The Synanon Fix: Did the Cure Become a Cult?

Explore 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.

Overview Seasons Similar

Created By	Mark Bailey Rory Kennedy
Status	Ended
Original Name	The Synanon Fix: Did the Cure Become a Cult?
First Air Date	April 1, 2024
Last Air Date	April 22, 2024
Seasons	1
Episodes	4
Episode Runtime	1h 0min
Language	English
Original Language	English
Production Countries	United States of America
Production Companies	Moxie Films HBO Documentary Films
Networks	HBO

S01E04

Strap Yourself to the Mast

In 1977, the Los Angeles Times reports on the nine-day abduction of Frances Winn by Synanon. Lawyer Paul Morantz wins a settlement case in her favor. With media focus heating up, Chuck spends $62,000 on guns and ammunition, at the time the largest single firearms purchase in California history. Soon thereafter, he allegedly orchestrates an attempt on Morantz’s life. He is sentenced to five years probation. Drinking again and diagnosed with mental illness, Chuck loses everything and dies in a nursing home, leaving a troubled legacy as a creative, but unchecked genius. Many adherents are left to piece together their lives in the aftermath without Synanon.

View Episodes