"Fellas,
Good to be reminded of the evil of Synanon. [see below 10/08/11] I live near San Francisco and Marin County, where the shit hit the fan for Dederich and Co., and I remember the feeling as the news broke.......
One of the most sinister aspects of the later Synanon was its creation of institutional dependants. Members of Synanon lived on Synanon property, worked at Synanon jobs, gave up their children for Synanon rearing, and on at least on occasion, switched from their spouses to new partners chosen by Dederich.
Synanon members were taught that they would inevitably relapse if they left the fold. When Synanon collapsed, the predictions were fulfilled. Many ex-Synanon members ended up finding another sort of institution to shelter them from the strain of sobriety in the real world: they went to work in treatment centers.
To this day, organizations like San Francisco's 'Delancy Street Foundation' and a host of youth treatment 'boot camps' employ the degrading attack therapy Dederich spawned. This has a ripple effect on nearby AA groups as new members may have been subjected to this kind of indoctrination and seek to continue these practices in AA. Even those who enjoy the freedom of life outside institutions may be more vulnerable to cultish pseudo-AA practices in sponsorship and step work."
See here for more details: http://motherjones.com/politics/2007/08/cult-spawned-tough-love-teen-industry
The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)
(our usual thanks to our reporter)
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