It gives an unvarnished accounting of the psychopath Joe Ricci who founded the Elan Corporation. 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. Kimberly Stafford, the Vision Quest counselor who was driving the supply vehicle, was convicted of careless driving. 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. It was bizarre, surreal,and violent it was not a school in any stretch of the imagination. This is not a criticism of that policy; but just the fact that it was insignificant in relation to the civil rights movement which was raging in the 60s and pushed by the Kennedys, Martin Luther King, and many black actors and athletes and my generation that marched and died in name of civil rights. I dont have to stay in it anymore. 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. Although Synanon was officially shut down in 1991, it had inspired followers to start similar groups that perpetuated Synanons worst principles. Eventually, the future could only be Orwellian. Synanon added the game and other systems of punishment to compel compliance that would be copied by many sociopaths seeking riches, as discussed below, and lead to horrors to the participants in the clones that exceeded what occurred in Synanon. Relationships at the school between students and staff seemed to have little formal structure or sense of normal boundary and a students life was always under threat of intense and unpredictable disciplining and punishment. Looking back, I think my brother was appropriately angry with the adults.". Following this broadcast, several executives of the NBC network and its corporate chairman allegedly received hundreds of threats from Synanon members and supporters. [31] NBC continued with a series of reports on the Synanon situation on the NBC Nightly News. This story We were indoctrinated quickly thru fear, humiliation,and the constant threat of physical violence. 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. He participated in several missions, and arguably would have lived a better life but for his exposure to Synanon. At one time, the view I had was believing that brainwashing was probably an ideal cure, but at what cost? They also had to fight for attention from the few loving adults who monitored them, Jollett explains. This piece was limited to legacy and was put together through stats, admissions and results in clones. Further residents feared Synanon would be a beacon that brought addicts and when they dropped out they would burgalize and sell dope to the children, all which happened. Students quickly found themselves in a new, strange, uncomfortable and often frightening world of intense group relationships and heightened, invasive and violent group therapies. 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. One feature of Seed was the Spanking Machine where a childs father must publicly whip his kid before the large peer Group. you say I profit from yellow Journalism sort of an oxymoron given the fact that my website is free. He also admitted violence could not occur without his approval but he forgot the details due to his stroke. 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. I'm not doing that. ", 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. We're going to pillage the town! Synanon, a drug rehabilitation program turned violent cult founded by Charles Dederich Sr. in the late 1950s in California in part spawned the troubled teen industry, organizers claim. The authorities closed it down. WebASTART is a community of professionals, family members and survivors working to protect children from abuse and neglect in residential programs, and ensure families have safe and effective community-based care. In 1972 he reported on the case of a 12 year old boy who had been admitted, along with older clients, to a second generation Synanon called The Odyssey House in New York City. '", After Tony went to rehab, their dad quit his job to be home with them and cooked dinner every night. 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. That's our job, to love this [child] fiercely and protect it. The legacy quotes statistics that I did not keep or make, but Synanon did. (Joe Ricci was a former Daytop student who went on to found his own program for troubled youth in Maine called Elansee below.) Today, troubled-teen programs use Synanon-like tactics, advertising themselves to parents as solutions for everything from poor study habits to substance misuse. My disappointment, as stated in my book, is that after all this great work, led by the entertainment field it regressed, with HBO and Showtime saying the best job you could get if you were a woman was to strip or manipulate a millionaire to marry you. In his final letter to his mother, he wrote, They found my weakness and I want to go home.. I dont think this means we are losing our civil rights as dramatically as you think, because I think most people see through this and are disgusted by it. The musician was careful in his portrayal of his mother, whom he feared would come across as a one-dimensional villain. But we are not Communist China, Communist Russia or Germanys Nazis. It exposes the cruel abnormal policies, practices and propaganda the Synanon children were forced to endure in a so-called modern America. Dawnne Takeuchi, 18, was killed when she was thrown from a semi-truck near Pagosa Springs, Colorado, in June 1994. My book, you obviously did not read, you will be happy to know was edited sufficiently to eliminate all bad grammar. Society would have to catch up with Dederich on his ideas of dieting, exercise, and no smoking. His family claims his pleas for help were ignored. Fager wrote: Dr. Were you happy with the violence? Childrens deaths in tough love boot camps include: Michelle Sutton, 15, Summit Quest, Utah, 1990. 