Synanon disbanded in 1991[6] due to members being convicted of criminal activities (including attempted murder) and retroactive loss of its tax-exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) due to financial misdeeds, destruction of evidence, and terrorism. Much of the violence by Synanon had been carried out by a group within Synanon called the "Imperial Marines". Performance & security by Cloudflare. During summer l978 California congressman, Herschel Rosenthal, a long-time Synanon supporter, attached a rider to a bill that if passed would exempt Synanon from all health licensing laws regardless of condition person taken in. The influence and culture of the Synanon organization, which was founded by Charles Dederich Sr., started as a drug rehabilitation program in the late 1950's. . Joe Musico proposed to the Board that at its June 26 meeting it reconsider the idea of an additional Synanon National Guard and place him in charge of training it. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Synanon claimed it had cured thousands but by 1967 Dederich turned the organization into a "lifestyle" by recruiting non-addicts ("Squares") and building cities in Marin County, then Tulare County and eventually Lake Havasu. . The school attracted lawyers, screenwriters, and business executives, all wanting to educate their children in a progressive environment. Dederich and Yablonsky acknowledged that the system was brainwashing (thought reform) as described by Dr. Robert Jay Lifton in Coercive PersuasionThe psychology of Totalism (Yablonski, The Tunnel Back). Yes, it is all true. A drunken Dederich was arrested on December 2 in Lake Havesu. [7], Dederich eventually changed his way of thinking about Synanon and transformed it into something resembling a human progressive group. The program was based on testimony of fellow group members about their tribulations and urges of relapsing, and their journeys to recovery. "One big dysfunctional family: A former member of the Synanon cult recalls the 'alternative lifestyle' that shaped her, for better and worse". Imperial Marines carried an E-11 blaster rifle, a MiniMag shoulder-launched proton torpedo launcher, and multiple thermal . The name was chosen when a member slurred the words 'Symposium' and 'Seminar', explains Paul Morantz, an expert on the cult. Aired: 06/14/2020 TV-14 | 2 years left Season 2 - Episodes 43:49 S2 - E1 Spiritual Warriors 43:49 AN ULTRA-violent cult brainwashed addicts into shaving their heads, and enforced mass sterilizations in "Gestapo-like" demands. (Tony Lang, Synanon, Morantz archives on Synanon). Dederich also created an armed wing within Synanon called the Imperial Marines, and ordered those within the unit to prevent any of the residents from leaving. A search of the vehicle turned up a fingerprint that matched one of Dederich's so-called "Imperial Marines," a no-nonsense security detail unafraid to employ violence should the moment call for it . Trade players like stocks: https://codes.jockmkt.com/?utm_campaign=BAWS-A9EE Come%20join%20Jock%20MKT.%20Use%20my%20referral%20link:%20https://codes.jockmkt.. He noted psychological testing revealed Synanon members (dope fiends) were still anti-social and recommended that the games fierce attack on self be lightened over a time, and that psychological counseling be given along with follow-up care to those who exit. Her daughter died in Synanon and the husband split. ; [41], Father William B. O'Brien, the founder of New York's Daytop Village, included Synanon's group encounters and confrontational approach in his research into addiction treatment methods. [7] A state Grand Jury in Marin County issued a scathing report in 1978 that attacked Synanon for the very strong evidence of its child abuse, and also for the monetary profits that flowed to Dederich. Crying, Trippers embraced, feeling euphoria and transcending love. In June of l978 Ernestine White, a black grandmother was trying to get her three grand kids out. Dan Garrett ordered a kidnapping and then changed the order to beating the person on the spot. CEDU's schools used the confrontation model of Synanon. (IRS vs. Synanon) Before the attack on Morantz, Synanon had opened a new private corporation city in Lake Havasu which was a plan to send Synanon money to the private corporation and then into the hands of Synanon leaders through salaries. Mitchell developed a deep throat in the Sheriff department, Art Disterheft. Their last hope. Several of the famous jazz musicians credited with cure returned to drugs. But he nearly lost his life as a result of his investigation into Synanon. "Light to celebrate 25th anniversary of its Pulitzer", Marconi Conference Center State Historical Park, "The Story of This Drug Rehab-Turned-Violent Cult Is Wild, Wild Country-Caliber Bizarre", "A Violent, Deadly Cult With Forced Abortions and Shades of Scientology", The Cult That Spawned the Tough-Love Teen Industry, "The Man Who Fought the Synanon Cult and Won", "Synanon's Sober Utopia: How a Drug Rehab Program Became a Violent Cult", "Playing the Game: The Origins and Impact of Synanon", "The True History of Synanon Violence and How it Started", "The History of Synanon and Charles Dederich", "Charles Dederich, 83, Synanon Founder, Dies", "Synanon Founder Advocated Violence Against Opponents", "U.S. Indicts Nine From Synanon in Tax-Exemption Effort", "Ever unconventional, long controversial", "The Cult That Spawned the Tough-Love Teen Industry", "TrueAnon Presents: The Game -- First Episode drops September 26 on http://patreon.com/trueanonpod", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Synanon&oldid=1133004690, This