Bogus Treatment Center In Bangkok

[tonysigmond]

Just a warning to expats in Bangkok. I have a friend with a drug problem who recently went to a treatment center in Bangkok called (removed). Apparently it is run by Dutch people and is not offical or even recognized in Thailand. They charge 5k-10k Euro for a month of "treatment" and he said most of the "counselors" only have high school education and no training in counseling. They couldnt get jobs in their countires with out skills so come here to work. He said in the month he was in there many people were using drugs and drinking including some staff and it is a complete free for all. When he complained he was told, "This is Thailand, we can run things however we want". Not sure what authorities should look into this (he said none of the foreign staff even had work permits) but sounds like a place to be avoided if some seriously needs help. By the way, my friend was doing drugs the day he got out.

Edited July 5, 2012 by lopburi3
name removed per forum rules

[orchis]

I wonder what the 'official or recognized status' for detox and rehab places in Thailand is,

apparently not monitored (or regulated).

[Mobi]

I know of this place. I was given the contact numbers a few years back when I was pretty desperate to stop drinking and I was severely depressed.

I called them and spoke to one of the guys in charge and he quoted me some outrageous prices. When i told him that it was too expensive, he quickly back-tracked and reduced the fees considerably, assuring me that he was sure there would be a way they could accommodate my 'budget'.

On top of this, he told me that the main part of their programme was to take alcoholics to AA to participate in the 12 step programme. While I had no problem with this in principle, it struck me that I could easily attend AA, (as I was in fact doing), without having to pay fees to a so-called 'treatment centre'.

The whole thing didn't ring quite right to me and I didn't pursue it any further.

This business of people drinking and taking drugs inside the accommodation is quite astonishing - sounds almost too crazy to be true - but who knows?

[dddave]

Several years ago, a friend who was active in AA was offered a high paying position as a Councillor at a rehab clinic, previously a bankrupt resort in Kanchanabury, also owned by a westerner.

They never asked for credentials nor did any kind of staff training. The main concentration was keeping disgruntled clients, mostly Europeans, there until their insurance ran out.

He quit in disgust after two months.

[katana]

Reminds me of the Andrew Drummond exposé:

Google "andrew drummond" and "the iceman cometh again" for details.