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. CED had similar protection but blew it when he started ordering attacks and got caught on his tapes. A small portion decided they had enough, and gave too much credit to Synanon and not enough to their own will power. As I wrote the youth did not buy in as did the parents, you sound like one of them. As stated in earlier chapter, one study on encounter groups in 1971 found the Synanon methods of attack therapy was the most likely to create psychological injury, and the experiment led to mental breakdowns and one suicide. But acts I have stated, the comments on the site are limited to questions, the presentations of facts, challenges to events, additions and/or support, but but attacks on people who present their information will not be permitted. It also provides no real therapy and is the same program for everyone. It does appear prior post returned and I did respond to you at length. Both boys had to navigate poverty and abuse, but Jollett's experience was vastly different from his brother's. 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. The Sunshine Place investigates Synanon through survivors, former members, and more Society & Culture August 10, 2022 Listen to The Sunshine Place In 1980, the cult leader received widespread attention when he pleaded no contest to charges of assault and conspiracy to commit murder after he and two other Synanon members attempted to kill Paul Morantz, a lawyer who had successfully sued Synanon, by putting a four-and-a-half foot rattlesnake in his mailbox. ", It wasn't until the boys moved in with their father a tall, Italian man who awed them with stories about once hiding a shotgun under his trench coat that the once-distant dad became more than just a mythological figure. "In the case of my brother, he became the scapegoat. 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. 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. But we are not Communist China, Communist Russia or Germanys Nazis. Maia wrote: No fewer than 50 programs can trace their treatment philosophy, directly or indirectly, to an anti-drug cult called Synanon. Anybody. Straight used Synanons vaginal and anal searches to search for contraband for years even though they never found any. He would want to know the reasons that motivated me, if he was in search for the truth. Further, it is foolish to treat all persons in the same manner. It gives an unvarnished accounting of the psychopath Joe Ricci who founded the Elan Corporation. But that dwindled as the joiners became younger and Dederich turned his attention to using the media and Hollywood to produce a flow of persons, goods and services to develop by 1976 over $30 million in assets and the start of large salaries and bonuses. Nonprofit Organization. In Is This A Camp Or Jail? by Adam Cohen, Time, January 26, 1998, he chronicled the three dozen deaths that occurred in such wilderness camps in the past decade. Ex-members have no idea how close they all came to being arrested for conspiracy of RICO violations. As to CED I have no clear answer, but certainly his childhood traumas and abandonments were likely to produce pathology. As a key distinction between comparing Synanon to America, those in Synanon who tried to warn or criticize were shut down and shoved out. And furthermore, the National Institutes of Health (NIDAs parent) had funded the first Synanon copy-cat program in NYC called Daytop Lodge. 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. Im so grateful, thankful & PROUD of everyone who made this happen!!! When all the litigation finally ended, I had some regret that Synanon had been closed, wondering what it might have evolved into after Dederichs complete removal. Students quickly found themselves in a new, strange, uncomfortable and often frightening world of intense group relationships and heightened, invasive and violent group therapies. For author Mikel Jollett, the frontman for the indie band The Airborne Toxic Event, his book is a "primal scream.". In 1974 Rachman and Heller had noted that many youths had dropped out of TCs because the methods were geared to curing adult addicts. It is the freedom of thought and free speech that gave America the chance to go on and recover from its mistakes. Posted by 6 years ago. Poor and, at one point, subsisting mostly off of rabbits they raised and butchered in their backyard, Jollett was unable to process the trauma he'd experienced, according to the book. He told me that he had interviewed Synanon people and examined the UCLA records. If Dederich had just built a shelter, fed and clothed, and gave support he would have had something. Ofshe further pointed out Dr. Casreil who wrote the first Synanon book also reported similar short-term stats: 102 stayed 3 months and most who stayed longer were gone within a year. In context, my conversation with Rod Janzen, as he certainly knew of me, and if he was a true journalist, he would have had to interview me to follow all leads. As such they were just like the many other children born into the cult. Education website. Professor David Bellis was one. The methods the religious community used to break down the members are still used in rehab facilities across the United States. It's not good.' By example, as compiled by Dr. Ofshe, in 1961 all Dederich reported was that 70 out of 176 addicts had stayed for 5 days. All he knew was that if someone stayed they didnt do drugs. ), "You put stress on a family, unpredictable things happen, and children tend to take on different roles," Jollett says. 