APON was founded October 1st, 1994 by Brother Ronald Drahozal, CSC. Then he was still the Director of the first Drug Rehabilitation Center started in Bangladesh ( he was the Founding Director of that Center, July 1988-95.) Brother Ronald came to Dhaka from America in 1962 as a teacher, and has remained ever since. Over the subsequent 38 years he increasingly became involved in more youth work and its associated issues/activities leading to drug rehabilitation in the 1980''''''''s.

APON was started with one recovered addict) as a Halfway House for aftercare services for those addicts who had finished basic treatment at the first center (mentioned above), but still felt the need for a supportive safe residence while they continued their education or began to work outside. Because of the increasing demand for basic addiction treatment in Bangladesh at the time and the reputation and experience of APON''''''''s Director, many people started coming to APON for admission into a basic treatment and rehabilitation program. As the need increased, more and more of the residents were admitted for primary treatment. In time this became the main service provided by APON