synanon survivors

Synanon was the first therapeutic community devoted to the treatment of the drug addicted according to the Encyclopedia of Drugs and Alcohol, which is edited by the first White House Drug Czar; Dr. Jerome Jaffe Synanon is the prototype of the drug-related therapeutic community-a community where the addict surrenders all aspects of his life, except one-the right to leaveBratter and Forrest write that In less than a quarter of a century, the American self-help residential therapeutic community has come to span the globe. Everyone fell in line behind Bush as he made fun of the French or anyone who disagreed, even stating the cult mantra, you are either with us or against us. But when Bush burned a spy to take revenge on a Sen. who spoke out, the media woke up and with it so did the country. Despite this, despite the warnings of so many other notables, despite Art Barkers total lack of credentials and less than admirable past, The Seed received a $1.8 million U.S. government grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) soon after it opened. is probably the most clear and present danger the presidential office ever faced. Phoenix House is one of the biggest TCs today. WebSynanon Survivors is celebrating 4 years!!! The group ultimately became a cult called the Church of Synanon in the 1970s. Synanon disbanded in 1991 [6] due to members being convicted of criminal activities (including attempted murder) and retroactive loss of its tax-exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) due to financial misdeeds, destruction of evidence, and terrorism. [7] Posted by 6 years ago. Even AA, which similarly indoctrinated a specific dogma the 12 steps is seen as not so successful as promoted and/or a proper therapy to cure alcoholism as it demands a dogmatic conversion and life time attendance that has been proven not necessary. Maybe it's the leader's fault. And the grant had been administered by the founding director of NIDA who also happened to be the second White House Drug Czar-Robert DuPont. When they asked me, if an addict enters Synanon, how long will it take? My answer is, If he is lucky, it will take forever.. Even when Synanon was given an exemption for cold turkey treatment, Synanon created an illegal clinic and took in persons needing care other than addiction for which it required a license. my last chapter in my book did just exactly what you asked which was put my what you call myscholarly talents on the American cult. When she finally was rescued by a grandmother, the organization was fortunately wiped out by the resulting civil judgment for damages. Paul- when Elan closed in April 1 of 2011. *..*.*. The legacy quotes statistics that I did not keep or make, but Synanon did. So I went through it again to tried to erase that ambiguity and I hope you are happier with it. "In the case of my brother, he became the scapegoat. Rose Lena Cole was court ordered to Syanon by a juvenile court judge in 1972 for running away from home. you say the logic is faulty, but give no example and state why? Its goal was to take it to the context of greater society.I would appreciate you know your feelings. But I, its a marvelous business to watch these assholes come in and fall all over themselves and try bite me in the ass. History is full of similar situations, with similar results, where the group eventually mutated out of its violent stageslike Christianity and Mormons. WebNeed your help! Do you realize that over 80 people were attacked? The leader, Chuck Dederich, decided we wouldn't have parents, and then we just didn't.". but if I missed something please tell me. A haunting tale of estrangement, Synanon Kid, is a coming-of-age story of hope, survival, and determination. No doubt their belief in Synanon was so strong that they had a good influence on others, but unfortunately they were also subjected to the Synanon system which from the early days warned of the enemy at the door (which Dederich eventually confessed at deposition he made up to bond followers), and later declared that you could never go home or contact outsiders. We were beaten for the slightest infractions of the rules. Janzen could have had this dissertation, but he was not looking for truth. Synanons punitive system of verbal attacks and humiliation was counterproductive and drove out most that entered. And they didn't do that.". Since I had as friends, people like Bernie Kolb and Ben Parks, who went from long-term addictions to long time great human beings, I concluded something there must have worked. Gina Score, 14, at the state-run juvenile prison camp at Plankinton, South Dakota, 1999 was run to death. I dont have much to argue with what you say about the people in Synanon and do not disagree they helped others, they were there to do that. Facing seven-figure legal judgments, despite ties with the Bush family and Nancy Reagan, it closed in 1993. In 1993, Dr. DuPont testified that the progenitor of Straight was Synanon and that those places which used Synanons methods are called therapeutic communities and that there are two rules for these therapeutic communities: No Sex and No Violence. But he was tapped for his past violent tendencies and unleashed like Russell Crowe in L. . (Jollett explains that he, like many other former Synanon kids, suffered from reactive attachment disorder, in which a child does not form a healthy emotional bond with his caretakers.). And the reason was it all fell into one mans hands who was ill and toyed with people by his own admission to make them do what they did not want to do. That is, she was forced to run in the summer sun until she collapsed, and then she was left laying in the hot sun until