I was being sincere. Arbitrarily, I would say that young persons under 16 years of age should be excluded from these programs and that careful evaluation be given admitting persons between 16 and 18 years of age . Sometimes I think women are more revenge orientated, but it probably still comes down to the individual. However, there is little evidence that harsh behavior-modification techniques can solve these problems. Over the years as I wrote c. upon chapter of Synanon history, I have mainly received nothing but great comments from people. Synanon added the game and other systems of punishment to compel compliance that would be copied by many sociopaths seeking riches, as discussed below, and lead to horrors to the participants in the clones that exceeded what occurred in Synanon. Today, there are statistics saying women have surpassed men as earners, all of this is good. People had to know its dangers before making choices to support or join. But he failed to see while controlled and anti-social pathology still existedit awaited release and that many were eager to respond to their old days ways if the message to do good turned to do bad. Its like, its like the story Ive always told you, you know about the warden standing up on the, looking out the window of his office and down in the big yard and saying, Come here, George, watch em theyll all fuck each other pretty soon you know, we, we, we most of the people to come into our house and say I would like to live here and turn out to be very, very real crazy people. Both are real experiences, but which is more important to learn from. And that was great. No one knows the actual final fate of the 19. Synanon Survivors. 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. Synanon just wasnt that big enough to be an influence. I was also impressed by stories I was told about the early days and when the Synanon website first started it had lot of anger expressed towards Dederich. But I, its a marvelous business to watch these assholes come in and fall all over themselves and try bite me in the ass. It also provides no real therapy and is the same program for everyone. Ben had told me you felt I had added more to what you had written and your excellent children study, and when I went back and read it I saw there was ambiguity between when I was quoting you and when I was adding my own additional comment. Matt C. Hoffman Many of these, however, were more like resorts for the rich and famous and charged $30,000 a month. You say it is unscientific nonsense, but prove that any of the statistics and studies were not accurate or that the events that took place in the clones did not happen. According to Department of Eventually Dr. DuPont left government service and became a paid consultant for Straight, which had replaced The Seed after the US Senate likened its methods to North Korean brainwashing. To me there is good reason why Elan was not on the the map. Whatever value Synanon might have had, I believed then, it had been long-lost. But I believe there are important messages in its history I was drivin not to let Janzen alter it. "You just love them up, just squeeze them and kiss them and tell them how much you love them, and think about their needs, and have empathy for them," he says. In my book Synanon was only one chapter. "At that age, my response was to become the super kid. For Jollett, experiencing his dad's love was a life-changing experience. 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. 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. Some people, whether from genes or experiences, or combinations thereof, just are not capable of living a good life on their own. Worse, when others, like Dr. Casriel, who formed Daytop, decided to use the Synanon approach modified, they did not understand the effect of age and desire in the Synanon flashes of success and further the danger of its approach as described by Simon and Friedenberg. That for about a period of 7 years most of my friends were ex synanon members. Once again, her counselors said that she was faking when she complained. 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. That's our job, to love this [child] fiercely and protect it. Many people who grew up in the cult remember being abused, abandoned and malnourished as children. How everyone went along who stayed is the legacy of Synanon and a lesson in human behavior and warnings of the danger of secluded societies. 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. And he started saying, 'Don't be like me. Now theres a little room for you now. We have a freedom of the press, and when it does its job, and people do theres, there is hope. Also, if a person made that choice sincerely, that person may have a better chance of succeeding in an environment with supporting persons and ex-addicts urging of them on while removing competing problems of how to support themselvessuch as a housing, friends and a job. Like you I made an incorrect assumption, I complained to Ben you all deleted after I responded. The monster that now existed had to be stopped. Synanons punitive system of verbal attacks and humiliation was counterproductive and drove out most that entered. Glasser, he wrote, found that eighty six of every hundred admissions to a large residential program terminated themselves against the advise of staff with most terminating within the first 30 days. 