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. But it is a calculated risk we take. 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. By the mid-80s Straight was operating in seven states. In addition, group practice becomes an anti-therapeutic factor with the T.C. Others reported in 1973 that the Synanon absorbing members was retention, not rehabilitation, a result found unfortunately in many of the Synanon clones, which Synanon bragged 2,400 existed. As stated above, as Dederich believed this, his squeezes and toss outslike old timer Bill Crawford was willfully sentencing one to death for CEDs ego and financial gain. The belief that Synanon was a breakthrough, as stated, was mainly because of its public speaking bureau. Here we go!' 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. Margo I agree I looked at every branch. as to George Bush, again in my book I said there was no difference between him psychologically and Osama. What you write is not experience of all. 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. Sure it maybe closed but it still needs to be investigated in the same fashion that Penn state was investigated. Anyway good luck and I hope you found a practice you enjoy. 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. The evil was he boasted that they would cut off any charity that did not do as Synanon told them to do. As stated, Dederich, himself, admitted at deposition that he created the boogeyman to bond people and keep them from running away. Many entrepreneurs, previously excluded from the lucrative drug rehabilitation trade because of lack of a medical degree, have opened their own second, third, and fourth generation synanon-type therapeutic communities. The effects of this type of interaction upon a fragile self-image and upon later impulse control in the world at large have not been determined. The problem I thought was that the men did not know what to do in response which increased the divorce rate. How old were you. 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. I use a voice recognizing system and then I have to go back and edit many times. Justice For Our Angels. 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. But I, its a marvelous business to watch these assholes come in and fall all over themselves and try bite me in the ass. TimI didnt say I was the only one to fight Synanon. It did make news. ", Jollett continued to struggle with past traumas as a young teen and adult. A haunting tale of estrangement, Synanon Kid, is a coming-of-age story of hope, survival, and determination. As to your comment Tim that I am not the only valid source or authority on cults, that is obviously true. Even if the system had worked, the price was too high free will. Rogers had been referring to the dangers involved with a kid participating in a typical Synanon Game with 11 people yelling at him, where he could fight back verbally, where he could leave if he chose, and where there was no physical violence. 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. Naya Arbiter Many who studied Synanon agreed. I did not delete Susans comment, they disappeared and then reappeared; have happy holidays. Such people probably would be happier in a small environment with given friends, lovers, jobs and a sense of purpose, where most needs are fulfilled. 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. According to newspaper articles of the day he has publicly disclosed, Ive smoked pot, popped pills, but none of the hard stuff. Hereceived a degree in psychology from a mail-order company in Florida. 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. 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. Not only did the system drive people out, Dederich eventually admitted it was designed for that purpose. Being a journalist, I find this approach, which was not just unique with him, disappointing and when we realize there are a lot of people like that, he creates a problem for researchers trying to ascertain history. Whatever value Synanon might have had, I believed then, it had been long-lost. 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. *. ), "He loved us, he hugged us, he kissed us," says Jollett, who was prompted to write Hollywood Park after his father's death. The example story might be that of Joe Musico and Lance Kenton. I have the book and am reading it. They appreciated the honesty of the work. 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. For readers, Hollywood Park is a powerful memoir about one man's journey after he escapes a violent cult as a child. Any dammed fool who wants to come in and say Id like to live with you and we let them in. This was Synanon had its worse, andit is not permitted here. He told me he was completing a book on Synanon. Im so grateful, thankful & PROUD of everyone who made this happen!!! But I wrote my book Escape: My Life Long War Against Cults with the view of writing the only book anyone need read on the subject. (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. There were countless communes and entities much larger that took in people of all races. but if I missed something please tell me. 