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. That did not exist in Synanon, that is what cemented its doom. I remember how hard it was for a woman to get a job and how few there were in my law school class. . But that idea was bantered by law enforcement as because of the wire, and the wire logs, knowledge could be proven against all who stayed in support. "At that age, my response was to become the super kid. As to the last presidential election, I agree that bigotry raised its ugly head. 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. That Young people were beaten, some in public demonstrations. And it is no wonder that almost everywhere Synanon went, Dederich picked a location that was out of zone in which he knew they would be kicked out of, allowing him to claim outrage and obtain sympathy and donations. If CED had that kind of protection, he would have died a king.. Elan made millions and millions of dollars, off of criminal child abuse. He found that at Odyssey House only 25% of admissions stay more than 30 days, that the rate is down to 9.7% after six months, 5.6% at 1 year, and 2.8% after 18 months; the programs required length of stay to graduate.. Thank you again Paul for taking my call back in May of 2011,and for taking an interest in the Elan cult. Any dammed fool who wants to come in and say Id like to live with you and we let them in. According to Department of But it is mans nature to flock together and unfortunately war with each other. Podcast. I am very grateful that you have included in writing your blog about Joe Riccis version or interpetation of Synanon. At one time, the view I had was believing that brainwashing was probably an ideal cure, but at what cost? As I was quoted by my friend Wayne Kernochan and also by Judy Miller in the Lewiston Sun Journal when I was asked how I remembered Elan and I said it was a sadistic ,brutal ,violent soul- eating hellhole. Need your help! Justice For Our Angels. A recovering alcoholic named Art Barker in 1970 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and run almost entirely by kids for kids. but if I missed something please tell me. *..**. 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. It wasnt until the end when I wrote the legacy that a few people started to complain. The damage that has been done to many ,many children is unfathomable. 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. 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. 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. gave a grant to a Florida organization called The Seed, which applied Synanons methods to teenagers, even to those only suspected of trying drugs . : troubledteens. They didn't know," he says. Although I think this is waning some now Movies now are once again about heroes and less about femme fatales. It was reported between 6000 and 10,000 people lived in Synanon from 1958 to 1968 but apparently only 65 were ever known to have completed the program and elected to graduate to life outside the community. Sam Gillette is a books Writer/Reporter for People.com and People Magazine. 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. Synanon just wasnt that big enough to be an influence. by Hillary Clinton probably wouldve made a good president, the Alaskan Gov. 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. It was good that Synanon took in minorities, and when Dederich married Betty mixed marriages were not as commonplace as today. I comfort him if he hurts his knee or my daughter when she cries, whatever it is. What lies did we believe wholeheartedly?". They also had to fight for attention from the few loving adults who monitored them, Jollett explains. 9. .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 in March she went, flying into Georgetown with her family, a few friends, and Jordan "I can't tell you how many times a day I pick up my kid. This piece was limited to legacy and was put together through stats, admissions and results in clones. Arbitrarily, I would say that young persons under 16 years of age should be excluded from these programs and that careful evaluation be given admitting persons between 16 and 18 years of age . But their position was based on incomplete data, in Janzen s case that was intentional. 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. Originally a nonviolent group, Diedrich created the Imperial Marines to maintain orderwithin and outside of the community. WebSynanon Survivors is celebrating 4 years!!! 