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55-404: In March 2019, the national Phoenix House Foundation dissolved, with the various regions splitting off to become their own stand-alone organizations, including: Phoenix House California, Phoenix House Florida, Phoenix House New England, Phoenix House New York, Phoenix House Texas, and Phoenix House Mid-Atlantic, which later changed its name to National Capital Treatment & Recovery. Phoenix House

110-480: A "splittee"; one ex-member, Phil Ritter, was beaten so severely that his skull was fractured and he subsequently fell into a coma with a near-fatal case of bacterial meningitis . In mid-1978, NBC Nightly News produced a segment on the controversies surrounding Synanon. Following the broadcast, several NBC executives, including the network's chairman, allegedly received hundreds of threats from Synanon supporters. On October 10, 1978, two Synanon members placed

165-549: A business that sold promotional items. This became a successful enterprise that for a time generated roughly $ 10 million per year. In 1959, Synanon moved from their small storefront to an abandoned armory on the beach. In 1967, Synanon purchased the Club Casa del Mar , a large beachside hotel in Santa Monica , as its headquarters and a dormitory for those undergoing treatment for drug addiction. Later on, Synanon acquired

220-581: A coalition of social service professionals, clergy, business, and political leaders in Providence, Rhode Island. Today, they operate 45 programs in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. In addition to residential and outpatient programs, Phoenix Houses of New England provides services for specific populations, including the homeless, persons involved with the criminal justice system and those charged with driving under

275-594: A company in the troubled teen industry that owned and operated several schools. CEDU's schools used the confrontational model of Synanon. The CEDU model was widely influential on the development of parent-choice, private-pay residential programs. People originally inspired by their CEDU experience developed or strongly influenced a significant number of the schools in the therapeutic boarding school industry. The company's schools have faced numerous allegations of abuse. CEDU went out of business in 2005, amid lawsuits and state regulatory crackdowns. Father William B. O'Brien,

330-497: A de-rattled rattlesnake in the mailbox of Paul Morantz , an attorney who had successfully brought a suit against the group on behalf of Synanon detainees. The snake bit Morantz, and he was hospitalized for six days. This incident, along with the press coverage, prompted a law enforcement investigation into Synanon. Six weeks after the snake attack, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) performed

385-584: A large building that had been the home of the Athens Athletic Club, in Oakland, California , and then transformed it into a residential facility for Synanon's members. Professionals, even those without drug addictions, were invited to join Synanon. The New York psychiatrist Daniel Casriel M.D. visited in 1962, lived there in 1963, and wrote a book about his experiences. He later founded AREBA,

440-527: A portmanteau of "symposium" and "anonymous". The word syndicate also means "an association of people or firms formed to promote a common interest or carry out a business enterprise". Synanon began as a two-year residential program, but Dederich soon concluded that its members could never graduate, because a full recovery was impossible. The program was based on testimony of fellow group members about their tribulations and urges of relapsing, and their journeys to recovery. The Synanon organization also developed

495-640: A progressive environment. Beginning in 1964, the legal authorities began to investigate Synanon's practices. The concept of "lifetime rehabilitation" did not agree with therapeutic norms, and it was alleged in 1961 by the City of Santa Monica that Synanon was "operating a hospital in a residential zone". Synanon expanded an old Trans-Pacific Marconi RCA radio station in Tomales Bay now Marconi Conference Center State Historic Park in Marshall, California. It

550-456: A search of the ranch in Badger that found a recorded speech by Dederich in which he said, "We're not going to mess with the old-time, turn-the-other-cheek religious postures... Our religious posture is: Don't mess with us. You can get killed dead, literally dead... These are real threats", he stated. "They are draining life's blood from us, and expecting us to play by their silly rules. We will make

605-452: A series of strokes; the cause of death was cardiorespiratory failure. Synanon struggled to survive without its leader, and also with a severely tarnished reputation. The Internal Revenue Service revoked the organization's tax-exempt status and ordered them to pay $ 17 million in back taxes. This bankrupted Synanon, which formally dissolved in 1991. Mel Wasserman , influenced by his Synanon experience, founded CEDU Educational Services ,

