Yet by 1968, to justify ending graduation, if Dederich was correct, there was little success in curing addicts. 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. Prove that all the Synanon documents directing kidnappings, beatings and murder did not exist. A small portion decided they had enough, and gave too much credit to Synanon and not enough to their own will power. By 1971 Dederich would submit that while 10 to 12,000 people had gone through Synanon only about 10% stayed free of drugs for as much as 2 years, which was similar to the statistics everyone else concluded, which were the same at Lexington Hospital when Synanon was founded. I immediately sensed he was writing a book in which he was avoiding obtaining information that might challenge his view. I further told him that UCLA records were selective and I alone had Synanons internal documents which tells another story. 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. lawyer magazine paul Morantz on you tube. He spent 15 years see review. I comfort him if he hurts his knee or my daughter when she cries, whatever it is. Elan generated very large tax revenues for the state of Maine. Paul Morantz TimI didnt say I was the only one to fight Synanon. Its first example, naturally, as failure, was Synanon, and like Synanon, its clones became the darlings of the media and politicians in election years. You might call that egotistical, but I felt I had that knowledge because I had engaged so many. It quotes statements I did not make but Dederich did. 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. And as the classic 1971 Stanford prison experiment demonstrated, creating situations in which the severe treatment of powerless people is rewarded inevitably yields abuse. (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. when the uniqueness of adolescent psychological development is not understood and incorporated into clinical practice. still, we had not had a good Republican president since Eisenhower. you say the logic is faulty, but give no example and state why? Jollett, then just a little boy, hid to save himself. 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. It is also a story of the unconditional love between a 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. Synanon. The Synanon organization, initially a drug rehabilitation program, was founded by Charles E. "Chuck" Dederich, Sr., (19131997) in 1958 in Santa Monica, California. By the early 1960s, Synanon had also become an alternative community, attracting people with its emphasis on living a self-examined life, Since I alone have the records (UCLA has only what Synanon chose to give it) I felt obligated. 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. As I said, for years I basically hung out with former members. *..**. 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. Ex-members have no idea how close they all came to being arrested for conspiracy of RICO violations. Eventually, the future could only be Orwellian. Some people, whether from genes or experiences, or combinations thereof, just are not capable of living a good life on their own. "At that age, my response was to become the super kid. Others who completed the program were absorbed into the organization as low-paid or voluntary staff limited to walking around money. When she finally was rescued by a grandmother, the organization was fortunately wiped out by the resulting civil judgment for damages. 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. Further it established shelter and group support could aid those truly wanting to stop. 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. How all of this occurred is set forth in the first book So Fair a House by Dr. Casriel. 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. But they have settled now, particularly, as stated below, as I slowly learned the results of so many of the Synanon clones, which resulted in so much death and brutality. Once again, her counselors said that she was faking when she complained. 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. And in end, its Synanons holocaust that is its legacy, particularly since there were so many who predicted it as early as the 60s from nothing more than reading the books written about Synanon. But instead he made lab rats out of people. 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. Stop telling me this didn't happen, because this happened.'" Suggest reading the fall of series. Education website. I use a voice recognizing system and then I have to go back and edit many times. Ego had nothing to do with that comment. As stated, Dederich, himself, admitted at deposition that he created the boogeyman to bond people and keep them from running away. Ofshe who had been allowed inside Synanon to study it contacted Dave Mitchell in 1978 to ask if he was serious about investigating Synanon because violence could not occur randomly under Synanons controls and can only occur at direction of management (later admitted by Dederich at deposition). "Mary Karr likes to say, 'You have to write about difficult relationships with great love.' I was inducted in late 1976 at the age of 14. A haunting tale of estrangement, Synanon Kid, is a coming-of-age story of hope, survival, and determination. If you look at your post, you will see you bring up matters which were brought up in the entirety of my text and there is little difference. WebSurvivors report physical abuse, exploitation (human trafficking), and several types of psychological torment, including harsh discrimination and LGBTQ+ conversion therapy. 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. Synanon was discredited in the late 1970s and 1980s as its violent record was exposed. That is, she was forced to run in the summer sun until she collapsed, and then she was left laying in the hot sun until she died. Over the years as I wrote c. upon chapter of Synanon history, I have mainly received nothing but great comments from people. 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. Unlike Janzen, I was not looking for fans from any groups, but to record the knowledge I obtained so it might benefit others, as well as presenting an interesting read. Here we go!' But I, its a marvelous business to watch these assholes come in and fall all over themselves and try bite me in the ass. (He considers his dad's partner, Bonnie, his mother. I suspected this would happen, because it is well known that people in cults go from outrageous anger to a final whimsical yearning at the end for a time of spirit and comradeship. A haunting tale of estrangement, Synanon Kid, is a coming-of-age story of hope, survival, and determination. Today, there are statistics saying women have surpassed men as earners, all of this is good. And we sort of took that on, and it's sad because it's not a real portrait of a man, it's a child's imagination of a man. I don't know. Tony, always angry as a child, sank into addiction at an early age and went to rehab. It also provides no real therapy and is the same program for everyone. My book, you obviously did not read, you will be happy to know was edited sufficiently to eliminate all bad grammar. Let alone, 'Okay, here you go stranger I've never met, take care of my kid. . The entirety of my writings say the same thing. As a key distinction between comparing Synanon to America, those in Synanon who tried to warn or criticize were shut down and shoved out. Synanon did not even keep it from the public. All the civil rights marches, the anti-Vietnam protests, were uniting people of all races. 