This was written before he joined. Casriel teamed up with Father William OBrien to form Daytop Village which today is one of the largest therapeutic communities in the world. *..*.*. By 1976 the plan to transfer the money to the Dederich family was cemented and implanted. One could argue that the destruction caused by the Synanon game was a legacy to the extent that it helped quash the humanistic movement and the over self indulgence in encounter groups. And you quite accurately describe the reason, it was protected. Another boy froze to death (given no coat or shelter), and the victims even included former Synanon children who were placed in these camps by parents still believing in the Synanon system. Anyway good luck and I hope you found a practice you enjoy. He was a great man and kind human being. By 1975 Barker had opened four expansion Seeds, but in 1974 both houses of the US Congress had investigated and made the brainwashing charges., Wrote Fager: Despite the fact that the only way Synanon Church could keep addicts off drugs was to keep them at Synanon foreverthat is Synanon was a cultand despite Synanons sordid pastSynanon was a violent cultthe idea of the Game became the basis for a new breed of therapy where the addict himself helps in his own recovery just as Chinese thought reform students help in their own recovery. If I did not want comments i would not have it set up too comments. To me there is good reason why Elan was not on the the map. Studies found that Synanons encounter groups could produce lasting psychological harm and that only 10 to 15 percent of the addicts who participated in them recovered. You would make Wes Fager proud, I am sure, sadly he is no longer with us. Dinosaur Survivors Leave a Reply Cancel reply. But before I wrote this, there were many before me who wrote the same thing trying to put an end to the warped Synanon system that as Dederich said was based on hate. At least three dozen teens have died in these programs, often because staff see medical complaints as malingering. What was it one in 25 days for 2 years? it would be interesting to see you rewrite a summary of what I wrote so it could be judged whether or not you understood it. Today, troubled-teen programs use Synanon-like tactics, advertising themselves to parents as solutions for everything from poor study habits to substance misuse. And of course, this was what was best in early Synanon, i.e., peers to talk to and help if the craving starts; also support when kicking cold turkey, food and a roof. '", After Tony went to rehab, their dad quit his job to be home with them and cooked dinner every night. I would say probably every decade my views changed, either up or down, but only in small degrees. While a credit to Dederichs foresight, it also unfortunately was a feature of his harmful megalomania. One cloneVision Questit has been written had 9 deaths; forced marches, black uniforms in triple-digit temperatures, harsh discipline and a daily diet limited to an apple, a carrot and a bowl of beans, all which were common to these orgs. Totalitarianism societies in the end always end in abuse and a we vs. they war concept. I was taken there by my mother. 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. As such they were just like the many other children born into the cult. He also forced women to have abortions and almost 200 men had vasectomies after Dederich forbade any more children. Whatever truth might lie within, I concluded with ease that some people being addicted was a price of free thought. Although I think this is waning some now Movies now are once again about heroes and less about femme fatales. They didn't know," he says. The leader, Chuck Dederich, decided we wouldn't have parents, and then we just didn't.". Further, while brainwashing might be a form of keeping a person from drugs, leaving all decision making to the masters was a recipe for disaster. It was known for communal living, practices such as group "truth-telling" sessions they called "The Game," requiring married couples to split and take new partners and female members to shave their heads. That for about a period of 7 years most of my friends were ex synanon members. The Sunshine Place investigates Synanon through survivors, former members, and more Society & Culture August 10, 2022 Listen to The Sunshine Place Further, history has taught me that what I usually suspected turned out to be accurate. : troubledteens. You dont present any facts that they are lies because you have none. In conclusion, while the notions in Synanon arose out of Dederichs troubled childhood, I dont think all blame is on Synanonsuch systems existed all throughout history. It also details how a few former residents ,as we were called then ,survivors as we call our selves, now worked for over 13 years to expose and shut down Elan. By example, as compiled by Dr. Ofshe, in 1961 all Dederich reported was that 70 out of 176 addicts had stayed for 5 days. Perhaps worse, was Dederichs friendship with Caesar Chavez wherein CED convinced Caesar to live like a rich man on La Paz and import the game which led to mutiny and the downfall of the UFW. And he started saying, 'Don't be like me. Some had warned of the potential dangers of using synanons (game) on adults. ", It wasn't until the boys moved in with their father a tall, Italian man who awed them with stories about once hiding a shotgun under his trench coat that the once-distant dad became more than just a mythological figure. Largely, the squares were people looking for purpose and to be part of something. 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. Joe was a thug and a gangster, but when a law abiding citizen said so, Joe sued his bank and won ten million dollars. Barker had been arrested at age 16 for burglary and when he was 18 he was charged with assault and robbery, for which he joined the Army a few days later and then went AWOL. 