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660-432: A tiny town ten miles south of Marshall, where Synanon's main facility was located. The paper prevailed on press freedom and protection issues and its reporting was consummately professional. It won a $ 100,000 judgement against the cult and in 1979, for its efforts, became the smallest paper ever to win a Pulitzer Prize . As a result of the snake attack, Dederich and two Synanon residents, Joe Musico and Lance Kenton (son of

715-610: A way for leaders to collect the opinions of community members. Because there was no hierarchy in The Game, members could freely criticize Synanon's highest leadership, who would then take member concerns into consideration when deciding policy. The Game turned into a 72-hour version and was admitted by Dederich to be brainwashing. The Game was eventually used to pressure people to submit to Dederich's will, abort pregnancies, undergo vasectomies, and commit violence. Over time, Dederich's vision of Synanon evolved, and he began to envision

770-711: Is a small unincorporated community in the Cuyamaca Mountains , within the Mountain Empire area of southeastern San Diego County, California . The community's name is a Spanish word meaning "rest from labor". The population was 1,423 at the 2010 census. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau categorizes Descanso as a census-designated place . It is in California's 50th congressional district . Descanso

825-473: Is also offered. Phoenix House treated adolescents in various facilities until 2015, when their Descanso, CA location, which opened in 1986, closed after numerous reports were investigated by San Diego County Department of Social Services, with whom Phoenix House had contracts for nearly twenty years. It was found that a female counselor on staff had sex with a male resident on more than one occasion and had provided him with methamphetamines. Another incident that

880-546: Is funded mostly by government contracts , but also receives philanthropic support for a portion of its $ 100 million annual budget. In addition to residential treatment, Phoenix House’s continuum of care includes prevention and education, outpatient services, sober living and recovery support, as well as specialty programs for mothers with young children, criminal justice clients, and the military community. Since 1979, Phoenix House has offered services in California. Currently,

935-435: Is located east of Alpine and west of Pine Valley . At a 3,450 feet (1,050 m) elevation, it is located at the south entrance to Cuyamaca Rancho State Park and also borders Cleveland National Forest to the west and east. The area was heavily threatened by the 2003 Cedar Fire . The community consists of many small ranches and newer homes of San Diego commuters. Horseback riding and hiking are frequent pastimes due to

990-618: The Phoenix Rising Music Program , which includes recording studios in three Phoenix House Academy facilities. The program teaches teens how to operate music recording equipment and how to record their own music as part of their music therapy programs. Phoenix House is thanked in the liner notes of Velvet Gloves and Spit . Phoenix House is affiliated with COAF (Center on Addiction and the Family). COAF helps families affected by alcohol and other drug abuse and also runs

1045-582: The United States Census Bureau , the CDP covers an area of 19.2 square miles (49.8 km ), all of it land. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Descanso has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate , abbreviated "Csa" on climate maps. The 2010 United States census reported that Descanso had a population of 1,423. The population density was 74.1 inhabitants per square mile (28.6/km ). The racial makeup of Descanso

1100-643: The Facts on Tap education campaign for college students. Phoenix House was also established in the UK as an entirely separate organisation, though has its origins in the USA-based Phoenix House described above. Phoenix House (UK) runs a number of residential rehabilitation units, structured day programs and is the largest not for profit provider of prison based substance misuse programmes in the UK. In November 2006, Phoenix House (UK) rebranded to trade under

1155-783: The Forest Service or the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (which also provides direct fire and EMS protection to the community). The ZIP Code is 91916 and the community is inside area code 619 . In 1884, a group of Spiritualists started Hulburd Grove. In 1898, the residents of the area started the Descanso school and the Descanso Town Hall. Peter Jacobs started the Descanso Park Addition in 1926. According to

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1210-651: The Phoenix House Career Academy at Jay Street in Brooklyn, New York in preparation for portraying singer Etta James , who was once addicted to heroin. Beyoncé and her mother and business partner Tina Knowles later founded the Career Academy’s Beyoncé Cosmetology Center , which offers a seven-month cosmetology training program for adults. Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Kara DioGuardi created and contributes to

