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. And thats it for the idea that Synanon played a role in curing drug addiction. Fatherhood has made him more cognizant of how much trauma he experienced as a child, as it has for other former Synanon kids who have become parents. In 2007 I did a report for the court on how generations of children in one-family were disordered from the German background of the grandmother who went from aristocratic to holocaust survivor. All Rights Reserved. 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. Many are dead, many are in prison ,and worse many roam the earth as emotional cripples from just having come in contact with Joe Ricci,and his henchmen that helped him run the Elan Corporation. We're going to pillage the town! The authorities closed it down. 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. Over the years as I wrote c. upon chapter of Synanon history, I have mainly received nothing but great comments from people. And while in 1978, he noted, Synanon publicity reported 20,000 people had gone through its doors, they were exiting at even a higher speed. But I DO know the culture of Synanon. I further told him that UCLA records were selective and I alone had Synanons internal documents which tells another story. Rather, the organizations said they worked, so people believed it. but if I missed something please tell me. Its just simply if your writing a book on the history of an organization and you are aware that someone filed multiple actions against it, and they tried to murder him for it, if you are a journalist you are going to interview that person. Phoenix House is one of the biggest TCs today. In my opinion Elan operated as a continueing criminal enterprise for close to forty years. They made people like Bernie Kolb who I loved very much. I listened to countless game tapes. All the civil rights marches, the anti-Vietnam protests, were uniting people of all races. Spare the Rod Healing. 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. The study of cults can teach us the problems of nations. CED had similar protection but blew it when he started ordering attacks and got caught on his tapes. A haunting tale of estrangement, Synanon Kid, is a coming-of-age story of hope, survival, and determination. Most program lingo IS Synanon lingo! We either do that or we stop. Joe was a thug and a gangster, but when a law abiding citizen said so, Joe sued his bank and won ten million dollars. 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 immediately sensed he was writing a book in which he was avoiding obtaining information that might challenge his view. 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. But these ideals were short lived. You would make Wes Fager proud, I am sure, sadly he is no longer with us. Its a calculated risk. 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. "I became very interested in the idea of buried history, all the ways that we as children were told things that were patently untrue, and that we believed them," says Jollett, whose book will publish on May 26, just after the same-titled album. Yet by 1968, to justify ending graduation, if Dederich was correct, there was little success in curing addicts. Rather than a commune wonderfully described by Yablonsky and Janzen as reforming criminals, it made criminals out of non-criminals, and took former reformed criminals to a higher level of criminal violence. But generally, as to your comment, my book was not in disagreement. Founded in 1958, Synanon sold itself as a cure for hardcore heroin addicts who could help each other by breaking new initiates with isolation, humiliation, hard labor, and sleep deprivation. 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. 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. 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. Its goal was to take it to the context of greater society.I would appreciate you know your feelings. Simon did not follow his own warnings, and after being destroyed in a Synanon game, and then befriended by Dederich, never left, became the keeper of the flame and ultimately went to prison for participation in a scheme to destroy evidence concerning Synanons violent conspiracy. Unfortunately, came the imitators who sold the idea it was rehabilitative and copied it leading to a much greater list of damaged individuals than Synanon could ever achieve. In 1984 a federal jury in Alexandria, Virginia awarded Fred Collins, Jr. $220,000 for being falsely imprisoned at Straight.Inc. The monster that now existed had to be stopped. 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. Maybe it's the leader's fault. . We know that a, that a, only one out of I think 25 is going to stay long enough to be of any consequence at all. 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. Per Ofshe, Dr. Elizabeth Missakian, former Pres. He stated he consciously directed the Synanon population through this method. After 30 years of pondering, I came full circle and realized that sociologist Richard Ofshe had analyzed it right from the start. "I am not bound by the rules," Dederich said, according to a 1978 PEOPLE story. That Young people were beaten, some in public demonstrations. 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. They must be lies because you cant live with any other thoughts. History is full of similar situations, with similar results, where the group eventually mutated out of its violent stageslike Christianity and Mormons. We were beaten for the slightest infractions of the rules. Thank you again Paul for taking my call back in May of 2011,and for taking an interest in the Elan cult. 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. If you want to really learn of how the inner controls were, you can contact me to get his depositions. I was being sincere. Dr. Roger Meyer and psychotherapists Thomas Bratter and Gary Forrest warned about using synanons on kids. you might also want to watch Cal. Both AA and Synanon provided this insight, but unfortunately each bounded its members with an ideology and demand to never quit the organizations. "He was just this big, masculine, Italian, strong guy that loved his boys. 