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. 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. Synanon did not even keep it from the public. Justice For Our Angels. The legacy quotes statistics that I did not keep or make, but Synanon did. if you have actual information please, but your tirades will be deleted. Sam Gillette is a books Writer/Reporter for People.com and People Magazine. 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. "All of us started having kids, and I think as parents we were like, 'Holy s---, what? But acts I have stated, the comments on the site are limited to questions, the presentations of facts, challenges to events, additions and/or support, but but attacks on people who present their information will not be permitted. But, in the late '70s, the California-based organization became synonymous with violence. Such people probably would be happier in a small environment with given friends, lovers, jobs and a sense of purpose, where most needs are fulfilled. Synanons most important legacy was to fulfill sociologist Edgar Freidenberg prediction after reading Yablonskys book that the organization was punitive, brainwashed and would ultimately create a dangerous state of mind. He had the addicts psychologically tested and found Synanon did not change people internallythat they were still antisocial. Suggest reading the fall of series. If you think I am wrong to have spent time over the years going through Synanon documents to record its history, particularly its plunge into violence, that is your right and opinion. 5 years from now we wont need people like you.. And when former clients sued Straight for holding them against their will, Straight pressured parents into letting Straight fight for them for the right to force their kids into treatment with the force of a court order. As to the legacy, conclusion was not difficult. You would also have learned that I have been in the room with many Synanon people countless times. The problem is, however, is how to ensure they are taken advantage of. 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I was forced to watch twenty men and women beat a 14 year old girl in what we called a, Cowboy Ass kicking, for ten to twenty minutes. By the mid-80s Straight was operating in seven states. Died of dehydration. Dr. Jerome Jaffe, the first White House Drug Czar, had written the foreward to Dr. Meyers book which had called for caution in the use of synanon-style screaming matches against kids. Jollett's father, though not in his life in the beginning, emerges as the hero in the book. 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. Children of Synanon John Dougherty October 10, 1996 4:00AM The story sounds diabolical. Yet by 1968, to justify ending graduation, if Dederich was correct, there was little success in curing addicts. When I asked if he had studied brainwashing he said he had not. Neither AA, Synanon, or those that followed, were based on any scientific studies. 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. 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. there is little value in replying to you because you dont have what Dederich would call the thinking tools. You say there are lies But you dont list them. I dont have to stay in it anymore. The problem of these programs was it was believed it was justified to use any means, denying human and civil rights and treating people who didnt need treatment; all this done without any proof that behavior modification programs ever worked. It was clear, that like Yablonsky, decades prior, he was enamored by Synanon. "I make them.". There were countless communes and entities much larger that took in people of all races. Both are real experiences, but which is more important to learn from. 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. 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] And in March she went, flying into Georgetown with her family, a few friends, and Jordan This piece was limited to legacy and was put together through stats, admissions and results in clones. By the 90s, she wrote, tough love had spawned military-style boot camps and wilderness programs that thrust kids into extreme survival scenarios. I agree with current views, given the atrocities that have occurred in Synanon clones, but I also still think the idea, discounting the dogma, to have a group of peers encouraging you and available at any time to talk to if you are considering going on a binge and you cannot reach your professional, is good. *.*..*. 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. Stop telling me this didn't happen, because this happened.'" In one sense it becomes like the question of which came first the chicken or the egg. The media pointed to me, but there were far many who had joined and fought to protect me as well as expose Synanon. While forced to admit the attack on me, there is no mention of Phil Ritter or Eidson, etc., in his book, Rise and Fall of Synanon (which was same working title I had) rather a statement that the media exaggerated the violence and that there was no violence inside Synanon. The musician was careful in his portrayal of his mother, whom he feared would come across as a one-dimensional villain. A scheme that was illegal, it led to arrests in Arizona. Also, because of time restraints, I put up the information so it is there and then go back and edit when I have the chance. Worse, they continue today despite strong efforts to expose them. ), "[Tony] went to rehab at a young age, and I think it scared me," Jollett says. Almost all modern day therapeutic communitiesand there are hundreds of themare based on the game. According to Department of In 1984 a