I was able to secure erase my SSD in my MBP 2011 (apple branded SSD)
The instructions on the link below worked on my 2011 MBP (Option 2 - Parted Magic)
http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-20115106-285/how-to-securely-erase-an-ssd-drive/
I downloaded the Parted Magic ISO (June 2012 version) from here:
http://partedmagic.com/doku.php
Create a CD from the ISO image.
Follow the instructions. The 2011 MBP booted find into the Linux OS with the PARTED MAGIC utility. (Takes a couple of minutes to boot - Hold option when turning on so you get to select the CD as the boot drive).
As expected - the state of the SSD upon issuing the secure erase command was frozen, but the utility took care of setting the "sleep". Upon pressing the power and awakening the MBP you can run the erase command again and it worked. Took 4 minutes for the 512 GB Apple SSD (A toshiba, I believe) to be erased.
BE READY with either your original installation disk or create one before erasing. Also back up (Just in case I had a "super duper" exact image). While some MBP that came with Lion can do an Internet recovery, this is a lengthy process.
A great utility to create a Lion Installation disk (without the need for the MAC to connect to the internet for an internet recovery) is here:
http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/39701/lion-diskmaker/
I do not know if the new retina MBP will boot from the Parted Magic (I have it on CD, but you can make a USB).
Read all the disclaimers in all the utilities - Backup data, etc.
It worked perfectly here. I hope that on new OSX version Apple incorporated the ability to secure erase the SSD.
Good luck - I now have listed my MBP in the marketplace