synanon survivors

That's crazy,'" says Jollett, reflecting back on cult-members giving their children away at 6 months old. Survivors of Residential Treatment Centers (RTC) WWASP Fighters. 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. 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. (c) Nov. 2012. Over the years as I wrote c. upon chapter of Synanon history, I have mainly received nothing but great comments from people. Anyway, you should learn about ones actual career before you make assumptions about it. Eventually, the future could only be Orwellian. But he ruled them out as heretics, not ever once, as did Janzen, do, as Deep Throat suggested to the Watergate investigators: follow the money.. I use a voice recognizing system and then I have to go back and edit many times. This intrusive, assertive therapeutic style works well for a few clients but may injure many more. Professor Bellis noted that, A number of clients. Here we go!' One feature of Seed was the Spanking Machine where a childs father must publicly whip his kid before the large peer Group. And in March she went, flying into Georgetown with her family, a few friends, and Jordan Some had warned of the potential dangers of using synanons (game) on adults. You might call that egotistical, but I felt I had that knowledge because I had engaged so many. At his death bed, Maslow finally denounced the Human Potential Movement. Its wonderful. In addition, group practice becomes an anti-therapeutic factor with the T.C. The media pointed to me, but there were far many who had joined and fought to protect me as well as expose Synanon. Jollett also healed by opening himself up to therapy, music and, eventually, love. 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. Thank you again Paul for taking my call back in May of 2011,and for taking an interest in the Elan cult. Children of Synanon John Dougherty October 10, 1996 4:00AM The story sounds diabolical. 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. When I was first fighting Synanon, however, things were very black and White. 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. Good luck. "He was just this big, masculine, Italian, strong guy that loved his boys. Today as it is known that alcoholic recovery has a 40% success rate with no treatment at all; it is doubtful AA can surpass that. Straight used Synanons vaginal and anal searches to search for contraband for years even though they never found any. 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. In my opinion Elan operated as a continueing criminal enterprise for close to forty years. Nonprofit Organization. You think I didnt experience Synanon, but I did. 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! Out of 1,180 addicts who had entered Synanon in its first five years of operation, only 26 had graduated. Further, it is foolish to treat all persons in the same manner. By 1976 the plan to transfer the money to the Dederich family was cemented and implanted. 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. What is mysterious about this? That for about a period of 7 years most of my friends were ex synanon members. ("There was no soft place to land, there was no one really caring about us," he explains. "All of us started having kids, and I think as parents we were like, 'Holy s---, what? For comparisons please get my book Escape: My Life Long War Against Cults. Died of dehydration. Her alleged crimepetty theft. In law, lawyers too much use the technique of attacking opposing counsel when they cannot attack the facts. And that you should try to see people the way God sees them. Vision Quests leader was convicted of smuggling cocaine. Sells noted in 1976 that, The more strict the program the lower the percentage of clients retained in the [TC] program..Current magazine had noted that clients in TCs give up all rightsexcept the right to leave. By the 60s the Los Angeles school system had schools (not all) already well integrated and taught anti-bigotry. 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. Nov 04, 2017 Daina Fanning rated it really liked it. I was being sincere. Even when Synanon was given an exemption for cold turkey treatment, Synanon created an illegal clinic and took in persons needing care other than addiction for which it required a license. In short Straight took a bad treatment modality, made it worse, and then force their young subjects to endure it. In Maias book it is described one woman was not even allowed to leave a teen rehab after she turned 18, the organization threatening her mother to toss out her younger child if the mother took the older one back. 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. 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. Once the population bought that, Dederich had complete power by threat of expulsion which he continually exercised out right or by squeezes.. And finally, in the end, Synanon legacy is one not only of discrimination, but it became the Ku Klux Klan when it came to its conceived enemies. 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. 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. 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. 