Synanon

E836247

Synanon was a controversial American organization that began as a drug rehabilitation program in the late 1950s and later evolved into a violent, cult-like communal movement.

Jump to: Statements Referenced by

Statements (50)

Predicate Object
instanceOf cult
drug rehabilitation program
organization
communicationStyle confrontational group therapy
country United States of America
surface form: United States
describedAs authoritarian
communal
controversial
violent
developedPractice The Game NERFINISHED
dissolved early 1990s
foundedBy Charles Dederich NERFINISHED
founder Charles Dederich NERFINISHED
governanceStructure highly centralized leadership
hasCharacteristic communal property ownership
isolation from outside society
strict behavioral rules
headquartersLocation California, United States
surface form: California
inception 1958
influenced drug rehabilitation programs worldwide
therapeutic community model for addiction treatment
inspired Daytop Village NERFINISHED
Phoenix House NERFINISHED
knownFor The Game encounter session
laterRole communal living organization
cult-like community
new religious movement
leader Charles Dederich NERFINISHED
legalStatus found to be operating for private benefit
lost federal tax-exempt status
locationOfFormation Santa Monica, California NERFINISHED
mediaCoverage subject of extensive press investigations
membershipPolicyChange shift from addicts-only to general population
movement therapeutic community movement
notableEvent adoption of mandatory communal living
allegations of child abuse
attacks on critics and journalists
criminal convictions of members for attempted murder
forced vasectomies of male members
legal conflicts with ex-members
pressure on women to have abortions
rattlesnake attack on attorney Paul Morantz
reports of physical violence against members
transition from short-term rehab to lifetime community
originalPurpose drug rehabilitation
treatment for heroin addicts
peakPeriod 1960s
1970s
subjectOf books about cults and new religious movements
documentary films

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Beverly Bentley notableWork Synanon