American Rehab Archives - Reveal

American Rehab: Shadow Workforce

by Shoshana Walter, Laura Starecheski, Ike Sriskandarajah, Katharine Mieszkowski, Amy Julia Harris, Najib Aminy, Amy Mostafa, Jim Briggs, Fernando Arruda, Kevin Sullivan and Al Letson September 3, 2022September 13, 2022

For decades, work-based rehabs have spread across the country. No one knows how many are out there, so we counted them ourselves.

Reveal Wins Loeb Award for American Rehab

by Reveal staff October 1, 2021October 1, 2021

The award, given out by UCLA’s Anderson School of Management, recognizes the most distinguished business and financial journalism.

American Rehab Chapter 8: Shadow Workforce

by Laura Starecheski, Brett Myers, Kevin Sullivan, Ike Sriskandarajah, Shoshana Walter, Fernando Arruda, Jim Briggs, Amy Mostafa, Najib Aminy, Al Letson, Claire Mullen, Mwende Hinojosa and Katharine Mieszkowski August 8, 2020July 1, 2021

For decades, work-based rehabs have spread across the country. No one knows how many are out there, so we counted them ourselves.

An illustration shows a worker standing on an abstract tower, wearing a helmet and uniform, against an orange background.

American Rehab Chapter 7: The Work Cure

by Fernando Arruda, Jim Briggs, Shoshana Walter, Ike Sriskandarajah, Laura Starecheski, Brett Myers, Kevin Sullivan, Mwende Hinojosa, Najib Aminy, Claire Mullen, Al Letson and Amy Mostafa August 1, 2020July 1, 2021

One man’s journey into Cenikor leads to almost two years of hard labor. The program will change him. But can it help Chris Koon with his addiction?

An illustration shows a line of white vans driving against a dark background and orange sky.

American Rehab Chapter 6: The White Vans

by Fernando Arruda, Jim Briggs, Kevin Sullivan, Brett Myers, Al Letson, Ike Sriskandarajah, Laura Starecheski, Shoshana Walter, Najib Aminy, Amy Mostafa, Mwende Hinojosa, Claire Mullen and Katharine Mieszkowski July 29, 2020July 1, 2021

Before sunrise, a line of passenger vans heads to job sites across Baton Rouge, Louisiana. They carry squads of unpaid laborers.

A black and orange illustration shows Ronald Reagan holding a football

American Rehab Chapter 5: Reagan with the Snap

by Laura Starecheski, Shoshana Walter, Ike Sriskandarajah, Brett Myers, Kevin Sullivan, Fernando Arruda, Jim Briggs, Katharine Mieszkowski, Amy Mostafa, Najib Aminy, Al Letson, Mwende Hinojosa and Claire Mullen July 25, 2020July 1, 2021

Cenikor rises from the ashes, thanks to an inventor of NFL football pads, the war on drugs and the endorsement of an American president.

All Work. No Pay., American Rehab

American Rehab Chapter 4: Cowboy Conman

by Laura Starecheski, Ike Sriskandarajah, Shoshana Walter, Al Letson, Kevin Sullivan, Brett Myers, Najib Aminy, Jim Briggs, Fernando Arruda, Mwende Hinojosa and Claire Mullen July 18, 2020July 1, 2021

He’s a liar, a killer and a wannabe country singer. Luke Austin creates Cenikor in the image of a cult. But graft and violence nearly destroy it.

venomous snake

American Rehab Chapter 3: A Venomous Snake

by Shoshana Walter, Laura Starecheski, Ike Sriskandarajah, Brett Myers, Kevin Sullivan, Jim Briggs, Fernando Arruda, Al Letson, Amy Mostafa, Katharine Mieszkowski, Amy Julia Harris and Najib Aminy July 11, 2020July 1, 2021

After building a small fortune, Synanon’s megalomaniac leader turns the revolutionary rehab into a violent cult.

All Work. No Pay., American Rehab

The work cure

by Shoshana Walter July 7, 2020June 30, 2021

At 300 rehabs across the country, the main form of addiction treatment is work. And the participants rarely get paid.

A blue sign advertises heartland ministries and says "Jesus is the Answer!"

All Work. No Pay.

At hundreds of rehabs, recovery means work without pay

by Shoshana Walter July 7, 2020June 30, 2021

Despite deadly injuries and multiple investigations into illegal labor practices, work-based rehabs are an American growth industry.