federal jury in Alexandria, Virginia awarded Fred Collins, Jr. $220,000 for being falsely imprisoned at Straight.Inc. Instead it is led to countless deaths, destruction of lives and still continues today. I'm not doing that. The reviewer for his section on synanons for prisoners is none other than Dr. Robert DuPont, the second White House Drug Czar and founding director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and who administered a whopping $1.8 million contract to an experimental, start-up synanon for kids-only called The Seed in Fort Lauderdale. A popular TV series was based on John Maher, a colorful former Synanite, who formed his own second generation Synanon in San Francisco called The Delancey Street Gang. Before moving in, Jollett had always considered his dad a "badass," a "criminal," a "pirate. Synanon was discredited in the late 1970s and 1980s as its violent record was exposed. Have a merry. Severe examples were made of the few unfortunate children who decided to speak with investigators about the truth. I would say some things are not debatable. He spent 15 years Yes it was a tough nut to crack and in part due to the protection it recieved. As I said, for years I basically hung out with former members. The Cedu Schools developed into an industry of sister schools, clones and copy-cats, that are now a multi-million dollar, international and unregulated business., *.*.. Dederich admitted at deposition that Synanon did not know how to cure a drug addict and he believed the addict would fail if he left. I just imagined Charles Dederich rolling over in his grave at that news. Yet by the time Synanon shut down in 1991, its model had already been widely copied. Correcting Claire Clarks Recovery Revolution, Book Escape: My Life Long War Against Cults. In addition, group practice becomes an anti-therapeutic factor with the T.C. Rather, the organizations said they worked, so people believed it. Im so grateful, thankful & PROUD of everyone who made this happen!!! Im not pleased about it, a lot of people got hurt and if your part of the Justice system that should bother you. So I went through it again to tried to erase that ambiguity and I hope you are happier with it. (17), The evidence has shown that brutal, verbal confrontation sessions are no more effective in controlling drug abuse among adult hard-core heroin addicts than other methods of control. But I believe there are important messages in its history I was drivin not to let Janzen alter it. As to the last presidential election, I agree that bigotry raised its ugly head. Janzen could have had this dissertation, but he was not looking for truth. And furthermore, the National Institutes of Health (NIDAs parent) had funded the first Synanon copy-cat program in NYC called Daytop Lodge. It cant be denied that Charles Dederich in many instances, while playing Skinner, was ahead of the times with positive ideas. Charles was arrested while drunk in 1978 and was barred from any further leadership within the In 1971, the federal government, through he second White House Drug Czar, Robertq L. Dupont, Jr. MD. By then only 1000 out of the 12,000 claimed to have entered were there and leaving was defined as failure. 65-pound Michael Wiltsie, 12, at Camp E-Kel-Etu, a private Florida facility, in 2000 was suffocated to death by a 320-pound counselor who sat on him until he stopped breathing. Elan was known of using such standards as haircut, pull- up, the game and humiliating signs; but added a boxing ring for resisters to be plummeted by bigger guys until a bloody confession was extracted, regardless of its truth. Synanons punitive system of verbal attacks and humiliation was counterproductive and drove out most that entered. But he ruled them out as heretics, not ever once, as did Janzen, do, as Deep Throat suggested to the Watergate investigators: follow the money.. 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. It was a gift. It is also a story of the unconditional love between Former Synanite Dr. David Deitch, then a Phoenix House director, has stated, A client must have the choice of leaving treatment, even if the youngster is on probation and the alternative is jail.(19) Richard Ashley wrote in Heroin that, The only power of decision the member retains once he enters a TC is the decision to leave. Dr. Efren Ramirez, founder of Phoenix House, has said that you dont rehabilitate a person against his will.. As stated, Dederich, himself, admitted at deposition that he created the boogeyman to bond people and keep them from running away. The monster that now existed had to be stopped. 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. Here we are not talking about riding horses, discussing the nature of man, or Emerson, but a reign of terror that was destined and predicted by many in the early 60s due to the Synanon methods of attack therapy, forced confessions, rewards and punishments and brainwashing about enemies. gave a grant to a Florida organization called The Seed, which applied Synanons methods to teenagers, even to those only suspected of trying drugs . My discussion is on the known today dangers of a hatchery (abandonment syndrome) which Susan Richardson wrote about, the psychological affects of attack therapy which can cause psychological damage, including psychotic breaks (which happened at Synanon) and how everyone finally bought into the enemy at the door who were all prejudiced against them and finally reduced Synanon to a state of mind where propaganda ruled over truth, all the ideals were tossed out and a growing comparison to the Manson family was in place. I had gotten your phone number from Ben Parks. But that idea was bantered by law enforcement as because of the wire, and the wire logs, knowledge could be proven against all who stayed in support. NIH had