The following paragraphs are intended to give as much information as possible to prospective programme users and their families.  Should you have any further queries please contact the TARA Detox office on the number shown on the contact page.

Fees and Donations

Please see the prospective schedule for dates and costs of TARA Detox services.  Dates and prices are subject to change without notice. Please contact us for the latest details.

PLEASE NOTE: Any refunds are discretionary and depend upon many factors. These range from 25% to 90%. In any event, any portion of the advanced payment relating to the cost of air travel cannot be refunded after the flights have been booked.

Should you choose to make a donation to Thamkrabok Monastery we will provide you with an official receipt.

General Information

Accommodation

The facilities provided at the Monastery are “Thai style” and arebasic even by local standards. You should remember that the facilities were built for Thai addicts, so do not expect to find European style bathrooms and comforts. For at least the first five days you will be in a compound with other addicts. Your conduct and response to treatment will be closely monitored.

Clothing

You will be spending three to four weeks at the Monastery depending upon flight schedules etc, whilst you are there you are required to wear the clothing that will be provided to you. Therefore you only need bring traveling clothes with you. We suggest that you bring underwear and just one change of clothes. Some addicts have recommended that long socks be packed to wear in the early mornings and evenings when mosquitoes are most active.

Toiletries

We suggest that you bring a toilet bag containing only essentials for your personal hygiene including soap, towel, and toothpaste (and mouthwash to use after vomiting).

Insect Repellent

Whatever the time of year mosquitoes are an ever-present nuisance in Thailand. It is essential that you take some repellent (such as ‘Jungle Gel’) and bite cream (such as ‘Stingo’) available from BOOTS or any other pharmacist in the UK

Cash and Valuables

You will be provided with a security facility on arrival. As previously made clear you will not be permitted to leave the Monastery during the course of treatment, therefore we suggest that you bring no more than £50.00 with you.

Drugs

The law in Thailand is very strict and the penalties for the possession of drugs are harsh. Your treatment commences immediately on your arrival. We can assure you that you will not need that fix. Remember that the treatment you will receive is radical; you will not suffer from the usual withdrawal symptoms to the same degree associated with other forms of treatment.

PLEASE NOTE: ALL CONSUMABLES SUCH AS TOOTHPASTE, MOUTHWASH etc MUST BE BRAND NEW, IN THE ORIGINAL PACKAGING WITH SEALS UNBROKEN!

Dehydration

In order to address the problem of dehydration caused by vomiting and the subsequent loss of sodium and potassium, it is recommended that you eat bananas and consume fresh fruit drinks, particularly tomato juice. (NB: Cottage cheese & bananas mixed has been found to relieve depression).

Recommended Vaccinations

Please check with your medical advisor but as a guide:

Adult policy, UK Advised for Addicts & Escorts Diphtheria HCWs check levels, boost if low, check again 3months after, lasts 10 years if ok As UK - Thailand very low risk Hep A Vaccinate non-immune travellers (<45yr olds usually considered non-immune) As UK Hep B Vaccinate; confirm adequate protection, probably no need to boost As UK: Must be vaccinated Polio Boost travellers 10 yearly As UK, no cases recorded now in Thailand Rabies Vaccinate every 2-3years, certain travellers, cannot repeat indefinitely As UK - generally advised for all visitors Tetanus 5 total doses, post exposure as guidelines As UK Typhoid Every 3years, depends on vaccine type, certain travellers As UK - Thailand not high risk, but surrounding countries are

(with acknowledgments to The Centre for Tropical Medicine, Oxford)

Communication

For the duration of the course, we require that you accept complete isolation from the outside world. TARA Detox will advise your family of your safe arrival at the Monastery and of any changes to your return schedule. In an emergency your relatives and friends may make contact by calling the TARA Detox office on the numbers shown on the title page of this document.

Leisure Time

Your treatment will be concentrated during the first five days of your stay at the Monastery; thereafter you will have a lot of free time during which you must remain at the Monastery. If you wish you are welcome to bring reading/writing materials with you. Please do not bring expensive consumer goods with you, as you will not be allowed to take them into the Treatment Compound. However, a cheap CD or Tape player is acceptable. You may also wish to consider a cheap or disposable camera to record your treatment.

Physical Exercise & Community Work

After the first ten days of treatment you will be expected to partake in the various community works around the monastery including general cleaning duties, sweeping, kitchen work etc. If you are an opiate user you are encouraged to partake in as much physical exercise as possible up to your pain threshold to encourage your body’s natural production of endorphins.

The Rules

You are expected to comply with the rules of behaviour and respect the views and beliefs of others during your stay.

The Treatment at Thamkrabok

Following arrival at Thamkrabok Monastery the procedures are as follows:

1) All new arrivals are processed through the Clinic Reception Centre.

a) Admission forms are completed and signed (these can be prepared prior to departure).

b) All valuables are taken for safekeeping.

c) All clothing is taken and stored, treatment clothing is issued.

2) All new arrivals are required to take their vows before a Buddha image. These vows are recited in Sanskrit, which will be translated for the addicts on request.

3) For the first five days you are restricted to one room. This room holds up to thirty addicts undergoing the primary herbal treatment.

4) Each addict is allocated sleeping area; a sleeping mat and blanket will be provided. (However, we suggest you take your own blanket and recommend a double sleeping bag liner or cotton sheet folded and sewn to form a liner).

5) During the treatment all male addicts are required to remain in this room and are expected to behave themselves. Should they become violent or aggressive they are likely to be restrained. During the stay in this room no outside contact is permitted. This area is off limits to visitors except the escort that has accompanied the addicts to the Thamkrabok Monastery. All addicts having made a commitment to complete the programme are required to do so regardless of how much they may object. If you promise to stay for 21 days then you are expected to remain at the Monastery for a minimum period of 21 days.