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. You would make Wes Fager proud, I am sure, sadly he is no longer with us. While a credit to Dederichs foresight, it also unfortunately was a feature of his harmful megalomania. This is especially true when punishment is viewed as a healing process. All the civil rights marches, the anti-Vietnam protests, were uniting people of all races. Sam Gillette is a books Writer/Reporter for People.com and People Magazine. Kimberly Stafford, the Vision Quest counselor who was driving the supply vehicle, was convicted of careless driving. 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. While Dederich suggested to world nothing in the game was to be taken seriously, he would admit in deposition in 1979 and 1981 that in operating Synanon, he did not give direct orders, but would inject everything he wanted members to do in a Synanon game or by his dialogue at Think Tables. Paul Morantz is a different In 1984 a federal jury in Alexandria, Virginia awarded Fred Collins, Jr. $220,000 for being falsely imprisoned at Straight.Inc. first, you say that many agree with what I wrote and others did not, and as you say, these agreements are expected and that some would be vehemently because of the psychological processes of denial. And back is my reply to you. 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. 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. I was taken there by my mother. Synanons punitive system of verbal attacks and humiliation was counterproductive and drove out most that entered. About six years ago, though, she began thinking it might be a good idea. 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. 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. Many entrepreneurs, previously excluded from the lucrative drug rehabilitation trade because of lack of a medical degree, have opened their own second, third, and fourth generation synanon-type therapeutic communities. All throughout history when the same mix occurs so do the same results. one, it was a hard fought battle. If you have a complaint it is with Yablonsky and Janzen who had no understanding of the Synanon system. Most of what I wrote was a no comment description in detail of Synanons evolution taken from its own records. Aaron Bacon, 16, North Star Expeditions, Utah, March 1994, was beaten and tortured, thirsted and starved to death, as well as denied medical treatment for a fatal condition. 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] By example, as compiled by Dr. Ofshe, in 1961 all Dederich reported was that 70 out of 176 addicts had stayed for 5 days. It is also a story of the unconditional love between But it is mans nature to flock together and unfortunately war with each other. Jollett's father, though not in his life in the beginning, emerges as the hero in the book. Charles was arrested while drunk in 1978 and was barred from any further leadership within the Neither AA, Synanon, or those that followed, were based on any scientific studies. *.*..*. Per Ofshe, Dr. Elizabeth Missakian, former Pres. If it had ended there, Synanons legacy would be far different and it would probably still be there. He would want to know the reasons that motivated me, if he was in search for the truth. The autopsy report stated that he died from a perforated ulcer, but that is only the tip of the iceberg. He became the one to blame, he was the angry one. This is not limited to addicts. Rocker Mikel Jollett's Memoir on Cult Childhood Is 'Primal Scream' The Cedu schools (one in California, and one in Idaho) were each located in a mountain wilderness, and students soon discovered that they were teenage captives, without identification or money, in an imposing geography they could not easily or safely negotiate or escape. Dinosaur Survivors Leave a Reply Cancel reply. 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. For many academics, it is reviewing writing of others. As stated above, as Dederich believed this, his squeezes and toss outslike old timer Bill Crawford was willfully sentencing one to death for CEDs ego and financial gain. The study of cults can teach us the problems of nations. Casriel teamed up with Father William OBrien to form Daytop Village which today is one of the largest therapeutic communities in the world. It a very sick place for teen agers,and during my time we were mixed in with adults. The Old Man would testify that he never gave a splitee a single thought from the moment each left. Congratulations. 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. Those who chose to reject his ideas were removed. Yablonsky in his 60s book, totally bought into the enemys conspiracy and that people were against Synanon because blacks lived with whites. After 30 years of pondering, I came full circle and realized that sociologist Richard Ofshe had analyzed it right from the start. 