AA Conference Questions 2014 (contd)

AA Conference 2014 Committee No. 1 Q 2

(See the new aacultwatch forum)

“Question Background:  • Learning from the US experience of Twelve Step Facilitation

The following videos show a short history of the evolution of the Synanon cult and the consequences of the Synanon based autocratic peer structures which have been the model for addiction treatment in the US, advocated by George De leon, and now being sold to the National Health Service and AA in Great Britain via Mark Gilman.  The abuse in the “Tough love” peer structured treatment system with its roots in the Synanon cult was exposed by Journalist Maia Szalavitz in her book “Help at any Cost, How the Troubled Teen Industry Cons Parents and Hurts Kids”, (Riverhead Books, 2006.) http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Help%20at%20any%20Cost%2C%20How%20the%20Troubled%20Teen%20Industry%20Hurts%20Cons%20Parents%20and%20Hurts%20Kids

A description and flow chart of the evolution of Synanon programs 1958 to present is given in “The Cult That Spawned the Tough-Love Teen Industry” by Maia Szalavitz http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2007/08/cult-spawned-tough-love-teen-industry  Where these programs teach the twelve steps, it has brought both AA and these sectors of the treatment industry into disrepute.  (While watching, keep your eye open for versions of the Twelve Steps and Serenity Prayer etc. on the walls of the treatment centers in some videos). Some people may find some of the footage disturbing.  Exposure of brainwashing and abuse in these programs, by charities such as  Community Alliance of the Ethical Treatment of Youth (CAFETY) http://www.cafety.org/ Official You Tube page: http://www.youtube.com/user/CAFETYonline and Alliance For The Safe, Therapeutic & Appropriate Use of Residential Treatment (ASTART) http://astartforteens.org/ led to a Congressional inquiry into abuse in residential programs and introduction of the bill: H.R. 1981: Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2013 https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/hr1981

Synanon cult 1958-1991    Short Film  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZPeOT_qS44

The Seed 1970-2001   WTVJ News: A Seed of Hope (The Seed Indeed) -Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPc2pVYAB8I  Transcript:“The founder and director of the seed is Art Barker. He has no credentials to speak of. He was a stand-up comedian in a night club at one time, and during that career became an alcoholic. Art Barker at forty seven is not a psychologist, but he adapted from the alcoholics Anonymous program he entered eleven years ago a new hope for an entire generation of youngsters destined to spend their formative years caught up in a nationwide drug craze. Art Barker is a fanatic about his program….” (04.43 – 05.14 mins The Seed Indeed -Part 1) A Seed of Hope -Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ldC--84Hak  A Seed of Hope -Part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnoEiJ6QwuM  A Seed of Hope Out-takes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP06LNhLllE A 1974 Congressional investigation led by Senator Sam Ervin into behavior-modification programs, reported that The Seed’s “More intensive forms of encounter groups begin at first by subjecting the individual to isolation and humiliation in a conscious effort to break down his psychological defences. Once the individual is submissive, his personality can begin to be reformed around attitudes determined by the program director to be acceptable. It is similar to the highly refined brainwashing techniques employed by the North Koreans." (“Help at any Cost, How the Troubled Teen Industry Cons Parents and Hurts Kids, Maia Szalavitz, pp.22-23)

STRAIGHT INC. 1976- 1993 Kids Inc.(1984-98) Pathway family Center (1993-present) Congressional Hearing 2008; Straight Inc. model pervades http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyK3XlsWIEQ Over the GW - full movie : http://vimeo.com/28493462 (The film referred to in 2008 Congressional Hearing: Straight Inc. model pervades) Surviving Straight, The documentary: http://www.survivingstraightincthemovie.com/ Straight Inc. Boston: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_JBV2_etGk CBS News: Kids and Straight Inc: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDH3IT_ddTc The Times Online: SAFE = Straight Inc. – Part 1 of 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5PXmvknypI&list=PLBE196CC2C08C3212  The Times Online: SAFE = Straight Inc. – Part 2 of 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWQ5AdRb420&list=PLBE196CC2C08C3212 WCPO TV: Kids Helping Kids - Pathway Family Center http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OfCXLdOAwk WCPO TV:  investigates Kids Helping Kids closure:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkIMcJ0MlFU&list=PLBE196CC2C08C3212  "Getting Straight" - ABC News 20/20 - 1983  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EccdPYsyrjQ West 57th KIDS and Straight Inc., Virgil Miller Newton exposed - Part 1 of 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrlFzv5x2Sw&list=PLBE196CC2C08C3212  West 57th KIDS and Straight Inc., Virgil Miller Newton exposed - Part 2 of 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1KKnFTZVnI&list=PLBE196CC2C08C3212”

Note: Conference Questions  can be downloaded in pdf from the GSO (GB) website. They are on pages  5-11, AA Service News, Issue 157, Winter 2013 http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/download/1/Library/Documents/AA%20Service%20News/157%20Winter%202013.pdf

Conference 2014 background material can be found on the GSO (GB) website. Follow the “Background Material for Conference 2014” link in the Document Library.  http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/Members/Document-Library

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

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