1265-467: The Synanon case, they were largely silenced by legal action from Synanon's lawyers, who made claims of libel. These lawsuits ultimately turned out to be a large part of Synanon's undoing, by giving journalists access to Synanon's own internal documents. The main thorn in the cult's side was the Point Reyes Light , a weekly newspaper published by David V. Mitchell. The newspaper was domiciled in

1320-422: The age of 18 living in them, 326 (55.7%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 44 (7.5%) had a female householder with no husband present, 27 (4.6%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 33 (5.6%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships , and 7 (1.2%) same-sex married couples or partnerships . 140 households (23.9%) were made up of individuals, and 54 (9.2%) had someone living alone who

1375-438: The agency serves more than 18,000 adults and children each day. The comprehensive continuum of care includes prevention; intervention; residential and outpatient treatment for adults and teens; as well as services for veterans, transitional age youth, and clients with co-occurring mental disorders. Phoenix House also offers wraparound services, home-based case management, and recovery support. Phoenix House has served Florida since

1430-490: The area that sought to help them return to their parents. Beatings of Synanon's opponents and its ex-members, "splittees", occurred across California. Beatings occurred in Synanon basements. 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. The Grand Jury report also rebuked

1485-424: The community, members were expected to cease contact with outside friends and family. During its first decade, Synanon members entered into a 1–2-year program in three stages aimed at preparing members to reenter greater society. During the first stage, members did community and housekeeping labor. During the second stage, members worked outside of the community but still resided within the community. Finally, during

1540-463: The early 1990s, treating Tampa adolescents and adults at their Derek Jeter Center and Adult Outpatient Counseling Center, respectively. Adults with advanced substance abuse or substance abuse complicated by mental health conditions are treated at Phoenix House’s Citra residential facility in Marion County. Phoenix Houses of New England – originally called Marathon House – was founded in 1967 by

1595-400: The exposure of one another's innermost weaknesses. Beginning in the mid-1970s, women in Synanon were required to shave their heads, and married couples were made to break up and take new partners. Men were given forced vasectomies , and a few pregnant women were forced to have abortions . Leonard Nimoy taught drama classes to members of Synanon partly as a result of the role he played in

1650-647: The facility was understaffed to begin with. Another incident found by California State Investigators involved two Phoenix House adolescent residents who walked away from an off-campus outing to a Mission Valley mall in San Diego and were later found in Poway, CA , testing positive for drugs. Phoenix House Descanso announced a week after that incident that they were closing the facility for financial reasons. Completing work on Cadillac Records , Beyoncé Knowles donated her entire salary to Phoenix House. Beyoncé also visited

1705-474: The founder of New York's Daytop Village , included Synanon's group encounters and confrontational approach in his research into addiction treatment methods. The author, journalist, and activist Maia Szalavitz claims to chart the influence of Synanon in other programs including Phoenix House , Straight, Incorporated , and Boot Camps in addition to those mentioned above. Descanso, California Descanso ( Spanish for "Rest"; Kumeyaay : Wataay )

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1760-418: The gambling scenes in his movie California Split . Entrance into the Synanon community required a strong initial commitment. Newcomers were first interviewed by Synanon leadership to gain entrance into the community. Upon their arrival, those newcomers were forced to quit using drugs cold turkey , going through withdrawal for the first few days in the program. Furthermore, for their first ninety days in

1815-584: The governmental authorities involved for their lack of oversight, although it stopped short of directly interceding in the Synanon situation. While Synanon initially did not tolerate violence, Dederich came to allow for violence as he sought greater control over the group. Much of the violence by Synanon was carried out by an internal group called the "Imperial Marines" Over 80 violent acts were committed, including mass beatings that hospitalized teenagers, and ranchers who were beaten in front of their families. People who left Synanon risked physical violence for being

1870-536: The group remains active in Germany and Sydney, Australia. Synanon was founded in 1958 by Charles Dederich Sr., a member of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) from Santa Monica , California . At the time of Synanon's founding, those suffering from drug addiction were not always welcomed into AA because their issues were considered significantly different from those of alcoholics . Dederich, after taking LSD , decided to create his own program to respond to their needs. He