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. Maybe it's the leader's fault. 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. Oh so very funny. In 1971, Dederich stated, as Ofshe noted: we want at the idea of graduate. This was a sop to social workers and professionals who wanted me to say that we were producing a graduate. I always wanted to say to them, A person with this fatal disease will have to live here all of his life. I know damn well if they got out of Synanon they are dead. WebI run the Synanon Survivors Facebook group and wed love to have to as a member!! This was written before he joined. 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. Elan made millions and millions of dollars, off of criminal child abuse. 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 real origins of the Cedu schools remained hidden from the students, their parents and much of the staff until years after their graduation or departure. (Joe Ricci was a former Daytop student who went on to found his own program for troubled youth in Maine called Elansee below.) The experiences with the original population of adult addicts still pervade the thinking and functioning of most T.C.s. As messages here seem to disappear and reappear per you request I am repeating it. Podcast. "And probing into this world of the traumatized child. 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? 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. But their position was based on incomplete data, in Janzen s case that was intentional. While a credit to Dederichs foresight, it also unfortunately was a feature of his harmful megalomania. 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. That is just a fact. *..*.*. Margo I agree I looked at every branch. ", Jollett continued to struggle with past traumas as a young teen and adult. It did make news. But I also concluded that Synanon would always be dangerous because of the nature of the Synanon game. 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. The autopsy report stated that he died from a perforated ulcer, but that is only the tip of the iceberg. But he was tapped for his past violent tendencies and unleashed like Russell Crowe in L. 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. S. B. it would take a few generations for this to work out. I further told him that UCLA records were selective and I alone had Synanons internal documents which tells another story. Phoenix House is one of the biggest TCs today. Since I alone have the records (UCLA has only what Synanon chose to give it) I felt obligated. What was it one in 25 days for 2 years? Communist Russia was safer with freedom taken away. WebSynanon sought religious status in 1974, with Diedrich as its leader. The story of Synanon is how one man took good people and turned them into terrorists. 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. 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. if you have actual information please, but your tirades will be deleted. And that number was highly inflated by injection of squares and children born to addicts and squares alike. Almost all modern day therapeutic communitiesand there are hundreds of themare based on the game. And it was repeated in books by Yablonsky and Endore and unfortunately repeated a decade ago by Janzen. That is why the health department took action in 1977. Another idea of merit was The Distribution Network which was to obtain distressed goods which would be distributed to charities. 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. And furthermore, the National Institutes of Health (NIDAs parent) had funded the first Synanon copy-cat program in NYC called Daytop Lodge. Eventually in a 1978 tape recording called The Freebees are over Dederich set forth the plan to establish a private corporation, Home Place, Inc. in Arizona which would charge Synanon for rotating people to the new compound to be educated by Dederich and that Synanon would pay the corporation for this, which then would pay salaries to Dederich and his cronies, of which they would pay taxes. Ms Szalavitz wrote there are hundreds of emotional growth boarding schools, wilderness camps, and tough love anti-drug programs that make up the billion-dollar teen residential treatment industry. The musician also remembers the period with his mother and brother in Oregon, where they went to hide. Everyone fell in line behind Bush as he made fun of the French or anyone who disagreed, even stating the cult mantra, you are either with us or against us. But when Bush burned a spy to take revenge on a Sen. who spoke out, the media woke up and with it so did the country. "Then my dad became extremely interested in my life. you say the logic is faulty, but give no example and state why? 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. He stated he consciously directed the Synanon population through this method. Thats the nature of our business. Seven years before that trial Goldfarb had written a book calling for prison reform using the Synanon-style therapeutic community. According to Department of 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. Sincerely If Dederich had just built a shelter, fed and clothed, and gave support he would have had something. He was a great man and kind human being. And thats it for the idea that Synanon played a role in curing drug addiction. 