Indiegogo

20111213073324-thegroup20111213-12339-1vnl0b-0

The Group

A feature-length documentary retracing a young man's five year journey through the world of adolescent drug abuse programs.

Our Story

Across the country there exists a network of adolescent drug abuse programs known, collectively, as The Group. This organization, while claiming to have rescued thousands of teens from the horrors of drug addiction, has been repeatedly accused of using cult-like practices to control its teenage followers and their concerned families. 


In 1990, at the age of thirteen, filmmaker Jacob Brady entered The Group and would remain a member for the next five years. During this time he was twice admitted to month-long in-patient hospital stays at group-affiliated facilities, forced to cut ties with family and friends, sent to live across the country with fellow group members and encouraged to drop out of high school.


Also, during this time, Jacob became a rising star in the organization. Serving as a Group leader in St. Louis and Atlanta, helping to recruit new members, establishing a new chapter in the Atlanta suburbs, organizing Group-sponsored events and preparing to become a Group counselor. 


All before he turned eighteen. All without having a drug addiction.


The Group is a feature-length documentary that retraces Jacob's five year journey through the world of adolescent drug abuse programs. Through interviews with former members, archival photographs and expert witnesses, The Group tells the often personal story of the young people affected by the organization, their struggles with addiction and life after The Group.


The Impact

Thousands of young people have felt the impact, both positive and negative, of membership in The Group. Families have been ripped apart, lives have been saved and lives have been lost. 


News outlets have told the story - including 60 minutes, 20/20, ABC, Tucson Weekly, The Riverfront Times, etc.  Web pages have come and gone - attempting to reunite former members and provide an outlet to tell the story. 


But, never before has the personal story been told. We want to tell the inside story, to show what life was like in The Group and the lasting impact it has had. Rather than tell you the impact, we'd like you to hear firsthand the reaction and anticipation for the project. Below is a small sampling of the responses we have received so far:


"Thanks so much for doing this.  I am glad you got out before you went to counselor training.  I feel like I got robbed of 10 years of my life."


"Just looking at the pictures, and reading stuff people have posted sure has brought back a lot of memories. In fact I think I had completely blocked out why I left the group and when until reading some of this...I think like a lot of people I can say I had some REALLY good times, met some great people, but also struggled for a long time feeling like I was lost after leaving the group" 


"I just wanted to take a moment, to thank you for whatever the inspiration was for you to undertake this project. Just looking at all the pictures that have been posted over the last few days have brought back so many memories for me, it's been really a trip. Everyone of course has varying opinions and stories, as to how the group affected their lives, and all I can say, is that for me, personally, that program saved my life. I'd had the fortune of meeting some of the most wonderful, crazy, spiritual, fun loving people of my entire life as a result of my time there. It's had an effect on me that I believe I will carry with me the rest of my days."


"My hope for your project is that people will see it who are in the group, or are thinking about putting their child in the program. My hope is that they will then seek real professional help to spare their children years of emotional turmoil from those programs...I have spent many years trying to repair my life as well as my brain to try and function in this world."


"The group saved my life. But I'd be lying if I didn't admit there was a lot going on that just wasn't right with that place. Like how all these people "loved" me and were there for me until I decided to go back to the real world and try being sober without the group. Once I left the group everyone acted as if I never even existed. That messed my life up almost just as bad as the drugs did...."


" Thanks for what you're doing. It took me ten years to reteach myself how to live and I don't want anyone else to go through that."


"I have struggled with life after the group... i was there 3 years and then left for awhile and returned and decided to graduate because i wanted to put the place behind me and not have a reason to go back.I have spent the last 10 years since then not knowing what to do with my life and making all kinds of mistakes... a big part of me would like to have some closure with what i went through all those years ago. Dont get me wrong i had a lot of friends there or so i thought... a lot of what i learned and was stopped from learning there really screwed me up. Its been a downward spiral ever since in which im barely hanging on.I feel like i missed out on so much while i was there and i struggle not to regret it.I just wanted to share some of that with you and let you know that im behind you 100 percent."


"I do my best to not dwell on what became of my adolescence due to my own long, long stint in “the group” in Houston, but I will definitely be interested to see this film. I was a typical product of the kurt cobain-laden early 90s, but I was also a baby at 13 and while I had smoked pot once or twice, I had never drank. I recognize I wasn’t in the best emotional place and needed something, but I don’t think the permission to smoke 2 packs of cigarettes a day, drink endless amounts of coffee, “wedge” by staying up all night to fake hallucinations in place of drugs, and have sex after a solid 30 days of dating was the answer. did I mention I was 13 when I joined? yes. indeed."


"I try to explain to people what went on. And on the outside it looked and sounded great. People just dont get it. Its a huge part of my life that I have no explanation for. I honestly dont know how to feel about it because on one hand i saw my sister go through it and have everything she has now. For me, like I said i cant explain. I was in from '01 - '04. Still so recent in my brain"



What We Need & What You Get

The Group is a labor of love and as such, every effort has been made to minimize production costs while maintaining quality. All of the production staff, including the Producer, Director, Composer and Director of Photography are working on contingency. In other words, your money does not go to us, it goes to making the film. 


The majority of the funding will go towards equipment purchases. These include HD video cameras, lenses, mass storage, microphones, lights and miscellaneous equipment. Additional expenses include travel (shooting will take place in St. Louis, MO and Atlanta, GA), lodging and expenses during travel, video editing software and securing archival footage. 


In exchange for your contribution, we are offering a number of perks. Everything from a Thank You credit, to a DVD copy of the completed film, access to behind-the-scenes footage and an invitation to the premiere and after-party. 


Other Ways You Can Help

Share! Share! Share! 


Thousands of us moved through the doors of The Group. It is impossible for the producers of The Group to reach them all. Share this page with your friends - through Facebook, Twitter or in person. This entire project hinges on the support of the community, so we need you to spread the word. 


Send us your pictures, videos, flyers, etc. 


Do you have old photographs or flyers from your days in The Group? Email them to thegroupdoc@gmail.com or if you have hard-copies email us and we will arrange another method. Also, if you have any video, email us and let us know. 

Team on This Campaign: