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30 January 2006 Entitled to a choice... and facts In response to Wendy Gregory's letter 'An alternative way' (DDN, 16 January) I would like to inform your readers that there are a number of different options available to obtain treatment at Thamkrabok other than through East-West Detox. Although it might not be advisable in every case, it is possible for addicts to travel to Thailand independently. The Thamkrabok Monastery gives its services free. Addicts must let the monastery know by email when they will be arriving at Thamkrabok. It should be noted that the monastery is closed to new admissions each year from 15 March until 5 May. It is recommended that addicts stay for a minimum of 10 days but the longer they can stay the better (up to a maximum of 28 days). Professionals and the public alike should have the facts available to them upon which to make informed choices. The higher the claimed success rate of a particular treatment model, the more likely it is to be perceived as a catch-all miracle cure. Unfortunately, Wendy Gregory does not reveal East-West Detox's success rate but draws our attention to a figure of '70 per cent over the past 58 years'. I think Wendy has been misinformed on two counts. Firstly, the monastery has only been in existence for 48 years and secondly the Thamkrabok Monastery has never claimed nor published such statistics. Thamkrabok does not offer miracle cures. The monastery simply provides a rapid herbal detox and the opportunity for addicts to view the world differently, from a Buddhist perspective, allowing them to reassess their life and their place in the world. The only 'recent' official figures are from an independent report to the World Health Organisation in 1993, which sets success rates at between 20 and 30 per cent, depending upon certain criteria. Addicts should understand that undertaking treatment at Thamkrabok is not an easy option. However, success rates and relapse prevention can usually be enhanced by ongoing support. So I'm pleased to say that there is an online support group for ex-addicts who have completed treatment at Thamkrabok (or anyone considering treatment at the Monastery in Thailand) at http://groups.google.com/group/Friends-of-Thamkrabok-Monastery Of course sometimes it is not possible, or indeed desirable, for individuals to travel alone and unprepared to Thailand. There are a number of private organisations, such as the Alba-Thai group in Dundee (http://www.alba-thai.org) or TARA Detox in West Berkshire (http://www.tara-detox.org), who can facilitate treatment at Thamkrabok. These organisations are independent from the monastery and provide varying levels of service to addicts usually at a cost. Some organisations will provide basic unescorted travel arrangements to the monastery, while others will provide fully escorted detoxification trips to Thailand, including before and after services. Obviously, the Thamkrabok Monastery cannot, and will not, enter into disputes between individuals and their chosen independent service organisation. I very much agree with Wendy Gregory when she says 'surely everyone seeking recovery is entitled to a choice'. As the provider of an 'alternative' detox service, I too feel disappointed by the present recommendation from the NTA, but hope that funding for treatment at the Thamkrabok Monastery will be reviewed favourably in the future. Vince Cullen, ---oooOooo--- The original article can be seen at http://www.drinkanddrugs.net/features/jan3006/letters.pdf |
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