she died. He noted that the child seemed lost in the rigid hierarchy and confrontation tactics of the program. He wrote: As a clinician I am concerned about the effects of intense, violent verbal interaction upon young teenagers engaged in a sensitive process of identity formation. Experience indicates that when these counselors use an especially intrusive, aggressive approach, frequently debasing and harshly confronting clients, they may do more harm than good. ), "You put stress on a family, unpredictable things happen, and children tend to take on different roles," Jollett says. The musician was careful in his portrayal of his mother, whom he feared would come across as a one-dimensional villain. You think I didnt experience Synanon, but I did. There are more successes, like the Rolling Stones Rick Jones, that stemmed from bona fide psychotherapy. (c) Nov. 2012. To me there is good reason why Elan was not on the the map. I'll see you in a few weeks for three hours,' Or in some cases, 'I'll see you in six months,' in some cases, five years. But the "abuse of children was absolutely swept under the rug, ignored, gaslit to hell," he says. Since I alone have the records (UCLA has only what Synanon chose to give it) I felt obligated. Matt C. Hoffman "I make them.". While Synanons bragging of curing drug addiction was far off from reality, its public relations system did promote the concept that drug addiction was not impossible to overcome as many had thought when Synanon was conceived. '", He continues: "'I'm going to make sure my mom's okay, because she's crying in the room.'". So I asked him how he could then discount it and he responded because if it existed, he would have to consider it occurring in religions (he is a Christian and lover of utopian communities) and other groups. I'm going to get up at 5:00, I'm going to feed the rabbits, I'm going to make myself breakfast, I'm going to make myself lunch, I'm going to walk to school. It still such a bracing business that I like to stay in it. As to your comment Tim that I am not the only valid source or authority on cults, that is obviously true. The game and all other methods of forced confessions, real or false to conform, are the essence of Liftons brainwashing. In 1984 a federal jury in Alexandria, Virginia awarded Fred Collins, Jr. $220,000 for being falsely imprisoned at Straight.Inc. Jollett, then just a little boy, hid to save himself. At one time, the view I had was believing that brainwashing was probably an ideal cure, but at what cost? God bless you. Saying his death was caused by cardiac arrest, said Cohen, is really sugar-coating the pill as he was tortured to death and also denied medical treatment. You would also have learned that I have been in the room with many Synanon people countless times. Every time we let somebody into Synanon we assume an enormous liability and this is done consciously. In my opinion Elan operated as a continueing criminal enterprise for close to forty years. He had beaten me time wise. Synanon can make its recommendation not to connect, even expel and announce it will not accept the person back; but there is no right to stop contact by never informing the person of attempts being made and giving the person the choice. In Is This A Camp Or Jail? by Adam Cohen, Time, January 26, 1998, he chronicled the three dozen deaths that occurred in such wilderness camps in the past decade. Simon, also using the Lifton model, concluded there was a danger in observing Synanon through participation because one could be caught up in the brainwashing. And with that all being announced on the wire, murder attempts begin. The evil was he boasted that they would cut off any charity that did not do as Synanon told them to do. All he knew was that if someone stayed they didnt do drugs. A belief system based upon coercive persuasion is expected by all who have studied it to be largely abandoned when the pressures are removed. That is just a fact. The article listed more; interesting the largest number of abusive clones were in Arizona, where several juvenile probation officers had became visitor/participators in Synanon and recommended Synanon to officials and courts even though Marin County juvenile probation had stopped all sending of kids to Synanon and returning runaways. is a different Sam Gillette is a books Writer/Reporter for People.com and People Magazine. We have multiple groups dedicated to ending the TTI (Troubled Teen Industry) as well, that work in conjunction with mine, this is how I discovered this story! I am very grateful that you have included in writing your blog about Joe Riccis version or interpetation of Synanon. Others who completed the program were absorbed into the organization as low-paid or voluntary staff limited to walking around money. And I really try to do that," Jollett says. He stated he consciously directed the Synanon population through this method. None of us were hardcore drug addicts. But instead he made lab rats out of people. As to the legacy, conclusion was not difficult. they were supposed to be about love, while men were about war. Still, to glorify Synanon, as some do, like Yablonsky, Janzen, is to show a lack of humanity and spit in the face of the vast amount of victims of violence in Synanons own holocaust. One feature of Seed was the Spanking Machine where a childs father must publicly whip his kid before the large peer Group. In the introduction I asked the question was Charles Dederich just another sociopath who rose to power or was he a Jedi Knight seduced by the Dark Side. I wrote that cults are just microcosms of greater societies. Correcting Claire Clarks Recovery Revolution, Book Escape: My Life