As for women, I cant purport to be an expert, but having lived through the 60s Revolution and womens rights I do have my observations. He told me that he had interviewed Synanon people and examined the UCLA records. "He was just this big, masculine, Italian, strong guy that loved his boys. It is the process that was wrong and counterproductive, ultimate leading to the vasectomies, changing partners and violence. God bless you. That is why the health department took action in 1977. Almost all modern day therapeutic communitiesand there are hundreds of themare based on the game. But, Ms. Szalavitz writes, the shuttered programs simply changed their names and reopened, often with the same staff, in the same stateeven in the same building. WebSynanon Survivors 136likes 149followers Posts About Photos Videos More Posts About Photos Videos Synanon Survivors Intro Link To The Synanon Survivors Group And He wrote that, High discipline programs usually employ the confrontive Synanon game-a leaderless group encounter session to create aggressive and provocative interchange, using ridicule, cross examination and hostile attack. The authorities closed it down. 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. The experiences with the original population of adult addicts still pervade the thinking and functioning of most T.C.s. On my site, the chapter on Chapter Chucky rising, I tried to set forth how those early times, and the German ideology, were part of the story and evolution of Dederich. Hollywood Park recounts Jollett's life at various stages: an orphaned 5-year-old, a troubled preteen, and an adult trying to find himself in his music. I have it. And in the end, what I presented were facts, i.e., the actual statistics, what happened in the clones and the general consensus of experts that the Synanon system of brainwashing, punishments and humiliations is counterproductive and psychologically dangerous. I am very aware of the early philosophies of Synanon. Jollett also healed by opening himself up to therapy, music and, eventually, love. Free choice is an American ideal, and we sacrifice for it, to preserve it, because as a nation we believe it is our greatest freedom. First, while our government says that all people are equal the fact is they are not born equal. Here we go!' Paul- when Elan closed in April 1 of 2011. Another myth perpetrated by old time Synanon members, and apology writers, like Janzen, looking for fans among ex-Synanon members, is that Synanon played a role in civil rights. In discussing the aftermath, I tried to explain that my views differed at different times as I received new and different information. The leader, Chuck Dederich, decided we wouldn't have parents, and then we just didn't.". People had to know its dangers before making choices to support or join. Others reported in 1973 that the Synanon absorbing members was retention, not rehabilitation, a result found unfortunately in many of the Synanon clones, which Synanon bragged 2,400 existed. In 1964 a New Jersey Drug Study Commission opted not to give Synanon any funding after reviewing rehabilitation statistics supplied by Synanon Foundation. Dinosaur Survivors Leave a Reply Cancel reply. I wrote that cults are just microcosms of greater societies. It also provides no real therapy and is the same program for everyone. Im rich. It quotes statements I did not make but Dederich did. Kids were assaulted and restrained without cause and all the rest. Simon had come to Synanon because his teacher, Abraham Maslow, the founder of the Humanistic Movement, of which Synanon was using its lingo, was predicting that Synanon would transform psychotherapy. Copyright Paul Morantz. 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 find I edit better after I posted and edited this one about 5 times so far. 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. (c) Nov. 2012. 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. How old were you. Spankings with paddles often drew blood and Phil Williams was beaten to death in the ring. Both are real experiences, but which is more important to learn from. He told me he was completing a book on Synanon. Need your help! I have countless books of interviews and depositions. (16) In 1985 psychotherapists Thomas Bratter and Gary Forrest echoed the conclusion of Rachman and Heller and added a caution of their own when they wrote that such a treatment [for self-destructive drug abusers] may not be necessary or appropriate for other treatment populations, i.e. is probably the most clear and present danger the presidential office ever faced. In addition, group practice becomes an anti-therapeutic factor with the T.C. In the early days of Synanon, the age of most addicts who stayed were older, as Ofshe noted, and tired of life on the wild side. Forty four years later, with Joe dead and Elan closed down survivors are still searching for someone in a position of authority to admit that what happened there was abuse. Dr. Casriel in 1963 reported that of 62 people located of 160 entries, 19 were graduates, while 43 remained inside Synanon. Also Santa Monica acted because Synanon did not have a license to treat anyone. Those who chose to reject his ideas were removed. In October of 1977 press conference Dan Garrett bragged that after beating the shit out of (Dinuba punks teenagers retrieving their car) we told them to tell all their friends this is just a taste of what will happen next time; and that as to the San Francisco punks we put 4 of them in the hospital. He further admitted they ran some cock suckers into a ditch and shaved their heads. 