Daytop Village was founded by Monsignor William B. O’Brien and Daniel Harold Casriel as a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center for adults. Prior to Daytop Village, Casriel had spent time in Synanon in 1962 and was so impressed that he gave several Synanon members funding to start a community on the east coast. This was the beginning of Daytop Village. The methods used at Daytop were heavily based on Synanon such as their own version of “The Game” or attack group therapy. Eventually, Daytop expanded to over 50 locations. While most of the locations cater to adults, there are at least two prep schools for adolescents.

One notable alumnus, Joe Ricci, went on to found Elan School.