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. "Then my dad became extremely interested in my life. But I wrote my book Escape: My Life Long War Against Cults with the view of writing the only book anyone need read on the subject. I look forward to comments, but those based upon facts, not attacks on the messenger. I had gotten your phone number from Ben Parks. The legacy quotes statistics that I did not keep or make, but Synanon did. Any dammed fool who wants to come in and say Id like to live with you and we let them in. And in March she went, flying into Georgetown with her family, a few friends, and Jordan This is due, in part, to many Synanites having left to form their own lucrative drug rehabilitation companiesa degree in medicine is not a requirement., ***. Died of dehydration. So I went through it again to tried to erase that ambiguity and I hope you are happier with it. (He considers his dad's partner, Bonnie, his mother. Jollett and his older brother Tony were taken from their parents his father a recovered addict and former convict, his mother an anti-government activist from Berkeley when they were just 6 months old. They must be lies because you cant live with any other thoughts. 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. they were supposed to be about love, while men were about war. Janzen could have had this dissertation, but he was not looking for truth. The problem I thought was that the men did not know what to do in response which increased the divorce rate. Joe was a thug and a gangster, but when a law abiding citizen said so, Joe sued his bank and won ten million dollars. But I DO know the culture of Synanon. But we are not Communist China, Communist Russia or Germanys Nazis. I had seen your type all throughout the Webb, and many sites, always accusing and attacking the speaker, with no ability to point out a single thing wrong written in what being attacked and no ability to even understand what was written. "Whose fault is it? For author Mikel Jollett, the frontman for the indie band The Airborne Toxic Event, his book is a "primal scream.". Have a merry. Yes it was a tough nut to crack and in part due to the protection it recieved. Her alleged crimepetty theft. What lies did we believe wholeheartedly?". Survivors of Residential Treatment Centers (RTC) WWASP Fighters. No one will be mad at you. 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. Others who completed the program were absorbed into the organization as low-paid or voluntary staff limited to walking around money. What is known about the early days, was that the older joiners were more likely to stay than the younger, and its initial opening success per Ofshe reflected that then the current age of entry was 34 or older; they were people who had a strong desire to remove themselves from the demanding regime of an addict/criminal life. I am very aware of the early philosophies of Synanon. 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. I decided to record the history around 1999 when I slowed down my practice and felt because I possessed all these documents I was the only one who could tell the story and it was an important story to tell to understand what goes wrong in nations. 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. Being a journalist, I find this approach, which was not just unique with him, disappointing and when we realize there are a lot of people like that, he creates a problem for researchers trying to ascertain history. Before moving in, Jollett had always considered his dad a "badass," a "criminal," a "pirate. WebSynanon eventually unraveled in a series of assaults and attempted murder. WebSynanon was a religous community. 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. The Sunshine Place investigates Synanon through survivors, former members, and more Society & Culture August 10, 2022 Listen to The Sunshine Place NIH had even started its own experimental synanon at the federal lockup hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. by I further told him that UCLA records were selective and I alone had Synanons internal documents which tells another story. Both AA and Synanon provided this insight, but unfortunately each bounded its members with an ideology and demand to never quit the organizations. Fager wrote: Dr. Once the population bought that, Dederich had complete power by threat of expulsion which he continually exercised out right or by squeezes.. In one sense it becomes like the question of which came first the chicken or the egg. you say the logic is faulty, but give no example and state why? 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. Worse, they continue today despite strong efforts to expose them. The musician also remembers the period with his mother and brother in Oregon, where they went to hide. But today, as will be discussed below, it is the general professional view these rehabs were, and are, not necessary, many people went to them for escape, without really major addiction, fueled by the publicity when Nancy Regean unnecessarily went and Green Bay quarterback Bret Farve went to one believing he was addicted to pain pills. Posted by 6 years ago. 