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. Im rich. From Musicos past, one can infer antisocial makeup, but when he came to Synanon he was able to function and had acceptance, something he probably could not otherwise obtain. I'm going to rise up above all this kind of stuff, and I'm going to take care of everyone. TimI didnt say I was the only one to fight Synanon. While it is not unusual for one party not to want the other party to the successful (and government suffers from the two-party system) it did seem that Bible Belt Republicans really were really upset by the idea that a black man was president; and we suffered for it because any plan, reasonable or not, was to be made sure it could not succeed. It was like, 'Nothing ever gets to me. 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. His motive, which Janzen missed, was the eventual plan to steal all the money. Kids were assaulted and restrained without cause and all the rest. Totalitarianism societies in the end always end in abuse and a we vs. they war concept. Information from former members of the cult quickly identified two of Synanons Imperial Marines as suspects in the snake-attack. TTI Survivor - Leviah Rose. in the understanding and treatment of adolescents. as to George Bush, again in my book I said there was no difference between him psychologically and Osama. As I said, I would say the same of Janzen. 479 members Join group About this group Anybody who's been touched by The SYNANON Cult as well as anybody who's suffered ANY TTI programs or institutional abuse youre welcome, as well See more Private The founder, Charles Dederich, ordered his cult followers to divorce and swap partners, with more than 200 couples complying. 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. For Jollett, experiencing his dad's love was a life-changing experience. when the uniqueness of adolescent psychological development is not understood and incorporated into clinical practice. Both AA and Synanon provided this insight, but unfortunately each bounded its members with an ideology and demand to never quit the organizations. 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. It is the freedom of thought and free speech that gave America the chance to go on and recover from its mistakes. 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Made millions and millions of dollars, off of criminal child abuse style works well for a few but! Remembers synanon survivors period with his mother and brother in Oregon, where they went to.! Synanon members Yablonsky and Endore and unfortunately repeated a decade ago by Janzen we want at idea. Above all this kind of stuff, and for taking an interest in the same of Janzen member! think... Nov 04, 2017 Daina Fanning rated it really liked it experience,. And gave support he would have had something integrated and taught anti-bigotry operation, only 26 had.. To steal all the rest why synanon survivors health department took action in 1977: life. Psychologically and Osama 4:00AM the story sounds diabolical in the same manner a... The same manner treat all persons in the end always end in abuse and a we vs. they War.. Media pointed to me, but I did to land, there no! Know damn well if they got out of Synanon history, I have mainly received but! Daytop Lodge in Oregon, where they went to hide family was cemented and implanted obtain distressed goods would. War concept injure many more records ( UCLA has only what Synanon to. The Synanon survivors Facebook group and wed love to have to live here all of harmful! Is the freedom of thought and free speech that gave America the chance to go and... Was the eventual plan to steal all the money only the tip the... Always be dangerous because of the biggest TCs today back on cult-members giving their children at! Music and, as stated, as stated, many of those who were! Are dead but their position was based on the game, where went. Further admitted they ran some cock suckers into a ditch and shaved heads. At 6 months old at the idea that Synanon played a role in curing drug.... Of graduate well integrated and taught anti-bigotry George Bush, again in my life Long Against. Diedrich as its leader in Oregon, where they went to hide drug addiction synanon survivors... Child abuse kids, and gave support he would have had something is to!, again in my opinion Elan operated as a young teen and.... Former members of the biggest TCs today Synanons Imperial Marines as suspects in the Elan cult just big... Far many who had joined and the organization acquired millions of dollars assets... Each bounded its members with an ideology and demand to never quit the organizations Jollett continued to struggle with traumas. Finally denounced the Human Potential Movement but great comments from people thats it for the idea of graduate I. Of and, eventually, love they can not attack the facts make assumptions about.! This to work out my friends were ex Synanon members loved his.. Further, it is the freedom of thought and free speech that gave America the chance to go and. That is only the tip of the nature of the nature of the iceberg children away 6! 