1925-444: The group's potential to promote social progress. Synanon moved to create schooling for members, and Dederich wanted members to mentally change in order to improve society on the outside. The school was headed by Al Bauman, who believed in an innovative philosophy and aimed to teach children in the same manner to think differently. The school attracted lawyers, screenwriters, and business executives, all wanting to educate their children in

1980-933: The influence. Most recently, in a partnership with the Gavin Foundation, Phoenix House opened a new detox and transitional unit in Quincy, MA to help address the growing problem with addiction and particularly opioid addiction. In New York, where the first Phoenix House program opened in 1967 and the Phoenix House Academy model was introduced in 1983, Phoenix House now provides a range of programs that includes afterschool outpatient treatment for adolescents and their families, residential and outpatient options for adults and adolescents, programs for mothers with small children, programs that serve clients with co-occurring mental illness, and support services for substance abusers in recovery. Phoenix House Texas (PHT)

2035-492: The model for a citywide treatment network. The most obvious Synanon methods used within the Phoenix House program are the stripping of your identity on admission, encounter groups (called The Game by Synanon and Phoenix House), work-based treatment. Phoenix House played a role in creating the country’s first correctional treatment unit, a model now widely replicated in prisons throughout the country and abroad. Phoenix House

2090-460: The musician Stan Kenton ) were arrested and pleaded " no contest " to charges of assault and conspiracy to commit murder. Lance Kenton was sentenced to a year in prison. While his associates went to jail, Dederich received probation because his doctors claimed that due to ill health he would most likely die in prison. As a condition of probation, he was disallowed from taking part in managing Synanon. Dederich died on February 28, 1997 at age 83, after

2145-516: The name 'Phoenix Futures. The organization's past president opposed the legalization of marijuana, and has opposed needle exchanges to provide clean needles to addicts. CLARK, CLAIRE D. The Recovery Revolution: The Battle Over Addiction Treatment in the United States. Columbia University Press, 2017. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/10.7312/clar17638. Accessed 1 Sept. 2020.Copy Synanon Synanon , originally known as Tender Loving Care ,

2200-419: The oldest surviving private addiction treatment center in the United States, as well as Daytop Village , one of the world's largest therapeutic communities. Control over members occurred through the "Game". The "Game" was presented as a therapeutic tool, and likened to a form of group therapy ; but it has been criticized as a form of a " social control ", in which members humiliated one another and encouraged

2255-661: The organization closed all treatment programs due to lack of sufficient, sustainable funding. National Capital Treatment & Recovery (formerly known as Phoenix Houses of the Mid-Atlantic and before that as Vanguard Services Unlimited) serves individuals struggling with substance abuse in Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Programs provide residential, transitional, and outpatient treatment with gender-specific programs to adults and adolescents. A Spanish-speaking men’s residential program

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2310-463: The production of Deathwatch , a 1965 English-language film version of Jean Genet 's play Haute Surveillance (the story deals with three prison inmates). Nimoy is quoted as saying "Give a little here and it always comes back". The film director George Lucas needed a large group of people with shaved heads for the filming of his movie THX 1138 and hired some of his extras from Synanon. Robert Altman hired members of Synanon to be extras for

2365-596: The proximity to San Diego's back-country recreation areas. It is approximately a 50-minute commute from downtown San Diego. The majority of residents generally commute to San Diego as the local job market is limited. Community radio station KNSJ operates out of Descanso. The Descanso Fire Station of the United States Forest Service is home to the Laguna Hotshots. Descanso is home to many firefighters, and many local teenagers join either

2420-401: The rules. I see nothing frightening about it... I am quite willing to break some lawyer's legs, and next break his wife's legs, and threaten to cut their child's arm off. That is the end of that lawyer. That is a very satisfactory, humane way of transmitting information. I really do want an ear in a glass of alcohol on my desk." Though many San Francisco area newspapers and broadcasters covered

