Minority Report 2017 (Alcoholics Anonymous): "Synanon Cult Influence on Alcoholics Anonymous, Addiction Treatment and the Criminal Justice System 1968-2017"

Full report PDF click here

Contents

Preface                                                                                                                                                 

1 Introduction                                                                                                                                        

2  Synanon Cult influence on Addiction Treatment and Alcoholics Anonymous
2.1 The Synanon Cult Origin                                                                                                          
2.2 Transfer of Synanon philosphy to mainstream addiction treatment                                        
2.2.1 Daytop Lodge/Daytop Village                                                                                              
2.2.2 Phoenix House                                                                                                                    
2.2.3 First Generation Synanon TCs in USA
2.2.4 First Generation Synanon TCs in UK
2.2.5 Second Generation and Contemporary Synanon TCs in USA
2.2.6 Synanon and first generation TC influence on Alcoholics Anonymous        
2.2.7 Synanon “Religion”, TC philosophy and Oxford Group nostalgia in A.A.
2.2.8 Therapeutic Communities, Alcoholics Anonymous, and the Cult Phenomenon
2.2.9 Therapeutic Communities “Back to Basics” Movement
2.2.10 Recovery Model
2.2.11 Recovery Oriented Integration System (ROIS)
2.2.12 Emergence of the Recovery Movement/Recovery Advocacy Movement
2.2.13 Contemporary Thought Reform Programmes
2.2.14 Thought Reform Programmes and the Production of Psychiatric Casualties          
2.2.15 The distortion of history relating to the origin of Synanon, Alcoholics Anonymous and the TC movement
2.2.16 Contemporary TCs

3   Synanon TC influence on the Criminal Justice System and Alcoholics Anonymous         
3.1 Synanon TC political influence and influence on the Criminal Justice System
3.2 Drug Courts, Coercion in the Justice System, and Court mandated attendance at A.A. meetings
3.3 Effect of Court mandated attendance on A.A.
3.4 Drug Court Advocacy in A.A.
3.5 Drug Courts and coercive referral to A.A. in the UK
3.6 Drug Court/Recovery Community Advocacy in the UK
3.7 The future progression of Drug Courts and how this political trend in the Criminal Justice system may affect alcoholics

4  Emergence of a Fundamentalist Movement in A.A.                                                             
4.1 Synanon, Tom P. Jr., “Gresham’s Law and Alcoholics Anonymous”, East Ridge Community and Recovery Center, All Addicts Anonymous, The Family Foundation School/Allynwood Academy, Congress Child Abuse Hearings, House of Parliament Presentation  
4.2 Clarence S., Mitchell K., Came to Believe Retreats    
4.3 Dick B., Freedom Ranch Maui Inc., International Christian Recovery Coalition, Overcomer’s Outreach
4.4 Joe McQ, The Primary Purpose Group of Dallas, Texas
4.5 Wally P., Back To Basics Foundation Inc., Faith With Works Publishing Company
4.6 Clancy I., The Pacific Group, Plymouth Road To Recovery Group
4.7 Deceptive Distortion of A.A. History regarding A.A.’s relationship with the Oxford Group

5  Recovery Alliance Inc.                                                                                                                    

6  12-Step Facilitation, Project Match and Hazelden Foundation                                                  

7  Distortion of early Alcoholics Anonymous History                                                                     

8  Corruption of A.A. Sponsorship                                                                                                    

9  Commercial Corruption of Alcoholics Anonymous                                                                  
9.1 Loss of AA’s Circle and Triangle Trademark  
9.2 Commercial Corruption in A.A. Intergroups
9.3 Illegal reprinting of A.A. Literature in ‘Big Book Study Guides’
9.4 Hazelden Publishing
9.5 Alcoholics Anonymous Publishing
9.6 Commercial Corruption in A.A. General Service Conferences and General Service Boards
9.7 A.A., the Internet and Online Therapeutic Communities

10 Diseasing of America: How We Allowed Recovery Zealots and the Treatment Industry to Convince US We Are Out of Control                                                                                             
10.1 Introduction
10.2 Public Criticism of A.A.
10.3 Social Trends and Changing Language in A.A.
10.4 Disease Theory Controversy
10.5 Misuse of Alcoholics Anonymous as an Addiction Treatment
10.6 Alcoholism, Narcissism and Cult Leadership
10.7 Circuit speakers and speaker recordings
10.8 The “Is A.A. a Cult?” debate

11 Conclusion                                                                                                                          
11.1 Conclusion
11.2 Bibliography/Suggested Reading

12 A.A.’s ‘Final Great Decision’                                                                                                      

Appendices                                                                                                                                 

A Synanon Cult Influence on A.A. - A.A. Grapevine Articles 1968-1975                                    

References

For full report PDF click here
                                                                                                                                          

Short Synanon Documentary Video

An important piece of history recorded on film

To view documentary, Click here 

“Alcoholics and narcotics anonymous: A radical movement under threat”

Results of a ten year study of A.A. and N.A. by Professor Phoebus Zafiridis and Sotiris Lainas, Department of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, published in Addiction Research and Theory in 2012.

For free view and PDF download click here

This will be of interest to any A.A. member concerned at the increasing exploitation and professionalization of A.A. by the addiction treatment industry.  

Minority Report 2017 (Alcoholics Anonymous): Synanon Cult influence on Alcoholics Anonymous, Addiction Treatment and the Criminal Justice System 1968-2017

A Minority Report to Alcoholics Anonymous General Service Conferences worldwide

Authors: Members of Alcoholics Anonymous resident in Great Britain

Submitted to GSO (Great Britain) for consideration as a topic for Conference 2018

For full report PDF click here

Abstract:

“This report documents a brief history of the Synanon cult and its influence on Alcoholics Anonymous, addiction treatment and the criminal justice system. By drawing upon published research in the fields of addiction treatment, sociology, criminology, cultic studies, journalism, and government reports, this report examines the complex international relationships between the Synanon cult, Alcoholics Anonymous, the ‘Therapeutic Communities’ and ‘Recovery’ movements, and government agencies in the USA and UK. In recent decades there has been a proliferation of treatment centres which attempt to combine the Synanon based Therapeutic Community treatment model with Alcoholics Anonymous in addiction treatment. There has also been a proliferation of commercial enterprises which target A.A. members with products ranging from literature explaining the Twelve Steps, how to sponsor newcomers, and how to organise A.A. meetings, to novelty items such as CDs, bumper stickers, sobriety chips and key rings. Certain sectors of the addiction treatment industry have collaborated with government agencies to facilitate alcoholics to A.A. through treatment centres and courts. Despite the number of people facilitated to A.A. in recent decades, official A.A. membership estimates indicate overall A.A. membership levels have become static and may even have fallen. The attempt to integrate Synanon philosophy with Alcoholics Anonymous in addiction treatment may explain A.A.’s stagnant growth, public criticism of cult-like practices and reports of disunity in some areas of the fellowship in Great Britain. It may also explain A.A. discontinuing use of the Circle and Triangle trademark in the USA, in favour of commercial enterprises. In an age which has seen the development of highly sophisticated thought reform programmes which bypass psychological defence mechanisms, this report discusses how A.A. members, Conference Delegates, G.S.O. Staff and General Service Boards, might protect themselves, and the fellowship, against automatic compliance to professionally presented packages of ‘mutual aid,’ which in the long term benefit the vendors at the expense of the targeted population.”

Comment: If you are an A.A. member resident outside Great Britain, it is suggested that you read the report PDF in full and file it to your national General Service Conference along with any information relevant to your locality.

For full report PDF click here