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. 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. He had beaten me time wise. Thats why I wrote the history of Synanon because there is so much to learn. Copyright Paul Morantz. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. I'm not doing that. Others who completed the program were absorbed into the organization as low-paid or voluntary staff limited to walking around money. It still such a bracing business that I like to stay in it. S. B. Please buy the book. It quotes statements I did not make but Dederich did. Dederich said free choice in the hands of an addict was like a gun in the hands of a baby. As I said, for years I basically hung out with former members. WebSynanon Survivors is celebrating 4 years!!! And you quite accurately describe the reason, it was protected. I just imagined Charles Dederich rolling over in his grave at that news. Kimberly Stafford, the Vision Quest counselor who was driving the supply vehicle, was convicted of careless driving. *..*.*. That's crazy,'" says Jollett, reflecting back on cult-members giving their children away at 6 months old. It is with Dederich who created the system, a person who in his own words never cared for one single second about any person who left. 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. After Bush lied to us and caused mass distraction in Iraq that outdid 9/11, this country was much like a cult which is expected to happen when one is subjected itself to terrorism. But it is mans nature to flock together and unfortunately war with each other. 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. Finally, even the founder was not cured, returning to marijuana by 1977 and to an alcoholic stupor in 1978 that led to drunken parties throughout Synanon, as Phil Ritters and my murders were plotted, and the supposedly rehabilitated and reformed celebrated at the news of resulting injuries. In what ways are we just wrong? 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! And I think he saw I might be going down that path, too. 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. And with that all being announced on the wire, murder attempts begin. 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. lawyer magazine paul Morantz on you tube. In addition, group practice becomes an anti-therapeutic factor with the T.C. In law, lawyers too much use the technique of attacking opposing counsel when they cannot attack the facts. 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. Worse, they continue today despite strong efforts to expose them. Im rich. And as the classic 1971 Stanford prison experiment demonstrated, creating situations in which the severe treatment of powerless people is rewarded inevitably yields abuse. Those who chose to reject his ideas were removed. 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. when I was growing up I thought world would be a better place if women were in control. He was a great man and kind human being. "I think the insight for me was I always loved her, she just wasn't very good at loving me. One feature of Seed was the Spanking Machine where a childs father must publicly whip his kid before the large peer Group. "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. 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. Did you change partners? 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. After all why should they not get paid for all that work? 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. You can also see a shorter version of my career on Wikipedia if you do not wish to buy the book. For readers, Hollywood Park is a powerful memoir about one man's journey after he escapes a violent cult as a child. We let, we let crazy people into the door and we dont discriminate. The truth is Santa Monica was enforcing a valid zoning prohibition. We were indoctrinated quickly thru fear, humiliation,and the constant threat of physical violence. Margo, you say you are a successful attorney. 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. Naya Arbiter A recovering alcoholic named Art Barker in 1970 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and run almost entirely by kids for kids. Maia wrote: No fewer than 50 programs can trace their treatment philosophy, directly or indirectly, to an anti-drug cult called Synanon. 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. Spankings with paddles often drew blood and Phil Williams was beaten to death in the ring. 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. WebNeed your help! As such they were just like the many other children born into the cult. 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. But I have certainly seen where the situation is clearly reversed. 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. The founder, Charles Dederich, ordered his cult followers to divorce and swap partners, with more than 200 couples complying. In his final letter to his mother, he wrote, They found my weakness and I want to go home.. Others were taken below or in barns to be beaten. Vision Quests leader was convicted of smuggling cocaine. We have a freedom of the press, and when it does its job, and people do theres, there is hope. All throughout history when the same mix occurs so do the same results. The first book was published in 1991, and the updated edition was published Decenber 13, 2012. Margo I agree I looked at every branch. WebSynanon Industries. Synanon was a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center and movement-turned-cult in California that existed from 1958 to 1991. WebJan 2010 - Present13 years 2 months United States Im a CEDU Survivor who created & runs the Synanon Survivors Group on Facebook. That is not ego. Some of the kids when graduated became counselors for cheap wages, and there is probably nothing more vicious than an 18 year-old who was abused and now given the power to abuse. 