page was last edited on 11 January 2023, at 20:24. (Yablonski, The Tunnel Back: Guy Endore, Synanon; Charles Dederich tapes on history of Synanon). Ofshe, Richard. The Trippers, many of whom had been awake for 65 or more hours, were hugged and cheered. Synanon evicted by tossing people and belongings out of apartments (even off a roof). The concept was based on law that even charities are taxed if they commit acts against public policy. [12], One of the most distinguishing practices of the Synanon community was a therapeutic practice commonly referred to as "The Game." Those who went to jail for Synanon were treated as heroes. Teachers, lawyers, doctors, police, politicians, all got hooked, many forming an allegiance previously not matched in their lives to the group and trainers that trained them. The Conductor made it clear this was the resisters last chance. In 1974 Synanon declared itself a religion and centered on middle-class searching for utopia rather than addict curing. The 1950s were a time when incarceration was considered the only cure for drug addiction. But Synanon still remains the Granddaddy of all drug rehabs, the failure that launched an industry, its failure teaching us more than whatever its success had (Richard Ofshe, The Failure that spurned an Industry). By the early 1960s it had become an alternative community as well, attracting people with its emphasis on living a self-examined life, as aided by group truth-telling sessions known as the "Synanon Game." Outsiders were permitted to attend the "Synanon Game" there as well. Deadly Cults is back for a chilling second season, starting Sunday, April 26 at 7pm ET/PT on Oxygen. put my Synanon evidence books on the kitchen counter", when he noticed "something dark and elongated through the grill of my mail chute". Ultimately, it purchased an arsenal of high-powered weapons, developed its own security force and in an isolated concealed valley across its airfield called Depot Flats, it set up camp to train the Imperial Marines. More than 80 people had been attacked by Synanon, Morantz said. Skip to content It's Time for Morning Meeting Sharing our Synanon Stories Menu About Stories Contact Kids Places Faces Philosophy The End Early Days Work Play 'imperial marines 1978' Leave a Reply Cancel reply The name was chosen when a member slurred the words "Symposium" and "Seminar." One of its early cardinal rules was "no violence" or threat of same. Mr. Dederich even kept an elite squad of enforcers that he called the Imperial Marines. (IRS v. Synanon; Morantz vs. Synanon; Winn vs. Synanon; Renfroe vs. Golden State). Former Synanon President Jack Hurst spoke out against Synanon and found his home door open and his dog hung. Fighting to stay awake, defenses wiped away, the unbroken broke and asked for forgiveness. (Robson letters, crime reports, Synanon memos on each event, Synanon Holy War file, Depostions of ex-Synanon member, Morantz vs. Synanon; IRS vs. Synanon). Dederich declared they were better than the world and through his experimentation Synanon would lead the human race into the 21st Century. Dederich concluded in l967 that the program was not a success, and ended the concept of graduation. Without continued peer pressure, most ex-addicts reverted on leaving, as did the Korean prisoners of War (giving up Communism) in 90-days. Dederich called it an insight producing experience. This included taking vengeance against former Synanon members. [26] Over 80 violent acts were committed, including mass beatings that hospitalized teenagers and ranchers who were beaten in front of their families. Dederich appeared at a press conference and declared the city had fallen into the hands of Mad Dogs and Synanon would sue them all. California donated a block long building in San Francisco. [25] Initially Synanon did not support violence; Dederich later changed the rules to allow for violence in order to maintain control. And Synanon, which is to say Dederich, was not happy about being made to look foolish. Inside, Dederich compared Synanon to the mafia (Synanon Think Table Summaries; Dederich, New Religious PostureDont Fuck with Synanon). Fluid leaked into his spine causing a near fatal case of spinal meningitis. When California officials set about revoking Synanons charitable trust status, Dederich declared Synanon a religion in 1974. Cole had received a court order to enroll in Synanon before she disappeared. I really do want an ear in a glass of alcohol on my desk. [22] During this practice, members were encouraged to be critical of everything, using harsh and profane language. In l977 when Dederichs wife Betty died he married a volunteer to be his wife and decided to save others from pain of death or divorce by ordering all married couples to break up every 3 years and take new partners selected by Synanon (love matches). (Mitchell, Light on Synanon. Dig Deeper Listen: The American Rehab podcast series Read: Reveal's reporting on All Work, No Pay. (Robson card, Morantz memorandum). Plus, control freak Dederich wanted even more power. He was found passed out on a kitchen floor and was told, Fatso, if you do not go to Alcoholic Anonymous you will die. (Dr. Dan Casriel, So Fair a House, Yablonski, The Tunnel Back: Guy Endore, Synanon; Charles Dederich tapes on history of Synanon.). This included taking vengeance against former Synanon members. Physically Dead. Morantzs name was mentioned in the tape along with threats to get the wives and children of adverse lawyers. 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