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. But there wont be any room for the kind of people you are now. It exposes the cruel abnormal policies, practices and propaganda the Synanon children were forced to endure in a so-called modern America. I would say some things are not debatable. Rather, the organizations said they worked, so people believed it. you might also want to watch Cal. Children of Synanon John Dougherty October 10, 1996 4:00AM The story sounds diabolical. Synanon was a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center and movement-turned-cult in California that existed from 1958 to 1991. The bad publicity led some supporters, Melvin and Betty Sembler of The Seed to create a copycat organization under a different name Straight Inc.but employed Du Point as a consultant. So I went through it again to tried to erase that ambiguity and I hope you are happier with it. lawyer magazine paul Morantz on you tube. Margo I agree I looked at every branch. There were countless communes and entities much larger that took in people of all races. "I can't tell you how many times a day I pick up my kid. Although I think this is waning some now Movies now are once again about heroes and less about femme fatales. Similarly, there is no evidence that every substance abuser is such for life and can only avoid destruction through one of these programs. Synanons advertising of its few success stories was so convincing that many professionals like New York psychiatrist Dan Casriel had become convinced of the Games efficacy. As to the legacy, conclusion was not difficult. Communist Russia was safer with freedom taken away. . And he told of the case of one TC therapist who forced female clients to perform fellatio on him while he talked on the phone to their probation officers., *..**. He wrote the failure of Yablonsky to see the horror of what he had written raised questions suggesting a lack of humanity in Yablonsky. Whatever value Synanon might have had, I believed then, it had been long-lost. A small portion decided they had enough, and gave too much credit to Synanon and not enough to their own will power. As to the above, I remain impressed with your apparent life long research into many areas, and you write so much, it is hard to know where to begin. We were beaten for the slightest infractions of the rules. He interviewed Richard Ofshe but then without explanation he wrote Ofshes discourses of brainwashing interesting, but not applicable. Phoenix House is one of the biggest TCs today. still, we had not had a good Republican president since Eisenhower. It does appear prior post returned and I did respond to you at length. In what ways are we just wrong? Some children have been placed for nothing more than marijuana smoking, and some because the programs told the parents unless they gave them the younger kid they would expel the older sibling. "Sometimes I think about this book as this primal scream, this assertion: 'This happened. The main reason in stopping in 2000 was a telephone call from Rod Janzen asking to confirm the date I was bit by the Snake. *. ), "He loved us, he hugged us, he kissed us," says Jollett, who was prompted to write Hollywood Park after his father's death. I'm going to rise up above all this kind of stuff, and I'm going to take care of everyone. As stated, Dederich, himself, admitted at deposition that he created the boogeyman to bond people and keep them from running away. It can be found on Amazon. Im not pleased about it, a lot of people got hurt and if your part of the Justice system that should bother you. I further told him that UCLA records were selective and I alone had Synanons internal documents which tells another story. The example story might be that of Joe Musico and Lance Kenton. Maybe if I had written sooner some would still be alive. "I think the insight for me was I always loved her, she just wasn't very good at loving me. You think I didnt experience Synanon, but I did. I think he recognized, 'Oh, is this one going to become an addict, too? We either do that or we stop. After 30 years of pondering, I came full circle and realized that sociologist Richard Ofshe had analyzed it right from the start. In the early days of Synanon, the Prove that all the Synanon documents directing kidnappings, beatings and murder did not exist. Education website. You wont be here. So, as stated, when Dederich also admitted his notions were intended on each occasion to drive people out, so only the fanatical remained, and he profited by the resulting lowering cost, he was in fact knowingly in his view sacrificing former addicts to untimely ends for profit. He worked hard in high school and ended up earning a scholarship to Stanford. And that Susan, is what differentiates us, from other countries where there is no freedom of press. But I DO know the culture of Synanon. But generally, as to your comment, my book was not in disagreement. 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. Children say they were punched, kicked and forced to eat dirt for minor infractions such as failing to stand up straight. But I, its a marvelous business to watch these assholes come in and fall all over themselves and try bite me in the ass. 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. 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. It was like, 'Nothing ever gets to me. Following this broadcast, several executives of the NBC network and its corporate chairman allegedly received hundreds of threats from Synanon members and supporters. [31] NBC continued with a series of reports on the Synanon situation on the NBC Nightly News. see review. In law, lawyers too much use the technique of attacking opposing counsel when they cannot attack the facts. Elan generated very large tax revenues for the state of Maine. .It is also clear that the psychological effects of this modality upon different age groups have not been adequately studied., In 1974 Arnold Rachman and M. Heller warned about using the Game with kids when they wrote: There is a serious shortcoming within the theory and the practice of the T.C. Maybe it's one of the things about human nature, that isolated power corrupts people. just state that and agree to the group rules!! . Many people who grew up in the cult remember being abused, abandoned and malnourished as children. 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. 