Cults include political cults, religious cults, and psychotherapy cults. Youths may experience cult membership as highly rewarding in the short term. However, such groups may not provide what is sufficient either for meaningful recovery from addiction or for resolution of developmental issues. Moreover, when membership in the cult ends, the youth experiences immense problems of reentry into society and the family. Clinicians must be alert to the signs of hidden cultism within seemingly conventional religious, political, and therapeutic organizations; expose formerly addicted cult members to recovery fellowships; avoid devaluing the cult experience of the recovering youth; and address the mental status of the cult member. Note and 32 references