A Life Gone Awry: My Story of the Elan School

Buy the Kindle version now on Amazon for $2.99

When Doctor M. Scott Peck suggested Elan to my parents I was skeptical because the first program he sent me to was a drug program, and I had never done drugs. He said it wasn't, and that Elan treated teens with emotional problems. He told me that Elan had psychiatrists and counselors, and activities, so I agreed to go.

What I witnessed was unbelievable. Elan was an insane asylum, run by the inmates, and Joe Ricci was God. For more than thirty years I told people I had been in prison, rather than the truth of what happened there. After you read this book you will understand why.

Reviews

by Wayne
I'm not going to comment on the writing, but the writing of this book. When I put it on Face Book I didn't know what to expect, but in the past few months I have made friends and received private messages from Elan survivors that have changed my life.

For 30 years I never told anyone what happened in Elan. It was too insane. I didn't think anyone would believe it. Add to that the shame and humiliation I thought people would try to bestow upon me.What I found was a community of people who went through the same thing, and I made friends with the memories. Then, I found out we weren't the only ones. I didn't know there were other programs like it.

by Dodge Dart
100% of the proceeds of this book will go to CAFETY, Program Watch and the Jani Foundation, to fight for the rights of drug addicted and mentally ill children. The time has come to end the abuse and corruption. This book is my gift to you for a donation to these organizations. Hell, I bought a copy myself. Thank you

Elan is a hell hole and places like it are not unique. You have so many all along the Eastern Seaboard, like the Heck facility where Jon Carey was beaten to death earlier in 2011. That was in the NY Times. You have Green Chimneys in Brewster NY where beatings have gone on for many years along with other kinds of abuse. You also have places like some of the Devereaux branches too. Wayne does not down play the atrocities that went on in this place. Elan is an ironic name because instead of "vigorous spirit and enthusiasm," like the dictionary definition, you get crushed spirits and brutalized. Wayne saved many people because RTC'ers are good at fooling people to leave their kids in places like these. And RTCs are in isolated places where if you scream for help you dont' get heard. People who work in these places have all kinds of backgrounds and anything can happen to you once you are in one.

by Fran
This book was written by someone I had come to know and respect via Facebook, emails, etc.

This story is gritty and gets to the heart of the matter and it's true. When parents wonder what really happens when they send their kids to programs and entrust them to care for their kids in every way you now know. It may be a different treatment center, different M.O. but you get a good idea of whats what and realize you MUST investigate and NOT trust a brochure.

This true story touched me and made me mad all at once. How a place so monstrous was allowed open for so long is appalling.

Read it, everyone. Not just ppl who have troubled kids but maybe you were a kid like that or knew a kid who went away or maybe you just want to learn the truth. Read it and believe it.