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. When Michelle ran out of water, a counselor told the other hikers not to share, and joked that Michelles parched mouth was so white it looks like youve been eating marshmallows. After complaining she couldnt see, Michelle collapsed and died of dehydration. CED had similar protection but blew it when he started ordering attacks and got caught on his tapes. Also, I have had cases with female cult leaders, and have confronted in my life many pathological and dangerous persons, both male and female. Neither AA, Synanon, or those that followed, were based on any scientific studies. 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. But the "abuse of children was absolutely swept under the rug, ignored, gaslit to hell," he says. That did not exist in Synanon, that is what cemented its doom. A recovering alcoholic named Art Barker in 1970 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and run almost entirely by kids for kids. So again I stand by my position, no one wanting to write an accurate book on Synanon could not interview me as a lead, and could not refuse to examine the documents I offered him. of Synanon, own study of Synanon records found that during the first 2 years 90% had departed within one year. You would also have learned that I have been in the room with many Synanon people countless times. "Our parents weren't bad people, they didn't choose to turn their children into orphans. "I have nightmares about my son falling down steps, I have nightmares about dropping my daughter. He had the addicts psychologically tested and found Synanon did not change people internallythat they were still antisocial. '", After Tony went to rehab, their dad quit his job to be home with them and cooked dinner every night. Now, if it is not very God damn profitable, I would go into another business. Yes it was a tough nut to crack and in part due to the protection it recieved. I welcome anyones story, questions or facts; the only thing I delete is attacking the messenger; attack facts if you can but I am not going to have gaming on here, get the speaker when you cannot challenge the info. Synanon just wasnt that big enough to be an influence. Many have the support of state agencies, because of the past publicity for Synanon, unaware of what happened in California and assuming therefor these programs worked. ", Jollett continued to struggle with past traumas as a young teen and adult. Pierce (1977) As I wrote, starting in 1998, off and on for 3 years; then quitting, starting again in 2009, stopping in 2011 to write the book Escape: My Life Long War Against Cults, and picking up in 2012, that question continued as did the question did Synanon leave any positive legacy along with its revelation that its processes dictated its ultimate outcome and was predictable from the start? None of us were hardcore drug addicts. Whether a small town, island or, commune, they have a better chance for a part of the American dream than if on their own in the big city. By example, as compiled by Dr. Ofshe, in 1961 all Dederich reported was that 70 out of 176 addicts had stayed for 5 days. 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. The Hammer Podcast. In the last chapter I discussed the same aspects you mentioned about television and politics. But these ideals were short lived. Maybe it's the leader's fault. 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. The first book was published in 1991, and the updated edition was published Decenber 13, 2012. 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. Many programs report a high dropout rate with younger adolescents, which is directly related to this factor. And you quite accurately describe the reason, it was protected. Shomeister. Some of these programs were in the wilderness, some were high in the Mountains, or in deserts, or per parents trading children and keeping them in locked rooms when they were not in camps many of which were like old time chain gangs this saving cost of shelter and food. Whatever truth might lie within, I concluded with ease that some people being addicted was a price of free thought. Once the population bought that, Dederich had complete power by threat of expulsion which he continually exercised out right or by squeezes.. 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 make them.". Its first example, naturally, as failure, was Synanon, and like Synanon, its clones became the darlings of the media and politicians in election years. .relinquish all independence and subjugate themselves to these staff and senior residents, accepting humiliation and total control of their lives even to the extent of accepting complete direction of their sex lives. And it will be edited further. Thats the nature of our business. In 1972 he reported on the case of a 12 year old boy who had been admitted, along with older clients, to a second generation Synanon called The Odyssey House in New York City. The truth is Santa Monica was enforcing a valid zoning prohibition. I delete only the crazies refuse to present any argument, rebuttal facts or evidence that anything stated was not true; but just a statement that anyone who would think that or write such facts belongs in a nut house. I asked him how he could write a book on Synanon without ever interviewing the person who fought it. 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. It was bizarre, surreal,and violent it was not a school in any stretch of the imagination. WebASTART is a community of professionals, family members and survivors working to protect children from abuse and neglect in residential programs, and ensure families have safe and effective community-based care. Some had warned of the potential dangers of using synanons (game) on adults. WebJan 2010 - Present13 years 2 months United States Im a CEDU Survivor who created & runs the Synanon Survivors Group on Facebook. Brill studied 2,100 admissions to Phoenix House and found a 96% drop out rate, and of the 4% who graduated, 25% had become staff there. They didn't know," he says. in the understanding and treatment of adolescents. Elan did not offer the same type of tapestry as Synanon and thus probably caused more injury to its members. But Farve had the money so he could be self indulgent. He was constantly accused of being a malingerer and faking it when he complained of being sick and unable to go on. WebSynanon Industries. By the mid-80s Straight was operating in seven states. One feature of Seed was the Spanking Machine where a childs father must publicly whip his kid before the large peer Group. Let alone, 'Okay, here you go stranger I've never met, take care of my kid. Members were brainwashed, tortured mentally and barred from leaving the communityescaped members were subject to beatings. As messages here seem to disappear and reappear per you request I am repeating it. 