The Synanon Fix

Miniseries

TV-MA

Explores the rise and fall of the Synanon organization through the eyes of the members who lived it, from its early days as a groundbreaking drug rehabilitation program to its later descent into what many consider a cult.

Where to Watch The Synanon Fix • Miniseries

4 Episodes

Here Come the Dopefiends
E1
Here Come the DopefiendsRecovering alcoholic Chuck Dederich opens a storefront drug rehabilitation program that gains a following through its confrontational talk-therapy approach. As the program attracts non-addicts and celebrity followers, Synanon grows into a social movement that rapidly expands across the country.
A War on Convention
E2
A War on ConventionBy the 1970s, Synanon boasts its own farm, a school, and multiple businesses, but Chuck’s utopian vision begins to crack. As members face more extreme edicts, including mandates to quit smoking, separate from their children, and shave their heads – many find themselves weighing the benefits and costs of the choices they’re forced to make.
What in the Hell is Happening?
E3
What in the Hell is Happening?Chuck's leadership of a rehabilitation program takes an authoritarian turn, enforcing strict rules and harsh punishments, disrupting members' personal lives, and prompting a public backlash that fuels his growing paranoia.
Strap Yourself to the Mast
E4
Strap Yourself to the MastIn 1977, the abduction of Frances Winn by the Synanon cult leads to legal battle. As media scrutiny intensifies, Chuck makes massive firearms purchase. Chuck's life spirals downward until his demise, leaving Synanon's followers to pick up.