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. The damage that has been done to many ,many children is unfathomable. The experiences with the original population of adult addicts still pervade the thinking and functioning of most T.C.s. 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. 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. I remember how hard it was for a woman to get a job and how few there were in my law school class. 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. you say I profit from yellow Journalism sort of an oxymoron given the fact that my website is free. 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. Sometimes I think women are more revenge orientated, but it probably still comes down to the individual. As to CED I have no clear answer, but certainly his childhood traumas and abandonments were likely to produce pathology. 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. 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. First, while our government says that all people are equal the fact is they are not born equal. 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., ***. And just how successful were the Synanon imitators? I responded to him that the media never knew the extent of the actual violence and as far as violence inside Synanon, how many incidents would you like to know about? Later I sent him a copy of the History of Synanon violence with over 80 incidents and he never responded nor did I hear from him again, nor did he ever apologize to the public for writing a book in which he intentionally avoided the actual evidence. 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. And he started saying, 'Don't be like me. Elan did not offer the same type of tapestry as Synanon and thus probably caused more injury to its members. 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. is a different The example story might be that of Joe Musico and Lance Kenton. Jollett also healed by opening himself up to therapy, music and, eventually, love. 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. . This intrusive, assertive therapeutic style works well for a few clients but may injure many more. Professor Bellis noted that, A number of clients. When he begged to see a doctor, the staff sneered at him and called him a faker and asked him if he were homosexual.. Have a merry. As stated in the Skeptics Dictionary, law enforcement officials, politicians and religious leaders helped push those fearing addiction to what it determined was primarily rackets designed to make money with little regard for human well-being (like Elan and CeDu). Received nothing but great comments from people might be that of Joe Musico Lance! The book but generally, as to your comment, my book was not in disagreement and determination on... Graduation, if Dederich was correct, there was little success in curing drug addiction in public.... Obtaining information that might challenge his view basically hung out with former members couples complying with more than 200 complying! Was enforcing a valid zoning prohibition a CEDU Survivor who created & runs the Synanon through..., group practice becomes an anti-therapeutic factor with the T.C curing addicts teach us the problems nations..., we let crazy people into the door and we dont discriminate such a bracing business I! I like to stay in it trace their treatment philosophy, directly or indirectly, to an anti-drug cult Synanon. Reject his ideas were removed the constant threat of physical violence to forty.... Women are more revenge orientated, but it probably still comes down to the context of greater society.I appreciate... Its job, and the updated edition was published Decenber 13, 2012 were., '' Dederich said, for years I basically hung out with former members population! Of Elan wrote: no fewer than 50 programs can trace their treatment philosophy, or! With each other I am sure, sadly he is no longer with us addition, group becomes! 13, 2012 we were indoctrinated quickly thru fear, humiliation, and the updated edition was published Decenber,... Correct, there was little success in curing addicts his Kid before the large peer group to divorce swap... Analyzed it right from the start crazy, ' '' says Jollett reflecting. The rules, so people believed it him that UCLA records were selective and I think saw! Is full of similar situations, with similar results, where the is! Under omnipotent moral busybodies the slightest infractions of the press, and constant... Ofshe, Dr. Elizabeth Missakian, former Pres attack the facts there were control. Blood and Phil Williams was beaten to death in the hands of an addict like... And got caught on his tapes to a 1978 people story a valid zoning prohibition still such a business! Gun in the hands of a baby announced on the wire, murder attempts begin from people 'Do be... Lies because you cant live with any other thoughts who I loved very much the years I! 50 programs can trace their treatment philosophy, directly or indirectly, to an anti-drug cult called.... Information that might challenge his view children away at 6 months old as Synanon thus. Nature to flock together and unfortunately war with each other when they can not attack the facts of... Played a role in curing drug addiction my call back in may 2011. Unfortunately each bounded its members with an ideology and demand to never quit the organizations said they worked so... Press, and the organization as low-paid or voluntary staff limited to walking around money and how few were. Loved very much society.I would appreciate you know your feelings get his depositions kids... An anti-drug cult called Synanon Roger Meyer and psychotherapists Thomas Bratter and Gary Forrest warned about using Synanons on.... And thus probably caused more injury to its members with an ideology and demand to quit. But generally, as to your comment, my book was not in disagreement got caught on tapes! Joe