Synanonbegan as an alternative renewal program for alcoholics and drug freak in Santa Monica , California , during the fifties and 60s .
Although the laminitis and former Alcoholics Anonymous appendage , Charles Dederich , was heralded as a pioneer who developed a groundbreaking intervention computer program for drug addiction , the radical commence attract " dangerous cult " accusations when narrative of nestling being abused and separated from their families began circularise in mainstream news show .
A Brief Overview of the Synanon ‘Game’
A former dipsomaniac diagnose Charles Dederich established a recovery center in Santa Monica , California , in 1958 . raw partners , members and centers began springing up all across the United States as this tough - sexual love method seemed to be the answer to a produce drug epidemic .
An essential component of this community was a evacuant scream seance known as " the game , " during which member exclaim and berated each other until the targeted member broke down and feel an epiphany or revelation of personal growth .
member who gain from the curriculum eventually brought their pardner and children into the fold . However , as the organisation ’s potential grew , so did Dederich ’s ego and sense of power .
Former members of the group stated that Dederich ’s dictatorial order coerce cleaning lady to trim their brain and encouraged parents to undergo vasectomy , miscarriage and many more strain of strange and strange punishment .
Why Were Ex-Synanon Members Attacked?
What get down as a good haven for a life - long recovery political program for drug addict became a control prison house of sorts with cult practices and brainwash programing . The cult allegedly perpetrated over 80 instances of aggregative beatings of adults and children , often in front of protagonist and families , at the hands of an internal groupnicknamedthe Imperial Marines .
This paramilitary radical became themusclebehind Dederich ’s organization , and they were often tax with hunting down , restrain and sometimes attacking extremity who decided to provide Synanon .
2 Synanon Members and a Rattlesnake in the Mailbox
Encouraged by their drawing card , two Synanon fellow member placed a de - rattled rattler in the mailbox of an oppositional attorney named Paul Morantz following an NBC Nightly News air that exposed many of the group ’s alarming activities .
Morantz spent around a week in the infirmary postdate the snake plan of attack , and an investigation into why the organization would plan to devote execution to get over up their secrets start taking shape in 1978 . Dederich and the two extremity pleaded guilty and were sentence to five year probation .
Dederich was forced out of his leadership position and later drop dead from cardiorespiratory failure in 1997 at the age of 83 .
‘The Synanon Fix’ Explores Details in Docuseries Format
If you want to learn more about the rise and fall of Synanon , conductor Rory Kennedy has crafted a gripping four - part documentary series that is now streaming on HBO MAX .
The four episodes cater behind - the - scenes approach to Synanon , with testimonies from people who dwell the history , let in Bill Goodson , Rod Mullen , Mike Gimbal , Terry Hurst , Phil Ritter and Rebekah Crawford .
