Everyman

The Synanon Story (1979x18)

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Twenty years ago an American ex-alcoholic called CHUCK DEDERICH founded Synanon, an idealistic commune dedicated to curing heroin addicts. Its lifestyle-a combination of strong discipline and the seductive ' Synanon game ' - proved so attractive that non-addicts began to join. By the 1970s Synanon had developed into a multi-million-dollar religious cult, and Dederich into a semi-divine leader. Under his leadership the Synanon members shaved their heads, divorced their wives, and submitted to vasectomies. Today Dederich is on trial for conspiracy to murder. In this Everyman report Peter France tells the story of the rise and fall of Synanon, learns why its followers surrendered to Dederich, and why, like so many cults, the original dream turned to nightmare.