The Seed (organisation)

The Seed was a controversial drug rehabilitation program in the United States that operated between 1970 and 2001.[1] Aimed at youths, the program was modeled after adult treatment programs, with its techniques having been compared to those of the cult Synanon.[2] In a 1974 U.S Senate report, its techniques were also compared to the North Korean brainwashing technique used on Prisoners of War during the Korean War.[3][4]:ch. 1; p. 23 At its height in the 1970s The Seed had locations in Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Dale County,[5] and St. Petersburg.[6][7] The organisation widely marketed itself as "spectacularly successful", "teaching love", and received wide press coverage.[8]

The Seed, Inc
NicknameThe Seed
MottoYou are not alone
SuccessorStraight, Incorporated
FormationSeptember 23, 1970 (1970-09-23)
FounderArthur Robert Barker
Founded atFort Lauderdale, Florida
ExtinctionOctober 1, 2001 (2001-10-01)
TypeNonprofit organization

Following the release of the Senate report, along with criticisms from experts about the techniques and high suicide rate of the attendees, The Seed began to decline over the next two decades. By 2001, only the original Fort Lauderdale location remained, and the founder, Arthur Baker, retired and dissolved the organisation.[2] Several other similar drug rehabilitation programs were founded in its image after The Seed's decline, most notably Straight, Incorporated.[2]

References
  1. Florida Division of Corporations; THE SEED, INC
  2. Szalavitz, Maia. "The Cult That Spawned the Tough-Love Teen Industry". Mother Jones. Retrieved 2019-10-23.
  3. "Straight and Medical Research". thestraights.net. Retrieved 2019-10-23.
  4. United States Senate Investigation - Individual Rights and the Federal Role in Behavior Modification, November 1974
  5. Miller, Judith (1973). "The Seed: Reforming Drug Abusers with Love". Science. 182 (4107): 40–42. Bibcode:1973Sci...182...40M. doi:10.1126/science.182.4107.40. ISSN 0036-8075. JSTOR 1736222. PMID 17829807.
  6. Childs, Joe (27 July 1976). "Straight Inc. New Drug Program Set for September 1". The Evening Independent. p. 14A. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
  7. "Drug Program Will Treat Youths". St. Petersburg Times. 28 July 1976.
  8. "The Seed, the only program that is spectacularly successful" (PDF). Fort Myers News-Press. 1974-04-14. Retrieved 2019-10-23.
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