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Straight, Inc. and Derivatives / aaron smith
« on: September 11, 2003, 12:15:00 PM »
I just found this site and happened to read the string of messages regarding this topic. First, I am sorry to the sibling who lost his brother to suicide. I have caused my family great loss through intentional overdoses through the years. I ended up in a coma once that I am sure God is the ONLY reason I am alive and functioning today.
Let me qualify myself to comment about KIDS... I was in KIDS of North Jersey for only 9 months in 1997. However, I was in Straight Springfield VA 1983-1985 graduated and went to Senior Staff. That was age 18. Yes I was 29 and in need of help when I came to KIDS in 1997. However, after having been successfully through Straight and sober for many years, I couldn't get clean in a 7 day or 30 day "hotel" program at a local hospital.
After being in KIDS a couple of months I realized Millers PLAN for THE REST OF MY LIFE, which did NOT include returning to Virginia and my 2 yr old son, I knew I could not stay. I was forcibly restrained when I would even try to talk about my child and my feelings toward him. My withdrawl slips were torn up and I was kept in homes with staff because they did not want me using knowledge I had to affect phasers.
Average program stays were 4-6 years!! MY GOD!!
Besides my issues, KIDS compared to Straight was much more verbally humiliating and vicious. I also did not get a sense of any type of closeness between phasers. There was a "sense of survival", a fear among everyone. That was not the case with my experience at Straight. I am still in touch with MANY people I was close with in Straight and I am coming up on 20 years since I entered.! I am NOT advocating Straight, because I believe a lot of people had bad experiences. Who is to determine anyones personal pain threshold?
HOWEVER, I do consider myself abused as an adult and denied my rights while I was at KIDS of North Jersey. When I think of Miller, I still see a maniacal glee in his eyes,he was such a powerful and terrifying prescence even to me as an adult.
On another note, I just happened to see on the ISAC website a link where "Father Cassian" has been listed as a priest than has been convicted of abuse. I am glad he is listed somewhere other than the Straight and KIDS websites. http://www.pokrov.org/Lawsuits/lawsuits.htm
Wendy Bright
Let me qualify myself to comment about KIDS... I was in KIDS of North Jersey for only 9 months in 1997. However, I was in Straight Springfield VA 1983-1985 graduated and went to Senior Staff. That was age 18. Yes I was 29 and in need of help when I came to KIDS in 1997. However, after having been successfully through Straight and sober for many years, I couldn't get clean in a 7 day or 30 day "hotel" program at a local hospital.
After being in KIDS a couple of months I realized Millers PLAN for THE REST OF MY LIFE, which did NOT include returning to Virginia and my 2 yr old son, I knew I could not stay. I was forcibly restrained when I would even try to talk about my child and my feelings toward him. My withdrawl slips were torn up and I was kept in homes with staff because they did not want me using knowledge I had to affect phasers.
Average program stays were 4-6 years!! MY GOD!!
Besides my issues, KIDS compared to Straight was much more verbally humiliating and vicious. I also did not get a sense of any type of closeness between phasers. There was a "sense of survival", a fear among everyone. That was not the case with my experience at Straight. I am still in touch with MANY people I was close with in Straight and I am coming up on 20 years since I entered.! I am NOT advocating Straight, because I believe a lot of people had bad experiences. Who is to determine anyones personal pain threshold?
HOWEVER, I do consider myself abused as an adult and denied my rights while I was at KIDS of North Jersey. When I think of Miller, I still see a maniacal glee in his eyes,he was such a powerful and terrifying prescence even to me as an adult.
On another note, I just happened to see on the ISAC website a link where "Father Cassian" has been listed as a priest than has been convicted of abuse. I am glad he is listed somewhere other than the Straight and KIDS websites. http://www.pokrov.org/Lawsuits/lawsuits.htm
Wendy Bright