Private Yaba Rehabilitation Centers

[Hobgoblin]

Hi,

A very good friend and neighbor has a 15 year-old son who has developed a serious yaba addiction. I've lived next to this family (middle class) for about three years and have since become a regular part of their lives. I've noticed that the kid's attitude towards everything has been deteriorating rapidly, much to the despair of his friends and family. Several of his good friends have stopped hanging around him, and he's been spending time with other teenagers who we can just tell are NOT good people. He has been staying away from home for days, even a week at a time, and his family are at wit's end on what to do about it.

The important thing is, he knows that he has a serious problem and wants to quit, but he lacks an environment suitable to successfully kick it. I truly empathize with him because I had a serious cocaine addiction when I was in my early 20's, and only an intervention and two months at a private rehab center organized by my family and the few close friends I had left gave me the opportunity to kick the habit once and for all.

The problem is, I know there are many government-run rehab clinics for kids his age, but I've seen what these places are like, and it's not much better than a prison... they all wear hospital gowns, have to have their head shaved, cannot smoke (something that although not good, vital for drug rehab), and have a very low rate of success. I'd like to know if there is some privately-run facility somewhere (we live outside of Pattaya) that will ease their patients into rehab in a more nurturing manner - TV, football pitch, gardens, a pool, rec room - the same type of place you'd find in Canada, the US or Europe.

With such a huge amount of youth addicted to yaba in this country, many of whom are middle and high-class, I would assume (hopelessly, perhaps) that there is a place that can help this kid. I've known him for years, and he's very bright, although has dropped out of school, can fix virtually anything around my house that needs to be fixed, and when he's not high or coming down, he's polite and generally a pleasant person to have around.

I believe that a place that feels more like a retreat and less like a prison would be met with less resistance and hostility should his family, myself and some friends of mine decide to hold an intervention. I hate seeing a life (and a family) get needlessly ruined because of drugs - I've been there myself, and it was the best thing that ever happened to me. I'd like to do my part in changing his life and his family's life for the better.

Anyone out there have ideas or suggestions?

Thanks for listening.

-H

[airplane]

There is a private rehab in Kanchanaburi, a wonderful govt rehab in Khon Kaen, and AA and NA meetings throughout Thailand. Keep on searching. I hope he finds a comfortable and lasting sobriety.

[Sheryl]

This is the place in Kanchanaburi

http://www.channahthailand.com/

And this one is in Chiang Mai:

http://breathingspacethailand.com/

[Thanyaburi Mac]

I'd recommend this place in Ratchaburi, about an hour west of town in Chom Bung District. My wife's older son had that problem. Initially stayed there for 6 months, out, and after three months, back in for 12 months. Been clean for the last 6-7 years, he's now 26. Not free but not expensive either. Catholic run but religion not pushed. No relative visits for the first three months then once a month after that. There are kids who do flee the center but the local villagers seem to bring them back. The place is fenced but lightly so, and it's not a high walled prison by any means.

Mac

http://www.ucanews.com/2009/11/09/ex-addic...ng-men-recover/

THAILAND Ex-addict helps other young men recover

November 9, 2009 | TH08185.1575 | 410 words Text size

CHOMBUNG, Thailand (UCAN) -- One young man whose life was transformed by a Church-run drug rehabilitation center is now working with the organization to help others in the same predicament.

Residents of the rehabilitation

center undergoing group therapy

"I took heroin and amphetamines," said Teeradech, 37, a helper at the Rebirth Therapeutic Community Center (Soon Kert Mai) for Men run by the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity. The center is in Chombung, Ratchaburi province, west of Bangkok.

Teeradech's story is all too typical of drug addiction. He not only took drugs, he also stole money to buy them as well as engaged in trafficking for a year.

His brother brought him to the center about 10 years ago when he was given bail after being arrested on drug offenses. It changed his life.

He now lectures at Thailand's Narcotics Control Board and is in charge of the detoxification program at Soon Kert Mai.

"Now I am using the lessons I learned in life to help others," he said.

Father Sathit Sriwanchai, the center's director, says rehabilitation involves two stages. "The first stage is a detoxification period of 10 days."

After that, the men receive psychological and spiritual support through group therapy and lessons, as well as undergo a physical exercise program for about 18 months.

The entire program is designed to help the men develop a positive attitude to life, healthy relationships, sound values and mature judgment, Father Sathit says.

"Most drug addicts start to walk on the wrong path when young. We try to help them rediscover their own way of life free from drugs," he added.

Sister Sumalee Arunyakanont, 68, an assistant to Father Sathit, said the young drug addicts at the center mostly come from rich or middle class families who, despite their wealth, "live lives that are empty and very lonely."

The center was founded in 1979 and has more than 250 male residents aged 13-26. Most are Buddhist but there are six Catholics and three Muslims.

In the early 1990s the congregation opened a similar center for women in Bangkla, Chachoengsao province, eastern Thailand. It has more than 50 residents.

Drug addiction is a growing problem in the country. According to Thailand's Narcotics Control Board, the number of drug users rose from 460,000 in 2003 to 605,000 people in 2008.

The Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity was founded in 1958 by Father James Flanagan in the United States. It has missions in 16 countries, including China and the Philippines.

[wade72]

Does anyone have a contact number for the centre mentioned above?

I work with Channah Thailand however get a lot of enquires and would be interested in making contact with them as another alternative for people.

Please let me know if you know anyone to contact there.

Thanks

Wade