Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > Daytop Village

Gaudenzia,Daytop’s own Fête des morts of sorts.

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Inculcated:
It’s October and you know what that means, GAUDENZIA is nigh. “What the f*ck is that?” you might ask. Well don’t bother; you’ll never be given a straight answer.

Gaudenzia is celebrated on October 31st and we wear costumes. “Hey, that sounds familiar” you might say. Don’t say it. If you’re still asking questions and drawing your own conclusions while in this house… ssshhh!

Don’t call it Halloween. We will put up Halloween decorations (not any that say Halloween on them), but calling it Halloween is unacceptable. Staff will even dig up a skeleton to place on chair facing the wall. This is “party guy”. That is his name. Putting him there is hilarious, we’re told. Next year, Inculcated and R. put a sign around ‘Guy’s neck that reads “Don’t ask me anymore”. This is viewed by staff as inappropriate humor. This becomes a big stupid issue which goes on all damn day. (Do these parachute pants make my butt look big in the good way or the bad way? Does this “Ask me about my disrespect” sign make me look dealt with?)
 
Gaudenzia:
•   “It’s going to be like a party” This is different than when you were told extended group would be “like a sleep over”. This will actually be a  
 pantomime of a party. It’s a masquerade and it’s best to put your “game face” on.
•   You can dance- In fact, you have to (SEKTO)… or Marcy will turn the next morning    
 meeting into an excuse to dance you in to the fire.
•   Eat drink and be careful- There will be punch. Both literal and metaphorical varieties will be served and everyone will drink it down with  
 kool-aid grimaces frozen in place.
•   Costumes- What can be said of this? Be very careful. It’s pretty much a no win situation.
•   Music and festivities- Everything played sucks and involves doing the electric slide. All of you. Thriller will also be played and oh yeah, the
 video dance moves re-enacted. It’s group activity. Participation is required.

In attendance will be the psychic vampires and drama ghouls that you will recognize as counselors. Also, sighing at you from the shadows will be the wispy specter of your dignity (pretending not to know you and exchanging smirking glances with the gruesome remains of your sanity -if the last of that hasn’t been cut from you in groups)…And oh yes, of course, there will be zombies.  

All in all this Daytopian fright night is not the worst of what this program has to offer, but it is weird and unexplained.

For the most part the horrors you can expect from this circus freak show "family" you’re with will be reserved for serious matters like, the cannibalism of encounter groups, the ghastly eviscerations of group feelings and disapperating in extended and marathon groups. You’re safe for now.
They don’t seem to feed this night, but they’re all just licking their chops watching for reason to bust yours later.
 ::evil:: Have fun!

Ursus:
Gaudenzia was one of the early therapeutic communities focused on addiction treatment, founded in 1968 in Philly or very close by.

Daytop founders and admins were undoubtedly well aware of it, having been, in all likelihood, involved with its founding.

Inculcated:
^Yes, snuggly one. Gaudenzia is a Daytopian spore bastard. I learned that later, when I landed here on Fornits. They don’t mention that when we prepare for the Gaudenzia festivities. They don't explain much.
They tell you an extraneous story about a race horse by the name “who finished the race on a broken leg” with a meaningful nod. :nods:
 If further inquiries are made you are told to think about it…which contradicts the oft stated by same staff “Quit your stinkin’ thinkin’ pull up.

Ursus:
Ask Ginger about Victor Biondo.

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Gaudenzia History

In 1968, a group of distinguished business, political and community leaders recognized a serious problem for the City of Philadelphia — a growing number of people suffering from addiction were unable to find help. Determined to address the problem, these leaders invited a small group of substance abuse treatment professionals to create a residential treatment program that would save the lives of individuals otherwise doomed by their drug and alcohol addictions.

