[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 42 (Thursday, April 10, 1997)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E635] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] CHARLES DEDERICH, SR., FOUNDER OF SYNANON ______ HON. RONALD V. DELLUMS of california in the house of representatives Thursday, April 10, 1997 Mr. DELLUMS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute the efforts of the now deceased Charles Dederich, Sr., founder of Synanon, a drug rehabilitation organization that reformed the lives of thousands of people. Dederich distinguished himself in the area of drug rehabilitation and amassed great wealth before his organization was associated with violence and tax problems. Because of the continuing negative social impact of substance abuse in our society, it is appropriate to pause to reflect on the positive contribution made by Mr. Dederich to create a treatment regime to solve this problem at the individual level. Charles Dederich, Sr., was himself a reformed alcoholic, who founded Synanon in 1958 with a $33 unemployment check in Ocean Park, CA. His approach to rehabilitating drug addicts has became a major paradigm for drug recovery and therapeutic communities the world over. He believed that relief for addicts would come when they realized they must admit and face their addictions head-on. Much of the rehabilitation involved teaching a strong work ethic. Synanon was a new kind of group therapy; an effective approach to racial integration; an unusual kind of communication; and an exciting, fresh approach to the cultural arts and philosophy. His organization created a new social movement and approach to life that provided a structured community-type living atmosphere for treatment of medical problems--persons, including narcotic and other drug addicts, alcoholics, former criminals, and juvenile delinquents were all the beneficiaries. Participants in the Synanon movement moved from the gutters, prisons, brothels, and back rooms of society into positions of moral leadership and more importantly regained hope and control over their lives. ____________________