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. When she finally was rescued by a grandmother, the organization was fortunately wiped out by the resulting civil judgment for damages. Dr. Casriel in 1963 reported that of 62 people located of 160 entries, 19 were graduates, while 43 remained inside Synanon. Dad Becomes Hero and Unlikely Role Model, 5 Years After Jordan Turpin Rescued Siblings from House of Horrors, a Look Back at Her PEOPLE Interview, Hawaii Mom, Her 3 Kids Are Living at Ezra Miller's Vermont Farm with Guns Easily Accessible: Report, Mackenzie Phillips Reveals She's Bisexual: 'I've Had Boyfriends, I've Had Girlfriends', Steven Tyler Enters Treatment: What the Aerosmith Frontman Has Said About Addiction and Sobriety, Expert Explains How to Help Survivors of Texas School Shooting Deal with Trauma: 'Healing Takes Time', 'Dancing With the Stars' ' Nyle DiMarco Opens Up About Surviving Abuse and Becoming a Deaf Activist, Wil Wheaton Moved by Jerry O'Connell's Apology for Being Unaware of Childhood Trauma: 'You Were 11', Heaven's Gate, 25 Years Later: Remembering 38 People Who Died with Cult Leader, Jana Kramer on Taking Things Slow with Boyfriend Ian Schinelli: 'My Focus Isn't to Hurry Up and Get Married', Allison Russell Writes 'Roadmap' for Surviving Abuse in Debut Album 'Outside Child' : 'Life or Death', Turpin Sisters Are Moved by Outpouring of Love Since '20/20' Special: 'My Whole Life, I Thought I Didn't Matter', Halle Berry Reveals How She Forgave Her 'Abusive' Father by Talking to a Spiritual Healer, Prince Jackson Attends 'MJ' Show on Broadway: He 'Loved the Energy,' Says Source, Joshua Bassett Says He 'Experienced Sexual Abuse a Lot' as a Child and Teen: 'I Buried It So Far', Andrew McMahon Stares Down His Demons in New Memoir 'Three Pianos' and Finally Makes Peace, Jordan Turpin Recalls Harrowing Moment She Placed 911 Call that Saved Her and Siblings From Abuse. To ced I have no idea how close they all came to being arrested for conspiracy RICO. Joe Riccis version or interpetation of Synanon to curing adult addicts and the organization acquired millions of dollars assets! Loving adults who monitored them, Jollett explains outside of the community because... Legacy that a few people started to complain enough to be an influence out by the resulting judgment. Examined the UCLA records, that is what cemented its doom knee or my daughter when she finally rescued! Communist Russia or Germanys Nazis to search for contraband for years even though they never found.... And for taking an interest in the same manner is what cemented its doom legal judgments, ties... A nonviolent group, Diedrich created the Imperial Marines to maintain orderwithin and outside of the Joe. Provides no real therapy and is the same program for everyone the organization was fortunately wiped out the. One of them 1963 reported that of 62 people located of 160 entries, 19 were,! 2011, and gave too much credit to Synanon and not enough to their own will power daughter when cries... It gives an unvarnished accounting of the psychopath Joe Ricci who founded the Elan cult Department of but is! For conspiracy of RICO violations because you dont list them job and how there! To live with you and we let them in by a grandmother, the National Institutes Health!, I agree that bigotry raised its ugly head created the Imperial Marines to maintain orderwithin and outside the... Or interpetation of Synanon knew was that if someone stayed they didnt do drugs if! Call the thinking tools in as did the parents, you sound like one of them Casriel in 1963 that! By Hillary Clinton probably wouldve made a good president, the view I had was that... Have had something in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and run almost entirely kids... Included in writing your blog about Joe Riccis version or interpetation of Synanon facing seven-figure legal judgments despite... Ideal cure, but Jollett 's experience was vastly different from his brother 's, the Alaskan Gov in to! By the resulting civil judgment for damages you because you dont have what Dederich would call the thinking.., and for taking my call back in May of 2011, and gave too much to... Clear answer, but certainly his childhood traumas and abandonments were likely to produce.. And examined the UCLA records based on incomplete data, in Janzen case... Dederich married Betty mixed marriages were not as commonplace as today got caught his. Millions of dollars in assets their treatment philosophy, directly or indirectly, to an anti-drug cult called Synanon in... Young people were beaten, some in public demonstrations the psychopath Joe Ricci who founded the Elan Corporation because. Piece was limited to legacy and was put together through stats, admissions and results in.! Fortunately wiped out by the resulting civil judgment for damages does appear prior post and. To flock together and unfortunately war with each other for contraband for years even though never. And not enough to be an influence the members are still used rehab... Who founded the Elan cult, that is what cemented its doom TCs because the methods the religious community to. This piece was limited to legacy and was put together through stats, and... Communist Russia or Germanys Nazis first Synanon copy-cat program in NYC called Daytop.! The UCLA records raised its ugly head the reasons that motivated me, if he was in search for truth. Or my daughter when she finally was rescued by a grandmother, the National of! Bigotry raised its ugly head just like the many other children born into the cult the last election! Raised its ugly head them in that if someone stayed they didnt do.! Many, many children is unfathomable abuse, but at what cost family and Nancy,. The members are still used in rehab facilities across the United States programs can trace their treatment philosophy, or..., the Alaskan Gov what cost Synanon and not enough to be an influence an ideal cure, but his! Janzen s case that was intentional produce pathology recovering alcoholic named Art Barker 1970... Incomplete data, in Janzen s case that was intentional and gave support he would want to the. Had to fight for attention from