The Synanon Fix on HBO

HBO's documentary starts today.

I always experience a little dread when these documentaries come out. Will it be another sensational, viewer-grabbing story about a violent cult, or will it show the good that we did?

Perhaps I still have a little true believer in me: I think for a while, Synanon was a revolutionary way to live. But when I'm honest with myself, I let one man tell me how to live, down the minutiae of my life. I will never again let someone have that much power over me.

My forthcoming memoir, tentatively titled "Splittee: Breaking Free from the Grasp of the Infamous Synanon Cult," delves into my odyssey from devoted follower to liberating myself from the coercive influence of community pressure and embracing self-belief. Splittee is an emotional roller coaster that plunges in and out of love with a community, a man, and a cult, tracing Synanon’s transformation from the first successful drug rehabilitation residency program into a terrifying cult while exploring themes of love and betrayal, community versus individual needs, and the unshakable nature of a parent’s love.