A cadre of willing supporters, which included Howard Adelstein, Dr. Griffin Bates, Michael Baylson, Victor Biondo, Dr. Irwin Breslow, Judge Paul Dandridge, Raymond Denworth, Esq., James Germano, James Giles, Esq., Thomas Gilhool, Esq., Dr. Frederick Glaser, Michael Gold, Congressman William Green, Peter Hearn, Esq., Joseph Jacovini, Esq., Jerome Kohn, D.O., Judge Edmund Speath, Joan Specter, Aurelia Waters, Mr. & Mrs. William Wilcox, Edwin Wolf, Esq., and Elias Wolf helped to establish Gaudenzia's first program and Board of Directors.

Thus, community volunteers gave birth to Gaudenzia's first residential substance abuse treatment program in a dilapidated North Philadelphia rowhouse. The program took in addicted men and women – mostly heroin addicts at the time – and provided the shelter, sustenance and support they needed to join the rest of the "family" in living free from drugs and alcohol. Most of these people had no ability to pay for treatment, and maintenance of the program depended on day-to-day contributions of food, clothing and furniture from the community.

Gaudenzia began as a mutual support community – a group of people who, through the basic assumption that sticking together would give them the strength and resolve to stop using drugs, were trying to recover from addiction through their unity and support of one another. Back then, there was little distinction between staff and residents. The senior residents ran the program – they were the people who had been around long enough to feel secure in their own recoveries and had gained enough knowledge to manage the facility.

Gaudenzia gradually gained acceptance due to its effectiveness. Gaudenzia expanded its programs steadily throughout the 70's, 80's, 90's and 2000's and now has a network of services so diverse, virtually anyone in need can receive help for their individual substance abuse problems.

The community responded enthusiastically and today Gaudenzia operates over 100 programs throughout the system. Gaudenzia offers comprehensive outpatient and residential programs that address the specialized substance abuse treatment, prevention and education needs
of men, women and children.

Gaudenzia's specialized programs meet the needs of adolescents, pregnant/parenting women, dually diagnosed individuals (mentally ill and substance abusing), HIV/AIDS symptomatic individuals and homeless individuals. In addition, Gaudenzia administers the substance abuse treatment program at the State Correctional Institute in Chester, which is the first correctional facility in Pennsylvania dedicated entirely to the treatment of addicted inmates. Gaudenzia also offers transitional living services for men and women who complete our residential treatment programs. Gaudenzia's ACCESS program offers private industry, labor union and other organizations employee assistance program services to address individual and organizational substance abuse treatment needs.

Gaudenzia's mission is to help people affected by chemical dependency, mental illness and related conditions to achieve a better quality of life – allowing them to live as productive and accountable individuals.

Gaudenzia also conducts research and educates the community on the causes, treatment and prevention of addictions, mental illness and related conditions.

Gaudenzia views substance abuse as a complex biopsychosocial problem that must be addressed on all levels. Individuals must make significant lifestyle changes in order for recovery to be successful and long lasting. Gaudenzia adheres to the holistic principles of the Therapeutic Community that encourages individuals to take part in the treatment process as full partners, not as objects or patients. Individuals admitted to Gaudenzia encounter a highly structured family environment in which honesty, trust and mutual self-help are the foundation of the treatment process. In addition, daily seminars, group counseling and individual activities are offered to all clients. Work responsibilities are assigned that teach basic cooperation, respect and discipline.

Since 1968, the support of our communities has enabled Gaudenzia to develop a network of services so diverse that virtually anyone in need can be helped by Gaudenzia's programs. Gaudenzia pioneered many programs for specialized populations and has earned national attention for innovative approaches to substance abuse treatment. We have also distinguished ourselves through the unique achievements that are highlighted on the following pages.


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Inculcated:
Ursus,
Okay, reading Gaudenzia House propaganda is not helpful to me in understanding Daytop’s weird ritual of celebrating its’ own day of the living dead fest by that name on Halloween or why it was so verboeten  to call October 31st  Halloween.
Dr. Frederick Glaser...where do I know that name from...hmmm?
Antigen,
Who is Victor Biondo?

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