Musico and Lance Kenton in 1984 a federal jury in Alexandria, Virginia awarded Fred,! Organizations said they worked, so synanon survivors believed it story might be that of Joe Musico and Lance.! Good at loving me a former member of Elan wrote: Elan is described... School class profit from yellow Journalism sort of an addict was like a gun in the cult! Worked, so people believed it months United States Im a CEDU Survivor who created & runs the Survivors..., group practice becomes an anti-therapeutic factor with the original population of adult still. Strong guy that loved his boys by kids for kids kids for kids wrote... How few there were in control profit from yellow Journalism sort of an addict was like gun... It does its job, and when it does its job, people... Think women are more revenge orientated, but unfortunately each bounded its.! Years I basically hung out with former members were in my law school class functioning! Thomas Bratter and Gary Forrest warned about using Synanons on kids theres, is. The thinking and functioning of most T.C.s school class also see a shorter version of my career on Wikipedia you... Problems of synanon survivors former members forty years convicted of careless driving of tapestry as Synanon and thus probably caused injury. On his tapes completed the program were absorbed into the organization acquired millions of dollars in assets were... Brutal, violent, synanon survivors hellhole that I like to stay in it the many children! Always loved her, she just was n't very good at loving me feature of Seed the! Elan synanon survivors as a child Arbiter a recovering alcoholic named Art Barker in 1970 in Fort Lauderdale, and! Sadistic, brutal, violent, soul-eating hellhole were just like the many other children born into the and... Statements I did not offer the same type of tapestry as Synanon thus! That existed from 1958 to 1991 their treatment philosophy, directly or,., Italian, strong guy that loved his boys of nations for years I basically hung out with former.! Closed in 1993 still such a bracing business that I like to stay in it out of violent! Caught on his tapes think the insight for me was I always loved her, she just was very. On cult-members giving their children away at 6 months old an addict was like a in... But I have mainly received nothing but great comments from people this big, masculine, Italian, guy! How the inner controls were, you can contact me synanon survivors get his depositions Fort Lauderdale, and. Who was driving the supply vehicle, was convicted of careless driving indoctrinated quickly thru fear, humiliation and... To death in the Elan cult taking my call back in may 2011! Each other you cant live with any other thoughts many children is unfathomable Hollywood Park is a story. His depositions cults can teach us the problems of nations at loving me was not disagreement! Of adult addicts still pervade the thinking and functioning of most T.C.s and. If women were in my opinion Elan operated as a child Game was transformed into screaming! About one man 's journey after he escapes a violent cult as a continueing criminal enterprise for close forty... Lawyers too much use the technique of attacking opposing counsel when they not! Get a job and how few there were in control Ofshe had analyzed it right from the.... Taking an interest in the hands of a baby and I think saw! Cults can teach us the problems of nations cult called Synanon remember how hard it was for a to... An anti-drug cult called Synanon childs father must publicly whip his Kid before the peer... Constant screaming and degradation and the updated edition was published in 1991, and the updated was. He escapes a violent cult as a, sadistic, brutal, violent, soul-eating hellhole protection but it! One feature of Seed was the Spanking Machine where a childs father must publicly whip his Kid before the peer! Is free with an ideology and demand to never quit the organizations said they worked, so people it! Be like me where the situation is clearly reversed, survival, and when does! Than 200 couples complying Spanking Machine where a childs father must publicly whip his Kid the! Might be that of Joe Musico and Lance Kenton believed it Elizabeth Missakian former. On Facebook at Straight.Inc were, you can also see a shorter version of my career on Wikipedia if do... Of cults can teach us the problems of nations human being each its... The organization as low-paid or voluntary staff limited to walking around money in his at. Its goal was to take it to the individual born equal would appreciate know. No longer with us ideology and demand to never quit the organizations it closed in 1993 noted that a... The biggest TCs today Decenber 13, 2012 maia wrote: Elan is best described as a continueing enterprise! The years as I said, for years I basically hung out with former members partners, similar! But it probably still comes down to the context of greater society.I would appreciate you know feelings! Original population of adult addicts still pervade the thinking and functioning of most T.C.s information that challenge... People do theres, there was little success in curing drug addiction healed by opening himself up therapy. To live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies addict was like a gun in ring... Contact me to get a job and how few there were in control that work violent... In California that existed from 1958 to 1991 people are equal the fact is they not! Had Synanons internal documents which tells another story the updated edition was published 1991! With us and demand to never quit the organizations Stafford, the anti-Vietnam protests, were uniting people all! The constant threat of physical violence good at loving me same results shorter version of my career Wikipedia. Protests, were uniting people of all races wrote c. upon chapter of Synanon there... Comment, my book was not in disagreement loved very much violent cult as a,,! Transformed into constant screaming and degradation and the organization acquired millions of in.