Long War Against Cults. Once the population bought that, Dederich had complete power by threat of expulsion which he continually exercised out right or by squeezes.. In fact there are chapters in my history pointing to all the others who did and who were my heroes and gave them credit they never had. Comments here are for input, questions, and providing of facts. It just seems monstrous.". This issue obviously needs further elaboration and research, but there are suggestions that there are age limits below which this form of treatment is contraindicated. It was also capable of controling the floor show when ever there was an investigation, during these times Elan became a large weird hotel lobby, albeit briefly, while investigators simply saw our blank faces. Please buy the book. This piece was limited to legacy and was put together through stats, admissions and results in clones. During these group assaults on individual residents in the hot seat, especially newcomers, any castigation and ridicule appear to come from the whole community of clients. Synanon, a drug rehabilitation program turned violent cult founded by Charles Dederich Sr. in the late 1950s in California in part spawned the troubled teen industry, organizers claim. Synanon was discredited in the late 1970s and 1980s as its violent record was exposed. You dont present any facts that they are lies because you have none. There just a, lots of them down in the Bank of America building in San Francisco, Pacific Union club, various law offices throughout the country, the streets, the ghettos, the penitentiaries. You know ts great fun, to watch that. AA, as Synanon did, says one must participate in AA for life and have a religious belief in AA 12 steps. Books have steadily been written stating the same, perhaps the best was Help at Any Cost: How the Troubled-Teen Industry Cons Parents and Hurts Kids by Ms. Maia Szalavitz. This is not a criticism of that policy; but just the fact that it was insignificant in relation to the civil rights movement which was raging in the 60s and pushed by the Kennedys, Martin Luther King, and many black actors and athletes and my generation that marched and died in name of civil rights. as to George Bush, again in my book I said there was no difference between him psychologically and Osama. It was reported between 6000 and 10,000 people lived in Synanon from 1958 to 1968 but apparently only 65 were ever known to have completed the program and elected to graduate to life outside the community. "I am not bound by the rules," Dederich said, according to a 1978 PEOPLE story. I am also assuming that you have learned some of these things since you wrote this post-as I have seen some things you have written since that I was quite impressed by. In 1974 Rachman and Heller had noted that many youths had dropped out of TCs because the methods were geared to curing adult addicts. I let yours stand this time because it is so clearly speaks of the speaker not the subject. Nov 04, 2017 Daina Fanning rated it really liked it. Tony, always angry as a child, sank into addiction at an early age and went to rehab. Sells noted in 1976 that, The more strict the program the lower the percentage of clients retained in the [TC] program..Current magazine had noted that clients in TCs give up all rightsexcept the right to leave. Learning of all the horrors and deaths that occurred in the clones over the past decades I only wish I had, as you accuse a single career in criticizing Synanon. For author Mikel Jollett, the frontman for the indie band The Airborne Toxic Event, his book is a "primal scream.". How old were you. Dederich said those who left fell through the open manhole and would post descriptions of their calamities for all to see as a warning if they ever left. And, as stated, many of those who left were purposely ejected or forced out by Dederich squeezes. Indeed, that same year Dederich, in his The Wrath of God speech accused addicts of stabbing him in the back by failing to negotiate an apartment complex purchase, and threatened to get rid of all of them and replace them with squares. I look forward to comments, but those based upon facts, not attacks on the messenger. We were mentally ill. Chuck Dederich would not only envy the Money Elan made, but the protection they got. gave a grant to a Florida organization called The Seed, which applied Synanons methods to teenagers, even to those only suspected of trying drugs . The monster that now existed had to be stopped. But they have settled now, particularly, as stated below, as I slowly learned the results of so many of the Synanon clones, which resulted in so much death and brutality. . After saying staying in Synanon is the addicts only chance for sustained life, in 1976 Dederich said that in 5 years there would be no room for the kind of people you are now. Followers joined Synanon, from the first beach house location in Santa Monica that expanded to San Francisco, Oakland, all across California, and the nation. Thousands of people joined and the organization acquired millions of dollars in assets. Maybe if I had written sooner some would still be alive. there were a lot of people in the early days who left because of the way Dederich was taking it, and its too bad the idea grew out of person with such a tortured past. A business illiterate, I dont know an invoice from a purchase order or the difference between shipped and delivered. Commonly employed and widely admired in 12-step groups and treatment., The urge to save humanity is almost always only a false-face for the urge to rule it., Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. In writing all these chapters, I tried to set forth the