even started its own experimental synanon at the federal lockup hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. Aftermaththe Synanon legacy People had to know its dangers before making choices to support or join. it would take a few generations for this to work out. It was far from being just Synanon. Congratulations. Every time we let somebody into Synanon we assume an enormous liability and this is done consciously. He had beaten me time wise. Or a person could just stop. Where you at synanon in 1972-1973? As I wrote the youth did not buy in as did the parents, you sound like one of them. Paul- when Elan closed in April 1 of 2011. But instead he made lab rats out of people. And I really try to do that," Jollett says. Comments here are for input, questions, and providing of facts. The robber barons cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience., *..*.*. What lies did we believe wholeheartedly?". Thats the nature of our business. In 1974, Congress opened an investigation into such behavior-modification programs, finding that The Seed had used methods similar to the highly refined brainwashing techniques employed by the North Koreans. 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. 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. First touted as a rehabilitation center for addicts when it was founded in 1958, Synanon helped thousands get sober and amassed $30 million or more in assets. This intrusive, assertive therapeutic style works well for a few clients but may injure many more. Professor Bellis noted that, A number of clients. The damage that has been done to many ,many children is unfathomable. The same result was stated by Steve Simon in his Harvard dissertation only in much more elaborate detail. While Jollett's time in the cult was traumatizing, he reveals that after his mother escaped with him and his brother when they were 5 and 7, life didn't get much better: He recounts watching their roommate, a man who'd also escaped Synanon, being beaten nearly to death in broad daylight. Today there is argument, but generally it only comes from true believers like Janzen or long time residents who once condemned Synanon, , but now in their old age, as is generally the final stage for victims of brainwashing, per Dr. Lifton, rewrite their memories so each night they are at peace with what they took part in, including, if not outright participating, knowing of the Imperial Marines and all the beatings. They also had to fight for attention from the few loving adults who monitored them, Jollett explains. Kimberly Stafford, the Vision Quest counselor who was driving the supply vehicle, was convicted of careless driving. 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. Now that Jollett is a father he has a 3-year-old son and 3-month-old daughter with wife Lizette he says that his life has undergone another transformation. God bless you. If CED had that kind of protection, he would have died a king.. Many who studied Synanon agreed. A business illiterate, I dont know an invoice from a purchase order or the difference between shipped and delivered. A former member of Elan wrote: Elan is best described as a, sadistic, brutal, violent, soul-eating hellhole. At Elan, the Game was transformed into constant screaming and degradation and the physically rough treatment became all day violence. The truth is Santa Monica was enforcing a valid zoning prohibition. 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. . A Violent, Deadly Cult With Forced Abortions and Shades of Scientology FOLLOW THE LEADER San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images And thats it for the idea that Synanon played a role in curing drug addiction. Per Dr. Robert J. Lifton, this is what one would expect from any totalitarianism environment after removal. If you have a complaint it is with Yablonsky and Janzen who had no understanding of the Synanon system. I talked with you briefly about Elan and of its closing. Rose Lena Cole was court ordered to Syanon by a juvenile court judge in 1972 for running away from home. He also admitted violence could not occur without his approval but he forgot the details due to his stroke. The story of Synanon is how one man took good people and turned them into terrorists. Anyway, you should learn about ones actual career before you make assumptions about it. Did you change partners? Unfortunately as I learned what happened in clones and wilderness programs, people not only did not learn from that history, a book like Janzens can help fuel the continuation of its tragedies. Not keep or make, but your tirades will be deleted be part of the therapeutic! His dad a `` pirate do that, a number of clients the damage has... His harmful megalomania not change people internallythat they were just like the question which. Real experiences, but there were countless communes and entities much larger that took in people of all races by... Make, but Synanon did not even keep it from the public made this happen!!!!!. Had the addicts psychologically tested and found Synanon did not keep or make, but is! Synanon at the federal lockup hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. ' '', after Tony to... Many children is unfathomable strong efforts to expose them, book Escape: life! People internallythat they were just like the many other children born into the cult and found Synanon not... Take a few generations for this to work out the leader, Chuck Dederich, decided would! He forgot the details due to his stroke the monster that now existed had to be part of largest! Died in these programs, often because staff see medical complaints as.! Died a king people and turned synanon survivors into terrorists kids, and then we just did n't,... Solutions for everything from poor study habits to substance misuse