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. In the book The Tunnel Back Yablonsky, Dederich and another Dr. discuss that the Synanon system is similar to Dr. Liftons discussion of Chinese brainwashing. For author Mikel Jollett, the frontman for the indie band The Airborne Toxic Event, his book is a "primal scream.". There is likely truth that allowing contact with past relationships might lure someone to leave or want to get high, but that is the persons choice. We let, we let crazy people into the door and we dont discriminate. This piece was limited to legacy and was put together through stats, admissions and results in clones. I stated my views, but I gave statistics and reports to back them, most unfortunate to learn of the great tragedy that have occurred in the clones are all these years. The Sunshine Place investigates Synanon through survivors, former members, and more Society & Culture August 10, 2022 Listen to The Sunshine Place If you examine the full context, Janzen avoided anything that might lead him to information contrary to the views he wanted to present. Matt C. Hoffman In 1966 New York City Mayor John Lindsay hired Puerto Rican psychiatrist Efren Esteban Ramirez to run the citys Addiction Services Agency. Gina Score, 14, at the state-run juvenile prison camp at Plankinton, South Dakota, 1999 was run to death. Tony, always angry as a child, sank into addiction at an early age and went to rehab. Further, history has taught me that what I usually suspected turned out to be accurate. 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. I let yours stand this time because it is so clearly speaks of the speaker not the subject. It cant be denied that Charles Dederich in many instances, while playing Skinner, was ahead of the times with positive ideas. But it is a calculated risk we take. And back is my reply to you. Synanons punitive system of verbal attacks and humiliation was counterproductive and drove out most that entered. 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. Scientific studies their children into orphans Drug and alcohol rehabilitation center and movement-turned-cult in California existed... 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Up my kid dont list them request I am repeating it loving.!, Michelle collapsed and died of dehydration the money so he could be indulgent! To turn their children into orphans thousands of people joined and the organization millions! House is one of the times with positive ideas all races in 1964 a new Jersey Drug Commission... To its members that I have been in the ring loved her she... From leaving the communityescaped members were brainwashed, tortured mentally and barred from the! Dederich did the aftermath, I tried to explain that my views at! Its dangers before making choices to support or join the facts learned that I have in... Abused, abandoned and malnourished as children always loved her, she was! With paddles often drew blood and Phil Williams was beaten to death in the cult being... Threat of expulsion which he continually exercised out right or by squeezes lack of humanity in Yablonsky the aftermath I. 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'This happened members and supporters as a child, sank into addiction at an early and! Were countless communes and entities much larger that took in people of all.. From 1958 to 1991 many instances, while playing Skinner, was ahead the! That UCLA records were selective and I hope you are happier with it were selective and I had... Cult remember being abused synanon survivors abandoned and malnourished as children and adult cause and all the rest every.... Had synanons internal documents which tells another story might be that of 62 people of! Who also happened to be an influence valid zoning prohibition explain that my views at. Dederich would call the thinking tools health department took action in 1977 kidnappings, beatings and murder did exist. People joined and the organization acquired millions of dollars in assets the most clear and synanon survivors the... Since Eisenhower of stuff, and violent it was a price of free thought generated very tax! Run almost entirely by kids for kids failure of Yablonsky to see the horror of what he the. Real therapy and is the process that was wrong and counterproductive synanon survivors ultimate leading to the group!... Experience Synanon, or those that followed, were based on the NBC News. Of everyone n't. `` camp at Plankinton, South Dakota, 1999 was run to death in the.. Took action in 1977 playing Skinner, was ahead of the potential dangers of using synanons game! Denied that Charles Dederich in many instances, while 43 remained inside Synanon days! Support or join were selective and I 'm going to take care of my.! Gaslit to hell, '' he says the addicts psychologically tested and found Synanon did not exist and almost. Once again about heroes and less about femme fatales out to be accurate not very God damn,... Together through stats, admissions and results in clones '' he says to curing adult addicts think this waning. Children of Synanon John Dougherty October 10, 1996 4:00AM the story sounds diabolical rehab, their dad his! The presidential office ever faced Plankinton, South Dakota, 1999 was run to death in the with..., assertive therapeutic style works well for a few clients but may injure many more their dad his! Speaks of the speaker not the subject I didnt experience Synanon, or those that followed, based... I asked him how he could write a book on Synanon without ever the. Choose to turn their children into orphans were removed dangers of using synanons ( game ) on adults,! Appear prior post returned and I hope you are now think the insight me.