facts as factual as they occurred, thus leaving for historians to make their own answers to these questions. This intrusive, assertive therapeutic style works well for a few clients but may injure many more. Professor Bellis noted that, A number of clients. I was inducted in late 1976 at the age of 14. Rogers had been referring to the dangers involved with a kid participating in a typical Synanon Game with 11 people yelling at him, where he could fight back verbally, where he could leave if he chose, and where there was no physical violence. But that dwindled as the joiners became younger and Dederich turned his attention to using the media and Hollywood to produce a flow of persons, goods and services to develop by 1976 over $30 million in assets and the start of large salaries and bonuses. when the uniqueness of adolescent psychological development is not understood and incorporated into clinical practice. ", "It wasn't like Godfather, it was like Pirates of Penzance," Jollett explains. The medical examiners office said Haynes died of complications from dehydration and near-drowning dehydration after being made to stand in the sun for up to five hours, the near-drowning from being left in a motel bathtub, where he had been taken to cool him off. For comparisons please get my book Escape: My Life Long War Against Cults. That is not ego. Margo, you say you are a successful attorney. Like you I made an incorrect assumption, I complained to Ben you all deleted after I responded. But there wont be any room for the kind of people you are now. Communist Russia was safer with freedom taken away. Kenton, through no fault of his own, was placed in the Synanon school by square musician parents and at age 18 became the youngest member of the Imperial Marines. Watched the documentary Ethel on HBO and compare the public speaking of the Kennedys to the embarrassing debates that took place in the recent election. Campers say they had bruised ribs from an exercise in which they were ordered to lie on their backs while counselors ran across their chests in boots. 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Brother, he became the scapegoat Daina Fanning rated it really liked it did... He noted that the child seemed lost in the room with many Synanon countless. Have studied it to be stopped be alive example and state why judge 1972. My Life Long War Against cults to stay in it a little,... A successful attorney have had this dissertation, but he was not the. We let somebody into Synanon we assume an enormous liability and this done. At Straight.Inc probably an ideal cure, but those based upon facts, attacks. Who also happened to be the second White House Drug Czar-Robert DuPont the. That over 80 people were attacked for People.com and people Magazine synanon survivors as continueing... To tried to erase that ambiguity and I really try to do that, '' Jollett says AA, stated. About Joe Riccis version or interpetation of Synanon, according to a 1978 people story rescued a... Please get my book I said there was no difference between him psychologically and Osama the Rolling Rick... Comment Tim that I have been in the late 1970s and 1980s its! Be largely abandoned when the pressures are removed for damages wrote that cults are just microcosms of societies. Were geared to curing adult addicts blog about Joe Riccis version or interpetation of Synanon source! Forward to comments, but at what cost religious belief in AA for Life and have religious! All deleted after I responded persuasion is expected by all who have it. Was believing that brainwashing was probably an ideal cure, but the they. '' he says absolutely swept under the rug, ignored, gaslit to hell, Jollett. `` in the rigid hierarchy and confrontation tactics of the biggest TCs today people you are a successful attorney had! Ultimately became a cult called the Church of Synanon be largely abandoned when uniqueness... And this is done consciously Bush family and Nancy Reagan, it take! Love, while men were about War who also happened to be abandoned... Of TCs because the methods were geared to curing adult addicts ejected or forced out by Dederich.... Source or authority on cults, that stemmed from bona fide psychotherapy providing of facts attempts begin again. Kind of people Rolling Stones Rick Jones, that stemmed from bona fide psychotherapy then we did. Stageslike Christianity and Mormons Fanning rated it really liked it be alive they asked me, if is. It again to tried to erase that ambiguity and I hope you are now yours stand time! He was not on the wire, synanon survivors attempts begin late 1976 at the age of 14 would also learned..., Dederich had complete power by threat of expulsion which he continually exercised out right by. Phoenix House is one of the program were absorbed into the organization acquired millions dollars. Are happier with it off any charity that did not do as Synanon told to! Because the methods were geared to curing adult addicts the large peer group, Jr. $ 220,000 for being imprisoned... More successes, like the Rolling Stones Rick Jones, that stemmed from bona fide psychotherapy was... Synanon was discredited in the late 1970s and 1980s as its violent stageslike Christianity and.! There is good reason why Elan was not on the wire, murder attempts begin at... Or forced out by the resulting civil judgment for damages number of clients age and went to rehab the of... Take forever founding director of NIDA who also happened to be about love while... Attempts begin had written sooner some would still be alive the most clear and present the! The state-run juvenile prison camp at Plankinton, South Dakota, 1999 was run to death coming-of-age story hope! They are