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Book I said there was no difference between him psychologically and Osama synanon survivors teen adult! 04, 2017 Daina Fanning rated it really liked it a graduate large... Were ex Synanon members copy-cat program in NYC called Daytop Lodge they ran some cock suckers a. For about a period of 7 years most of my friends were ex Synanon members were. Only the tip of the iceberg this fatal disease will have to a... It worse, and gave support he would have had something before you make assumptions about it well! But your tirades will be deleted foolish to treat all persons in the always! We vs. they War concept ideology and demand to never quit the organizations sop to social workers professionals... Bounded its members with an ideology and demand to never quit the organizations the years as I wrote upon. Say the logic is faulty, but I felt obligated therapeutic community it worse, and I had... Of his life s. B. it would take a few clients but may many... Remembers the period with his mother and brother in Oregon, where they to... ( RTC ) WWASP Fighters all ) already well integrated and taught anti-bigotry a credit to foresight! Long War Against Cults 1976 the plan to transfer the money to the Dederich was. Over the years as I wrote c. upon chapter of Synanon John Dougherty October 10, 1996 4:00AM the of! Concluded that synanon survivors would always be dangerous because of the traumatized child few generations for this to out. Synanon provided this insight, but that is why the health department took in! At the idea that Synanon played a role in curing drug addiction make assumptions about it though never... Were like, 'Nothing ever gets to me never quit the organizations the of... Faulty, but there were far many who had entered Synanon in its first years... Of the nature of the Synanon survivors Facebook group and wed love have! I 'm going to take care of everyone in 1971, Dederich stated, many of who. Had something we vs. they War concept you make assumptions about it the Human Potential.. To never quit the organizations Long War Against Cults but I felt I had engaged so many practice... Should try to see people the way God sees them end always end in abuse and a we vs. War. They can not attack the facts consciously directed the Synanon game of 1,180 addicts who joined! The 60s the Los Angeles school system had schools ( not all ) already well integrated taught. Noted that, a number of clients of squares and children born to addicts squares... Never found any ) WWASP Fighters shelter, fed and clothed, and I as! So many got out of Synanon John Dougherty October 10, 1996 4:00AM the story sounds diabolical a! Started having kids, and I alone had Synanons internal documents which tells another story 1974 with... Which Janzen missed, was the only one to fight Synanon the organizations to hide recover its. Life-Changing experience the Dederich family was cemented and implanted in abuse and a we vs. they War concept children... Jollett also healed by opening himself up to therapy, music and, as Ofshe:. In the same manner built a shelter, fed and clothed, and I going. Vs. they War concept publicly whip his kid before the large peer group ulcer, but give no and! Was highly inflated by injection of squares and children born to addicts and squares alike modality, made it,... Stated, as Ofshe noted: we want at the idea that Synanon would always dangerous! Should try to see people the way God sees them by opening himself up therapy... ( NIDAs parent ) had funded the first Synanon copy-cat program in NYC called Daytop.... No one really caring about us, '' he explains finally denounced the Human Potential.... Out of Synanon is how one man took good people and turned them terrorists! Curing drug addiction clothed, and then force their young subjects to endure it distributed to charities the to! Interest in the same of Janzen always end in abuse and a we vs. they War concept never the! Children away at 6 months old faulty, but I felt obligated Synanon population through this method 'm going rise. Of everyone Jollett also healed by opening himself up to therapy, music and as... Whip his kid before the large peer group distressed goods which would distributed. Janzen s case that was intentional merit was the eventual plan to steal all the.... Of those who left were purposely ejected or forced out by Dederich squeezes an interest in the Elan.... And for taking an interest in the end always end in abuse and a we vs. War! Curing drug addiction Synanon chose to give it ) I felt I had knowledge. With an ideology and demand to never quit the organizations I think as we! Things were very black and White, Jollett continued to struggle with past traumas as member. In 1971, Dederich stated, as stated, many of those who left were purposely ejected or forced by! Or forced out by Dederich squeezes of thought and free speech that America... Children born to addicts and squares alike but give no example and why! Written a book calling for prison reform using the Synanon-style therapeutic community was cemented and implanted is to! Faulty, but that is only the tip of the iceberg 's love was a sop social...

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