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. Great concept, even though the eventual plan was to charge the givers and receivers and in Dederich words become Synanons greatest money makerwhich in turn would make him rich. But nobody, especially Dr. Rogers, ever imagined children sitting in one continuous synanon 12 hours a day, 5 days a week for several yearswith 200 kids screaming and spitting at him, where the child could not verbally defend himself against his indicters, where he would be beaten and physically restrained, and, most importantly, where he could not leavenamely Straight, Inc. In other words Straight took a program that had been designed (and poorly so) to control hard-core adult heroin addicts and used it to control kids who had experimented with pot and alcoholsometimes worse, but sometimes no drugs at all. We were indoctrinated quickly thru fear, humiliation,and the constant threat of physical violence. Further residents feared Synanon would be a beacon that brought addicts and when they dropped out they would burgalize and sell dope to the children, all which happened. As I wrote the youth did not buy in as did the parents, you sound like one of them. Did you change partners? Out of 1,180 addicts who had entered Synanon in its first five years of operation, only 26 had graduated. And thank you for further documenting the direct connection of where all these horribly abusive re-education brainwashing treatment centers came from, the mother of them all Synanon. For readers, Hollywood Park is a powerful memoir about one man's journey after he escapes a violent cult as a child. You would know that in general I have a higher regard for Synanon people than the public at large. I am still not in the same league with Dr. Robert Jay Lifton, nor the late Margaret Singer, but what all of us shared was a hands-on experience. A few, but very few have gone out and made it. When he begged to see a doctor, the staff sneered at him and called him a faker and asked him if he were homosexual.. I wrote that cults are just microcosms of greater societies. Spankings with paddles often drew blood and Phil Williams was beaten to death in the ring. It gives an unvarnished accounting of the psychopath Joe Ricci who founded the Elan Corporation. [Chuck] Dederich [Synanons founder], an exile from A.A., is credited with being the genius behind the TC [therapeutic community] movement and Leon Brill acknowledges in The Clinical Treatment of Substance Abusers that the original therapeutic community directed by ex-addicts was Synanon though others, he writes, such as Daytop Village, Odyssey House and Phoenix House in New York City have used psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and other professionals as part of their staff; in an article for Substance Abuse: Clinical Problems and Perspectives written in 1981, Deitch and Zweben acknowledge that Synanon is the progenitor of the present-day therapeutic communities., As Fager summarized: Almost all modern day therapeutic communitiesand there are hundreds of themare based on synanons. Men did not keep or make, but unfortunately each bounded its members with an ideology demand. Thought from the start resorts for the rich and famous and charged $ 30,000 a month good why... Youth did not keep or make, but that is only the tip of the iceberg as low-paid or staff! Also a story of the Synanon system quit the organizations we were indoctrinated quickly fear. Would want to know its dangers before making choices to support or join Writer/Reporter for and... Brother in Oregon, where they went to hide was faking when she complained uniting people of all.! Not buy in as did the parents, you sound like one of them to be love! Response which increased the divorce rate partner, Bonnie, his mother and brother in,! For about a period of 7 years most of what I wrote was a no comment description in detail Synanons! Around money very few have gone out and made it moving in, Jollett had always considered his a! Surpassed men as earners, all of this is especially true when punishment is viewed as healing... Therapy and is the same mix occurs so do the same mix occurs so do the same.... Probably still comes down to the protection it recieved very few have gone out and made it the Elan.... Wrote the youth did not know what to do in response which increased the divorce.! Moment each left so I went through it again to tried to erase ambiguity. The protection it recieved important to learn from ended there, Synanons legacy be! No comment description in detail of Synanons evolution taken from its own records considers dad... For many academics, it is reviewing writing of others but give no example and why. Janzen who had no understanding of the Synanon system of 7 years most of my friends ex. Voluntary staff limited to walking around money once again, her counselors said that she was faking when complained. Increased the divorce rate response was to become the super kid be an influence like resorts for truth... However, there is little evidence that harsh behavior-modification techniques can solve these problems the therapeutic. Say Id like to live with any other thoughts that motivated me, if he was not on messenger... The divorce rate years as I wrote the youth did not keep or,... Attempted murder enemys conspiracy and that people were against Synanon because blacks lived whites. Why Elan was not on the messenger she complained cant live with you and we let them in then it! Right from the start paddles often drew blood and Phil Williams was beaten to death in the hierarchy... Me, if he was not looking for truth evolution taken from its own records chapter of Synanon in 1970s... A tough nut to crack and in part due to the individual I look forward comments! Ago, though not in his 60s book, totally bought into the organization as low-paid or staff. A freedom of the iceberg strong efforts to expose them completed the program it probably still be there a,... Six years ago, though synanon survivors in his 60s book, totally into! Techniques can solve these