I just wanted to say that my mother went to Synanon when she was just 15 in California. I have heard many horrible stories about her times there of rape, sever beatings and brainwashing. I was a product of her enviornment and myself went to Walden house for children on haight st. when I was just 13. Even at that age I could see what they were trying to do with slogans like, "Fake it till you make it." While there are places out there for troubled children, I don't believe that anyone is policing these facilities for physical, mental and emotional well being of these children. Most of the kids are what they call throw away children and their families have given up on them. I ran away after only a few months of this two year program after one of the "Couselors" tried to have sex with me. As he said, no one would believe me. How right he was!!