6) Treatment commences with the first issue of herbal medicine. This is taken in a group of new arrivals, generally in the early evening with the moral support of other addicts that have recently completed the treatment. The treatment induces projectile vomiting for five to ten minutes, which is used to purge the body of toxins.

7) The second to fifth herbal treatments are taken on consecutive days at 05.45 am each morning. The majority of addicts undergoing this phase of the treatment tend to sleep throughout most of the first five days.

8) Thai style meals are provided throughout your stay at Thamkrabok. However, you may experience a lack of appetite during the first five days. This is normal and not a cause for alarm, as your appetite will soon return.

9) Each day all addicts are taken for an herbal steam bath (sauna), this is an integral part of the treatment and is continued for a further seven to ten days after the completion of the herbal medicine treatment.

10) After the herbal medicine treatment you are then relocated into the compound. This is a larger area where you have more freedom to move around. Should you misbehave in the compound you are liable to be returned to the room.

11) All addicts are provided with vouchers to purchase food and drinks from the canteen inside the compound, where they remain until their discharge after having successfully completed the full treatment programme.

12) Upon discharge you will travel directly to Bangkok International Airport with your escort to return home free of your former addiction.

13) On their return home ex addicts are required to follow a sensible nutritious diet regime for a least two to three weeks to give their bodies an opportunity to adjust to the changes brought about by their treatment at Thamkrabok. This includes the following requirements:

a) Minimise taking caffeine in any form, tea, coffee and cola should be avoided.

b) Alcohol should not be taken in any form.

c) Avoid very cold or very hot drinks of any kind.

14) Conditions at Thamkrabok are primitive and despite the advice given to addicts prior to their arrival most are shocked at the living conditions encountered. It must be stressed that the Thamkrabok Treatment Centre was established to treat Thai nationals and the facilities provided are poor even by their standards. What would be considered acceptable conditions of personal hygiene are difficult to maintain and remain the personal responsibility of each individual addict.

15) In response to criticism of the conditions it must be stated that Thamkrabok is not a Holiday Camp or a Resort. It is the most successful Drug Detoxification Clinic in the world despite the poor conditions that exist. Nobody is admitted to Thamkrabok without their being advised of the prevailing conditions and having a need for the services that it provides.

Reinforcing Your Commitment

No treatment available for Drug Addiction can guarantee success; the programme provided at Thamkrabok ensures that on discharge from the Monastery the ex-addict is totally free of their addiction having been free of drug use for the term of their stay at Thamkrabok.

It goes without saying that if an ex-addict returns to his or her previous life without making any changes they are extremely vulnerable to return to drug dependence, particularly where their associates, friends or family members are still using drugs.

TARA Detox will accept no responsibility where an ex-addict returns to his or her previous habit after returning from Thamkrabok.

Therefore, preparations for the return of the ex-addict must be carefully planned and they must include the support of family and friends. A total change of environment for a period will always be a favoured reinforcement whilst the body and mind adjusts to it’s drug free state.

The inner strengths of each individual returning from Thamkrabok may vary dramatically but many realise that their lives have been on hold whilst they have been addicted, and go forward with no further external assistance.

Others may feel the need for continued assistance in the form of counselling either individually or in groups. If required this can be arranged on your return home through TARA Detox, your medical practitioner or local drugs support groups.

Terms and Conditions

Caution: Failure to agree with ALL of these terms and conditions may result in your application being rejected. These terms and conditions are not negotiable.

1) Upon admission to the Monastery you will hand over ALL of your personal possessions, clothing and valuables, which will be returned to you on your departure.

2) You will permit TARA Detox to make travel reservations on your behalf and agree to make that journey.

3) You must have a return airline ticket and agree to return directly to your home country on completion of the detoxification and rehabilitation course.

4) You will be accompanied to and from your treatment in Thailand.

5) Whilst at the Thamkrabok Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre you will undertake the following:

a) A total commitment to the course.

b) Complete abstinence from all types of alcohol, drugs and narcotics.

c) Encourage others to refrain from alcohol, drugs and narcotics.

d) Keep yourself and your allotted accommodation area in a clean and hygienic condition.

e) Immediately report to the authorities any evidence of other persons attempting to supply or sell alcohol, drugs or narcotics.

6) Should you commit or aid and abet any illegal activity you will be reported to the appropriate Thai authority.

7) During the period of the course permission to leave the precincts of the Monastery will not be granted.

8) Should you cause or be responsible for any disturbance, quarrel, damage, uproar or disorder whilst a resident, appropriate action will be taken against you and you will be required to pay for any damages resulting from such actions.

9) You must understand and accept without reservation that TARA Detox and the Thamkrabok Drug Treatment & Rehabilitation Centre are both committed to your eventual freedom from drugs. If during your travel to Thamkrabok or whilst you are undertaking the treatment course you become ill, suffer an accident or death, or any of your property or personal effects are lost or damaged, TARA Detox and the Thamkrabok Drug Treatment & Rehabilitation Centre or any of their Trustees, Members, Management, Workers, Employees, Agents, Servants and Associates shall not be responsible or liable to you or any person in respect of any injury, death, loss or damage that you or your property may suffer or sustain.  You agree that you will not take any action or institute proceedings against TARA Detox or the Thamkrabok Drug Treatment & Rehabilitation Centre or any of their Trustees, Members, Management, Workers, Employees, Agents, Servants and Associates for any such loss or damage.

10) You must agree that neither yourself, your estate, your dependants, your relatives, nor your friends may make claims for compensation of any kind.

Initial Application Form

The Initial TARA Detox Application Form will be provided separately along with ‘Thamkrabok Monastery Declaration & Warranty’.

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Clean Body With Herbs... Clean Mind With Sajja