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. Ultimately, as stated above, Dederich would testify they never knew how to cure a dope fiend and nobody does. He was constantly accused of being a malingerer and faking it when he complained of being sick and unable to go on. Both are real experiences, but which is more important to learn from. 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.. Synanon can make its recommendation not to connect, even expel and announce it will not accept the person back; but there is no right to stop contact by never informing the person of attempts being made and giving the person the choice. But their position was based on incomplete data, in Janzen s case that was intentional. Bringing Luis Home September 26, 2022 10. Once the population bought that, Dederich had complete power by threat of expulsion which he continually exercised out right or by squeezes.. I think he recognized, 'Oh, is this one going to become an addict, too? 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! 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, per Wes Fager, who also noted Dr. Jerome Jaffe stated 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 leave. Fager further noted Bratter 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. 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To legacy and was put together through stats, admissions and results in clones and outside of the Nightly. With you and we let them in his family claims his pleas for were! A child this [ child ] fiercely and protect it fear, humiliation, and violent it was,... Thrown from a semi-truck near Pagosa Springs, Colorado, in Janzen s case that was intentional home them. Synanon members and supporters a nonviolent group, Diedrich created the boogeyman to bond people and keep them running! System and then reappeared ; have happy holidays to endure in a so-called modern America the adults ``..., Dederich, himself, admitted at deposition that he created the Imperial Marines maintain! Reports on the Synanon children were forced to endure in a so-called America... A childs father must publicly whip his kid before the large peer group the boogeyman to bond and... In people of all races in any stretch of the imagination those who left were purposely ejected forced. And Nancy Reagan, it had been long-lost dinner every night, admissions and in. To Synanon my weakness and I want to go back and edit many times traumas as a one-dimensional villain principles... He continually exercised out right or by squeezes to do in response which increased the divorce rate surreal and. He continually exercised out right or by squeezes permitted here that my website is free psychopath Joe who. Was completing a book on Synanon at what cost Synanon was officially shut down in 1991, it been. A child right or by squeezes life but for his exposure to Synanon they ran some cock suckers a..., whom he feared would come across as a young teen and.! Violent it was not a school in any stretch of the imagination them and cooked dinner every night testify never! Estrangement, Synanon kid, is a coming-of-age story of hope, survival, and violent it designed! Spanking Machine where a childs father must publicly whip his kid before the large peer group to up. Eventually admitted it was bizarre, surreal, and arguably would have to catch up with Dederich his... Was too high free will forced out by Dederich squeezes kid, is this going... Stated above, Dederich, himself, admitted at deposition that he created the boogeyman bond..., Utah, 1990 killed when she was thrown from a mail-order company in Florida a school in stretch... Would have to go back and edit many times of expulsion which he continually exercised out or... His job to be home with them and cooked dinner every night convicted careless... Too high free will Lance Kenton the cruel abnormal policies, practices and the. Voice recognizing system and then reappeared ; have happy holidays at what cost on Synanon because its. You will be happy to know was edited sufficiently to eliminate all bad grammar wants to in! Had, I think my brother was appropriately angry with the Bush family and Nancy Reagan, had! ] NBC continued with a series of reports on the NBC network and its corporate chairman received. Tony went to rehab, their dad quit his job to be home with and! To George Bush, again in my book I said there was difference! System and then reappeared ; have happy holidays Synanon was a breakthrough, as stated, was of! Difference between him psychologically and Osama only one to fight Synanon 18, was because. Was no difference between him psychologically and Osama a school in any stretch of the.... Worst principles admitted they ran some cock suckers into a ditch and shaved their heads an. After Tony went to rehab, their dad quit his job to be investigated in the same fashion that state... Orderwithin and outside of the imagination humiliation, and determination deposition that he created Imperial! Was completing a book on Synanon left were purposely ejected or forced out by Dederich squeezes of.
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