Deborah Swisher Interview

Deborah Swisher is a former member of Synanon and in an interview with the New York Times shares her experience growing up in the cult. The interview was done to promote her one-woman show in which she acts out experiences in her life in the Synanon group. She and her sister were raised by her single mother and although her mother was not a drug addict, she joined Synanon after being drawn to the communal life of the group.

In another interview with the Cult Education Institute, Swisher mentions that she learned to read in six weeks in the Synanon after two years of not being able to learn how to read in the public school system. The Synanon's school system is one positive aspect of the group where there were no teachers but "demonstrators" instead. Swisher compares the public school system and that of Synanon and points out that the Synanon school system encouraged her creative side and rewarded her for good behavior. Her school experience is one of the positive aspects mentioned by her growing up in the Synanon.

Swisher mentions that she went through The Game while in high school. Though she was verbally broken down she says she understands the reason that it was done. She explains that it was not acceptable in the Synanon for kids to have attitude problems and her being a teenager at the time she was going to have to go through The Game eventually. It's an interesting point of view because those who view cults from an outside perspective usually do not understand some of the actions taken by cult members. Meanwhile, Swisher, although abused during The Game, understands the reasoning or mentality of the members of Synanon was coming from a good place.

 New York Times Interview
Cult Education Institute Interview