunteers helped Vincenzo Muccioli create the San Patrignano community. It began with a family that decided to open its doors to other people's problems. Self-respect and respect for others, the ethics of responsibility and the spirit of helping those who are most in need: these are the founding principles of San Patrignano. Today San Patrignano is the largest drug rehabilitation community in the world, welcoming young men and women with drug abuse problems. Since 1978, it has provided over 25,000 people with a home, medical, and legal assistance, as well as the possibility of continuing their studies, attending job training, and being reintegrated into society.
San Patrignano does not accept money from its guests, their families or the government. Of the funds necessary to maintain San Patrignano's guests, half comes from the profits earned through San Patrignano's goods and services, following a principle of autonomy. The rest comes from private donors or companies that believe in the social value of the center.
Currently the Community is home to 1,600 people, who eat together each day in the main dining room in a family setting. Recent studies conducted by several major universities show that 72% of those who completed the programme at San Patrignano are fully reintegrated into society and remain drug-free and 71% end up working in the field in which they received training at San Patrignano.
