And that you should try to see people the way God sees them. The autopsy report stated that he died from a perforated ulcer, but that is only the tip of the iceberg. after 911, the Dederich type remarks that Bush was making were scary and I felt that free-speech and this country was dissipating; people were afraid to say anything that could be interpreted as un-American. Dederich in the early days would not release statistics claiming that a dope fiend would identify with whatever percentage failed and therefore would not come; finally declaring in 1967 it was such a failure that no one should ever leave. 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. And while because it was so small, its influence in non-publicized areas is doubtful. Some children were taken to foreign countries, or islands, although foreign countries have done more to stop them than our government. 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. Out of 1,180 addicts who had entered Synanon in its first five years of operation, only 26 had graduated. (Jollett explains that he, like many other former Synanon kids, suffered from reactive attachment disorder, in which a child does not form a healthy emotional bond with his caretakers.). Naya Arbiter But I believe there are important messages in its history I was drivin not to let Janzen alter it. Similarly, there is no evidence that every substance abuser is such for life and can only avoid destruction through one of these programs. The entirety of my writings say the same thing. Elan generated very large tax revenues for the state of Maine. When Michelle ran out of water, a counselor told the other hikers not to share, and joked that Michelles parched mouth was so white it looks like youve been eating marshmallows. After complaining she couldnt see, Michelle collapsed and died of dehydration. Aftermaththe Synanon legacy 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 Shomeister. 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. For those, as stated above, there is no doubt Synanon served as Ofshe stated, a realistic shelter while they got their act together. So lets say you wanted to give the Third Reich some credit, which could be done, what positives can you say about Synanon? Rocker Mikel Jollett's Memoir on Cult Childhood Is 'Primal Scream' 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. 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. Some have shown that synanon confrontations can potentially be psychologically damaging and may not be suitable for all audiences-especially for adolescents. Rose Lena Cole was court ordered to Syanon by a juvenile court judge in 1972 for running away from home. And it will be edited further. TTI Survivor - Leviah Rose. But I DO know the culture of Synanon. Now theres a little room for you now. Synanon did not even keep it from the public. Here we are not talking about riding horses, discussing the nature of man, or Emerson, but a reign of terror that was destined and predicted by many in the early 60s due to the Synanon methods of attack therapy, forced confessions, rewards and punishments and brainwashing about enemies. 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. Synanon was a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center and movement-turned-cult in California that existed from 1958 to 1991. Both are real experiences, but which is more important to learn from. He was a great man and kind human being. While forced to admit the attack on me, there is no mention of Phil Ritter or Eidson, etc., in his book, Rise and Fall of Synanon (which was same working title I had) rather a statement that the media exaggerated the violence and that there was no violence inside Synanon. The evil was he boasted that they would cut off any charity that did not do as Synanon told them to do. He wrote the failure of Yablonsky to see the horror of what he had written raised questions suggesting a lack of humanity in Yablonsky. The experiences with the original population of adult addicts still pervade the thinking and functioning of most T.C.s. It was clear, that like Yablonsky, decades prior, he was enamored by Synanon. Maia wrote: No fewer than 50 programs can trace their treatment philosophy, directly or indirectly, to an anti-drug cult called Synanon. But it is mans nature to flock together and unfortunately war with each other. (He considers his dad's partner, Bonnie, his mother. Janzen could have had this dissertation, but he was not looking for truth. It quotes statements I did not make but Dederich did. If one thought about it, does one really need to go to a rehab to stop taking pain pills or a little drinking or smoking marijuana; these were and are issues that the medical profession could not fail in guiding if one wanted to quitreducing, changing or eliminating prescriptions. Today, there are statistics saying women have surpassed men as earners, all of this is good. The game and all other methods of forced confessions, real or false to conform, are the essence of Liftons brainwashing. 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., ***. "I think the insight for me was I always loved her, she just wasn't very good at loving me. They made people like Bernie Kolb who I loved very much. In short Straight took a bad treatment modality, made it worse, and then force their young subjects to endure it. 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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. 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. My discussion is on the known today dangers of a hatchery (abandonment syndrome) which Susan Richardson wrote about, the psychological affects of attack therapy which can cause psychological damage, including psychotic breaks (which happened at Synanon) and how everyone finally bought into the enemy at the door who were all prejudiced against them and finally reduced Synanon to a state of mind where propaganda ruled over truth, all the ideals were tossed out and a growing comparison to the Manson family was in place. Paul please post this comment and not the other two thank you sir. 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. Many programs report a high dropout rate with younger adolescents, which is directly related to this factor. And with that all being announced on the wire, murder attempts begin. Society would have to catch up with Dederich on his ideas of dieting, exercise, and no smoking. Further it established shelter and group support could aid those truly wanting to stop. Looking back, I think my brother was appropriately angry with the adults.". Paul- when Elan closed in April 1 of 2011. I wrote that cults are just microcosms of greater societies. And yes, there is some bad grammar. Further, it is foolish to treat all persons in the same manner. 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. By then only 1000 out of the 12,000 claimed to have entered were there and leaving was defined as failure. If it had ended there, Synanons legacy would be far different and it would probably still be there. 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. For readers, Hollywood Park is a powerful memoir about one man's journey after he escapes a violent cult as a child. Dederich admitted at deposition that Synanon did not know how to cure a drug addict and he believed the addict would fail if he left. If I did not want comments i would not have it set up too comments. No doubt their belief in Synanon was so strong that they had a good influence on others, but unfortunately they were also subjected to the Synanon system which from the early days warned of the enemy at the door (which Dederich eventually confessed at deposition he made up to bond followers), and later declared that you could never go home or contact outsiders. Neither AA, Synanon, or those that followed, were based on any scientific studies. . He had beaten me time wise. This is especially true when punishment is viewed as a healing process. As messages here seem to disappear and reappear per you request I am repeating it. Former Synanite Dr. David Deitch, then a Phoenix House director, has stated, A client must have the choice of leaving treatment, even if the youngster is on probation and the alternative is jail.(19) Richard Ashley wrote in Heroin that, The only power of decision the member retains once he enters a TC is the decision to leave. 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