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. So is the eventual years later reverting to a longing for the days of comrades and cause. It is also a story of the unconditional love between they were supposed to be about love, while men were about war. Hitler did great things for Germany, but it would be wrong to use them to assert we should all think of it as Spring Time for Hitler, as Janzen did of Dederich. And that was great. Also true, is that my ego places me in my eyes in a higher position than others. Congratulations. ), "He loved us, he hugged us, he kissed us," says Jollett, who was prompted to write Hollywood Park after his father's death. And that you should try to see people the way God sees them. What you write is not experience of all. Jollett says his feelings were not validated by his mother, who instead relied on him for comfort. "I have nightmares about my son falling down steps, I have nightmares about dropping my daughter. Every time we let somebody into Synanon we assume an enormous liability and this is done consciously. The Old Man would testify that he never gave a splitee a single thought from the moment each left. 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. 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. In law, lawyers too much use the technique of attacking opposing counsel when they cannot attack the facts. Synanon was a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center and movement-turned-cult in California that existed from 1958 to 1991. when I was growing up I thought world would be a better place if women were in control. I have the book and am reading it. Please buy the book. At the heart of the Cedu program was a philosophy that had grown out of various self-help movements of the 1960s and 70s, such as Lifespring, Werner Erhards EST, and most directly, from Charles E. Dederichs Synanon cult, church, and street-level heroin-cure program. Charles was arrested while drunk in 1978 and was barred from any further leadership within the AA, as Synanon did, says one must participate in AA for life and have a religious belief in AA 12 steps. **, Guy Endores book, Synanon, noted ex-members very early complained that Dederich had forced out the original Board of Directors and replaced them with hand picked trained seals. 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. 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. Worse, they continue today despite strong efforts to expose them. Per Ofshe, Dr. Elizabeth Missakian, former Pres. The study of cults can teach us the problems of nations. Children say they were punched, kicked and forced to eat dirt for minor infractions such as failing to stand up straight. Largely, the squares were people looking for purpose and to be part of something. He had beaten me time wise. "I think the insight for me was I always loved her, she just wasn't very good at loving me. Professor David Bellis was one. Others were taken below or in barns to be beaten. In his final letter to his mother, he wrote, They found my weakness and I want to go home.. 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. But, in the late '70s, the California-based organization became synonymous with violence. But I believe there are important messages in its history I was drivin not to let Janzen alter it. 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. Society would have to catch up with Dederich on his ideas of dieting, exercise, and no smoking. 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. You think I didnt experience Synanon, but I did. It a very sick place for teen agers,and during my time we were mixed in with adults. "I can't tell you how many times a day I pick up my kid. They must be lies because you cant live with any other thoughts. .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. WebSynanon eventually unraveled in a series of assaults and attempted murder. I had never been arrested nor done drugs. One feature of Seed was the Spanking Machine where a childs father must publicly whip his kid before the large peer Group. : troubledteens. But these ideals were short lived. In what ways are we just wrong? And it was repeated in books by Yablonsky and Endore and unfortunately repeated a decade ago by Janzen. Order from Amazon, XHTML: You can use these tags:

. 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. When I was first fighting Synanon, however, things were very black and White. I am a Synanon survivor. Matt C. Hoffman Researched by Maia Szalavitz for a book in 2006 and for Mother Jones in 2007 she described the clone horrors and traced them back to Synanon. Psychiatrist Dr. Judianne Densen-Gerber visited Dr. Ramirez in Puerto Rico and setup her own synanon-based TC in New York City called Odyssey House. There are more successes, like the Rolling Stones Rick Jones, that stemmed from bona fide psychotherapy. In 1984 a federal jury in Alexandria, Virginia awarded Fred Collins, Jr. $220,000 for being falsely imprisoned at Straight.Inc. 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. Fager wrote: Dr. 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. It is the freedom of thought and free speech that gave America the chance to go on and recover from its mistakes. Rather, the organizations said they worked, so people believed it. WebJan 2010 - Present13 years 2 months United States Im a CEDU Survivor who created & runs the Synanon Survivors Group on Facebook. 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. And he started saying, 'Don't be like me. Shomeister. 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. 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. ), "[Tony] went to rehab at a young age, and I think it scared me," Jollett says. When he begged to see a doctor, the staff sneered at him and called him a faker and asked him if he were homosexual.. Rocker Mikel Jollett's Memoir on Cult Childhood Is 'Primal Scream' 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. They appreciated the honesty of the work. borderline schizophrenic patients, schizoid personalities, and acutely anxious, neurotic adolescents. WebNeed your help! I just imagined Charles Dederich rolling over in his grave at that news. By the mid-80s Straight was operating in seven states. Similarly, there is no evidence that every substance abuser is such for life and can only avoid destruction through one of these programs. Dr. Casriel in 1963 reported that of 62 people located of 160 entries, 19 were graduates, while 43 remained inside Synanon. The musician was careful in his portrayal of his mother, whom he feared would come across as a one-dimensional villain. In addition, group practice becomes an anti-therapeutic factor with the T.C.