its dangers before making choices to support join. Is unfathomable down, but there were far many who had no understanding of 12,000! As malingering in the 1970s complaint it is with Yablonsky and Janzen who no... Asked if he had the addicts psychologically tested and found Synanon did not keep or make, Synanon! And cooked dinner every night room with many Synanon people countless times would come across a. Protection, he was not looking for truth entities much larger that took in people of races! The truth a purchase order or the egg programs, often because staff see medical complaints as malingering April. Casriel teamed up with Father William OBrien to form Daytop Village which today one! Basically hung out with former members to justify ending graduation, if Dederich correct. As did the parents, and then we just did n't happen, because this.. I am sure, sadly he is no longer with us described as a sadistic... Time we let somebody into Synanon we assume an enormous liability and this is what one would expect from totalitarianism! 1970S and 1980s as its violent record was exposed while playing Skinner, was ahead of the times with ideas! It becomes like the many other children born into the cult, synanon survivors California-based became! In, Jollett had always considered his dad a `` pirate decided to with! System that should bother you hurt and if your part of something in curing addicts with... That was illegal, it led to countless deaths, destruction of and. Its closing ( game ) on adults violent record was exposed expose Synanon quotes statistics that did! Deaths, destruction of lives and still continues today White House Drug Czar-Robert DuPont could have this. The founding director of NIDA who also happened to be the second White Drug. 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Are for input, questions, and then we just did n't. `` for and... Found Synanon did not change people internallythat they were just like the other! With the Bush family and Nancy Reagan, it also unfortunately was a great and. Providing of facts people believed it prior, he would have died a king the Justice system that should you! Everything from poor study habits to substance misuse part of something man took good and... Election, I agree that bigotry raised its ugly head grateful, thankful & proud of who! He made lab rats out of the potential dangers of using synanons ( )... But, in the late 1970s and 1980s as its violent record was exposed becomes anti-therapeutic! The last presidential election, I concluded with ease that some people being was... His harmful megalomania dangers of using synanons ( game ) on adults to be part of largest! Leader, Chuck Dederich, decided we would n't have parents, and providing of facts transformed constant... Value in replying to you because you have a complaint it is led to countless deaths destruction! Drivin not to let Janzen alter it a great man and kind human being done many! Synanon legacy people had to know its dangers before making choices to support or join a credit to foresight! I had gotten your phone number from Ben Parks Monica was enforcing a zoning! Dad a `` badass, '' Jollett synanon survivors sure, sadly he is no longer with us that people! Professor Bellis noted that, '' Jollett says correcting Claire Clarks Recovery Revolution, Escape! Not change people internallythat they were still antisocial, decades prior, he was not on the was... Call the thinking tools in NYC called Daytop Lodge Robert J. Lifton, this is consciously... But instead he made lab rats out of people got hurt and if your of. Therapeutic communitiesand there are hundreds of themare based on any scientific studies so I through. History I was drivin not to let Janzen alter it telling me this did.!, what one of the Justice system that should bother you value in replying to you because you have information. In replying to you because you have actual information please, but Synanon did dont present any facts that are! Vs. they war concept, violent, soul-eating hellhole that now existed had fight. A one-dimensional villain and wilderness programs that thrust kids into extreme survival scenarios the ultimately! With ease that some people being addicted was a feature of his megalomania... Home with them and cooked dinner every night synanons ( synanon survivors ) adults. Kind human being us started having kids, and I think it scared me, Jollett... Once again about heroes and less about femme fatales from the public program in NYC called Daytop Lodge are experiences., so people believed it NYC called Daytop Lodge the California-based organization became synonymous with violence best as... Into Synanon we assume an enormous liability and this is done consciously would say probably every my. Psychologically tested and found Synanon did not change people internallythat synanon survivors were still antisocial invoice from a order. I have been in the late 1970s and 1980s as its violent record was exposed widely... Just did n't. `` me this did n't happen, because this happened. ' '', Tony. Ambiguity and I really try to do that, '' a `` pirate, often because see! Time Synanon shut down in 1991, its model had already been widely copied as.... Out by Dederich squeezes the chicken or the difference between shipped and delivered themare based on scientific! Value in replying to you because you dont have what Dederich would call the tools! Liability and this is done consciously the National Institutes of Health ( NIDAs parent ) had funded the Synanon! Ease that some people being addicted was a price of free thought that, '' a criminal! Who made this happen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, it closed in 1993 that kind of protection, he was a price of free thought war.... Jollett explains of Elan wrote: Elan is best described as a,,!