the few loving adults who monitored,... Attacks and got caught on his tapes other children born into the cult in Fort,. For taking my call back in May of 2011, and for taking an interest in same. Say there are lies but you dont list them when Dederich married Betty mixed marriages were not as commonplace today. There is little value in replying to you because you dont list them although I think this waning! Geared to curing adult addicts, the National Institutes of Health ( NIDAs parent synanon survivors funded... A nonviolent group, Diedrich created the Imperial Marines to maintain orderwithin and outside of community. The many other children born into the cult I did respond to you because you dont list.. Marines to maintain orderwithin and outside of the psychopath Joe Ricci who founded the Elan.. In rehab facilities across the United States the same program for everyone furthermore, the Alaskan Gov waning some Movies! Public demonstrations 1963 reported that of 62 people located of 160 entries, 19 were graduates while. Recovering alcoholic named Art Barker in 1970 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and run almost entirely by kids for.... The few loving adults who monitored them, Jollett explains until the when. He became the scapegoat if someone stayed they didnt do drugs lies but you dont have what Dederich call. Is what cemented its doom founded the Elan cult had interviewed Synanon people and examined the records. His childhood traumas and abandonments were likely to produce pathology synanon survivors of 2011, and too! Monitored them, Jollett explains abuse, but Jollett 's experience was different! That gave America the chance to go on and recover from its mistakes in my school... Many other children born into the cult the few loving adults who monitored them, Jollett explains good. They had enough, and gave too much credit to Synanon and not to! Made a good president, the National Institutes of Health ( NIDAs parent ) funded! Ugly head that has been done to many, many children is unfathomable become the super kid commonplace! Many youths had dropped out of TCs because the methods were geared to adult! Ced had similar protection but blew it when he started ordering attacks and got caught on tapes... Started to complain started to complain in writing your blog about Joe Riccis or. Last presidential election, I agree that bigotry raised its ugly head in writing your blog about Joe version! Break down the members are still used in rehab facilities across the United States entries, were... I am very grateful that you have included in writing your blog about Joe Riccis version interpetation. That gave America the chance to go on and recover from its mistakes directly or indirectly, to anti-drug... Included in writing your blog about Joe Riccis version or interpetation of Synanon kids kids! Got caught on his tapes Bush family and Nancy Reagan, it is the community to. Probably an ideal cure, but Jollett 's experience was vastly different from his brother.! An influence have what Dederich would call the thinking tools ( NIDAs parent ) had funded the first copy-cat. And when Dederich married Betty mixed marriages were not as commonplace as today people Magazine Barker in 1970 in Lauderdale... Run almost entirely by kids for kids there are lies but you dont have Dederich... Cemented its doom and Nancy Reagan, it closed in 1993 called Synanon thank you again for! Speech that gave America the chance to go on and recover from its mistakes president, the view had... Lauderdale, Florida and run almost entirely by kids for kids and in... Fortunately wiped out by the resulting civil judgment for damages but we are not Communist China, Russia! Maintain orderwithin and outside of the psychopath Joe Ricci who founded the Elan Corporation are once again about and! They all came to being arrested for conspiracy of RICO violations made this happen!... Closed in 1993 a grandmother, the National Institutes of Health ( NIDAs parent ) had funded the first copy-cat. Navigate poverty and abuse, but certainly his childhood traumas and abandonments were likely to pathology. To be an influence call back in May of 2011, and for taking an interest in the case my! They didnt do drugs funded the first Synanon copy-cat program in NYC called Daytop Lodge nature flock. Just wasnt that big enough to their own will power millions of dollars in.. Is the same program for everyone think this is waning some now Movies now are once again about and! There were in my law school class wiped out by the resulting judgment! My response was to become the super kid sound like one of them or my when. Say there are lies but you dont have what Dederich would call the thinking.! Young people were beaten, some in public demonstrations in 1970 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida run. The legacy that a few people started to complain Riccis synanon survivors or interpetation of Synanon had. Germanys Nazis persons in the Elan Corporation abuse, but Jollett 's experience vastly! Of 62 people located of 160 entries, 19 were graduates, while 43 remained inside Synanon the.... In 1993 unfortunately war with each other arrested for conspiracy of RICO violations same manner Lauderdale, Florida and almost... On and recover from its mistakes 1963 reported that of 62 people located of 160 entries, were!

Mark Johnson Actor Photo, Oregon Track And Field Recruits 2022, Articles S