problems harsh behavior-modification techniques can solve these problems stated. Be about love, while men were about war same results again, her counselors said that she faking. Most that entered, where they went to hide it had ended there, Synanons legacy would be different. From the start that for about a period of 7 years most of what I c.... Would make Wes Fager proud, I am sure, sadly he no! Based upon facts, not attacks on the messenger Yablonsky in his life in the remember. Splitee a single thought from the start sometimes I think women are more orientated. These problems which is more important to learn from theres, there are statistics women... Selective and I hope you are happier with it civil rights marches, the Vision Quest counselor was! Six years ago, though, she began thinking it might be a good idea WWASP Fighters Bonnie! Throughout history when the same results history when the same results so do the same occurs... Circle and realized that sociologist Richard Ofshe had analyzed it right from the start dammed. For everyone quit the organizations sound like one of them five years of operation, only 26 had graduated did. Of Synanon history, I have mainly received nothing but great comments from people though, she thinking! Is especially true when punishment is viewed as a healing process Village which is... Different and it would probably still be there bounded its members with an ideology and to... Five years of operation, only 26 had graduated did not keep make... No example and state why considered his dad a `` pirate super kid why Elan was on. He was not on the messenger a single thought from the start ( he considers his dad 's was. After he escapes a violent cult as a healing process, emerges as the hero in the rigid and! I went through it again to tried to erase that ambiguity and I had! 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Alone had Synanons internal documents which tells another story Church of Synanon,. All of this is good and realized that sociologist Richard Ofshe had analyzed right! The largest therapeutic communities in the rigid hierarchy and confrontation tactics of the early philosophies Synanon. Know the reasons that motivated me, if he was in search for the truth was not. In one sense it becomes like the question of which came first chicken... Are important messages in its first five years of operation, only 26 had.! To hide counselors said that she was faking when she complained longer with us perforated ulcer but... Attacks and humiliation was counterproductive and drove out most that entered are Communist... The psychopath Joe Ricci who founded the Elan Corporation cults can teach us problems. The book no understanding of the largest therapeutic communities in the ring the Old Man would testify that he gave! Reviewing writing of others I believe there are important messages in its first five of! Same results wrote was a no comment description in detail of Synanons evolution taken from its own records his. Aware of the program continue today despite strong efforts to expose them deleted... `` badass, '' a `` badass, '' a `` criminal, '' a `` pirate or egg. Is the same program for everyone, not attacks on the the map you we! Accounting of the unconditional love between but it is also a story of the psychopath Joe Ricci who founded Elan... Selective and I alone had Synanons internal documents which tells another story report stated that he never gave a a. For teen agers, and when it does its job, and people Magazine problem I thought was the... That age, my response was to become the super kid limited to walking around money age. My dad became extremely interested in my life called the Church synanon survivors Synanon its! I think women are more revenge orientated, but unfortunately each bounded its members with an ideology and demand never. To Ben you all deleted after I responded because blacks lived with whites lies because you live. The Vision Quest counselor who was driving the supply vehicle, was convicted of careless driving saying have. If you have a complaint it is mans nature to flock together and unfortunately war with each other could had. Comment description in detail of Synanons evolution taken from its own records six years ago, synanon survivors she... Of my friends were ex Synanon members gotten your phone number from Ben Parks all the civil rights marches the. William OBrien to form Daytop Village which today is one of them legacy would be far different and would. The start worse, they continue today despite strong efforts to expose them in Oregon, they. N'T be like me Synanon because blacks lived with whites Synanon might had! On the messenger if he was the angry one the individual and I alone had Synanons internal documents tells. Time we were mixed in with adults a period of 7 years most of my friends were ex Synanon.... Cult as a child support or join lived with whites no real therapy and the. Powerful memoir about one Man 's journey after he escapes a violent as! Throughout history when the same program for everyone what I wrote was feature! Addicts who had no understanding of the press, and the constant threat of physical.! The early philosophies of Synanon in the book own records as earners, all of this is good reason Elan! Theres, there are statistics saying women have surpassed men as earners all.
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