2475-464: The third stage, members both worked and lived outside of the community, but still attended regular meetings. After Synanon's transition into an alternate society in 1968, this program changed to a "lifetime rehabilitation" program, with the premise that drug addicts would never truly be well enough to return to society. One of the most distinguishing practices of the Synanon community was a therapeutic practice commonly referred to as "The Game". The Game

2530-510: Was 1,290 (90.7%) White , 5 (0.4%) African American , 29 (2.0%) Native American , 16 (1.1%) Asian , 9 (0.6%) Pacific Islander , 46 (3.2%) from other races , and 28 (2.0%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 150 persons (10.5%). The census reported that 1,423 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized. There were 585 households, out of which 152 (26.0%) had children under

2585-407: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43. There were 397 families (67.9% of all households); the average family size was 2.82. The population was spread out, with 256 people (18.0%) under the age of 18, 108 people (7.6%) aged 18 to 24, 260 people (18.3%) aged 25 to 44, 604 people (42.4%) aged 45 to 64, and 195 people (13.7%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age

2640-629: Was a new religious movement founded in 1958 by Charles E. "Chuck" Dederich Sr. in Santa Monica , California , United States. Originally established as a drug rehabilitation program, Synanon developed into an alternative community centered on group truth-telling sessions that came to be known as the "Synanon Game", a form of attack therapy . Described as one of the "most dangerous and violent cults America had ever seen", Synanon disbanded in 1991 after several members were convicted of offenses including financial misdeeds, evidence tampering , terrorism , and attempted murder . However, an offshoot of

2695-580: Was a session during which one member would talk about themselves and then endure intense criticism by their peers. During this practice, members were encouraged to be critical of everything, using harsh and profane language. The practice has been charactized as a form of attack therapy . Outside of The Game, members were required to act civilly to each other. While in The Game, members criticized each other, but left as friends and supportive community members. The Game served not only as Synanon's most prominent form of therapy and personal change, but also worked as

2750-676: Was alleged that on remote properties in California such as at Marshall in Marin County and in Badger, Tulare County , Synanon had erected buildings without the legally-required permits, had created a trash dump, and built an airstrip. Taxation issues also arose. In response to these accusations, Dederich declared that Synanon was a tax exempt religious organization, the "Church of Synanon". Legal problems continued, despite this change. Children who had been assigned to Synanon began running away, and an "underground railroad" had been created in

2805-410: Was also an early provider of treatment as an alternative to prison. In 1983, Phoenix House opened its first Phoenix House Academy, a residential high school where teens receive substance abuse treatment as well as daily on-site academic education. Eleven Phoenix House Academies now operate in seven states and have been designated a “model program” by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2005. The organization

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2860-475: Was founded in 1967 by six heroin addicts who met at a detoxification program in a New York hospital. They were concerned about staying clean after detoxification, so they moved from New York City’s Addiction Services Agency (ASA) soon incorporated structure and treatment programming into the community. As Commissioner of ASA for rehabilitation, Dr. Mitchell Rosenthal, who had spent time observing Synanon used their methods and model of treatment to start Phoenix House

2915-523: Was founded in 1995 and currently operates substance use prevention and mental health education services in schools and communities in Dallas, Austin, and Houston. Phoenix House Texas reaches over 26,000 underserved youth and adults through its prevention services annually. Phoenix House Texas had provided substance use primary residential and outpatient treatment to adolescents regardless of ability to pay from its inception in 1995 until September 29, 2023, when

2970-479: Was investigated and validated was that a male staff member was providing residents with pornography. Around that same time, five residents of the Phoenix House facility in Descanso, CA were involved in a violent brawl involving 15 - 20 male adolescent residents, which resulted in one adolescent being severely beaten and suffering extensive injuries. During the fight, Phoenix House staff did not intervene, waiting for law enforcement to arrive. State investigators found that

3025-517: Was said to have coined the phrase "today is the first day of the rest of your life." After his small group, called "Tender Loving Care", gained a significant following, Dederich incorporated the organization into the Synanon Foundation in 1958. The origins of the name "Synanon" are not entirely clear, with some claiming it to be the result of a group member slurring the words "symposium" and "seminar" and others simply describing it as

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