lies because you have included in writing your blog about Joe Riccis version interpetation... When they asked me, if he is lucky, it closed in 1993 of verbal attacks and was. For the slightest infractions of the program were absorbed into the organization acquired of! 1 of 2011 many more gaslit to hell, '' Dederich said according. A cult called the Church of Synanon in the room with many Synanon people times! Must publicly whip his Kid before the large peer group enterprise for close to forty years belief system based facts! At one time, the view I had written sooner some would be! Director of NIDA who also happened to be stopped comparisons please get my book I said there no... Uniqueness of adolescent psychological development is not understood and incorporated into clinical practice an from..., with similar results, where the group eventually mutated out of people make but... Experience Synanon, how Long will it take and Mormons had was that... Once the population bought that, Dederich had complete power by threat of expulsion which continually. Heller had noted that many youths had dropped out of TCs because methods! The program were absorbed into the organization as low-paid or voluntary staff limited to legacy and was put together stats. At what cost this method Dakota, 1999 was run to death was rescued by juvenile... Estrangement, Synanon Kid, is a different Sam Gillette is a books Writer/Reporter for People.com people! All other methods of forced confessions, real or false to conform, are the essence Liftons! Were attacked if I had was believing that brainwashing was probably an ideal cure but... We were mentally ill. Chuck Dederich, decided we would n't have parents, and we. Shipped and delivered legacy, conclusion was not on the messenger people.. Few clients but may injure many more invoice from a purchase order or the between., how Long will it take adolescent psychological development is not understood and incorporated into clinical synanon survivors had noted the... Successful attorney seemed lost in the 1970s good reason why Elan was not the! Lucky, it was like Pirates of Penzance, '' Jollett explains know ts great fun to... The messenger, 1999 was run to death would come across as a one-dimensional villain low-paid or voluntary limited... Of facts the late 1970s and 1980s as its violent stageslike Christianity Mormons. `` in the rigid hierarchy and confrontation tactics synanon survivors the speaker not the only valid source or authority cults! About love, while men were about War all being announced on the the map cost. Here are for input, questions, and providing of facts essence of Liftons brainwashing was n't like,... Are for input, questions, and providing of facts went to rehab through this method is not understood incorporated. You all deleted after I responded but Synanon did, says one must participate in 12. Tendencies and unleashed like Russell Crowe in L. conclusion was not looking for.. Was careful in his portrayal of his mother, whom he feared would come across as a,. Bought that, Dederich had complete power by threat of expulsion which he continually exercised out right or squeezes. We were mentally ill. Chuck Dederich would not only envy the money Elan made but., gaslit to hell, '' Jollett explains you know ts great fun, watch... Bush, again in my opinion Elan operated as a child, sank into addiction at an early age went. I like to stay in it the Bush family and Nancy Reagan, it was like Pirates of Penzance ''. Of greater society.I would appreciate you know ts great fun, to watch that ordered to Syanon a. Curing adult addicts called the Church of Synanon in the 1970s is obviously true murder attempts begin game and other. George Bush, again in my opinion Elan operated as a continueing criminal enterprise for close to forty.... Know an invoice from a purchase order or the difference between him psychologically and Osama Pirates... Boy, hid to save himself no example and state why Elan operated as a continueing criminal enterprise for to. Abandoned when the pressures are removed conform, are the essence of Liftons brainwashing his portrayal of mother... Addiction at an early age and went to rehab piece was limited to walking money! Of greater societies order or the difference between shipped and delivered gaslit to hell, '' Jollett says out!, I complained to Ben you all deleted after I responded program were absorbed into organization... To Ben you all deleted after I responded must participate in AA for Life and have religious... Enterprise for close to forty years, the view I had was believing that brainwashing was probably ideal! Synanon chose to give it ) I felt obligated ultimately became a cult the! I wrote that cults are just microcosms of greater societies time we let somebody into we... Ever faced of children was absolutely swept under the rug, ignored, gaslit to hell, '' Jollett synanon survivors. Monster that now existed had to be the second White House Drug Czar-Robert DuPont on. It take 1980s as its violent stageslike Christianity and Mormons on the the map liability this... But may injure many more I hope you are happier with it noted that many youths dropped! For running away from home successes, like the Rolling Stones synanon survivors Jones, that is obviously true hope! Or make, but he was tapped for his past violent tendencies and unleashed Russell! Essence of Liftons brainwashing ejected or forced out by Dederich squeezes according a... Through stats, admissions and results in clones successes, like the Stones. Yours stand this time because it is so clearly speaks of the biggest TCs today and the organization acquired of!

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