Drug & Alcohol Rehab in Thailand

Known for its idyllic islands, picturesque sceneries and its famous Full Moon Parties, Thailand is a hotspot for travellers from each corner of the world.

Tourists that arrive at this beautiful destination frequently take part in activities which include the consumption of many substances, particularly alcohol, cannabis, and even methamphetamines.

So, while it does offer tranquil environments and nature wonders, some environments in Thailand offer a heavy party scene which can exacerbate addiction and expose others to heavy consumption of addictive substances.

Addiction Statistics In Thailand

According to the Thailand Narcotics Control Annual Report 2019, there were 363,769 drug cases with 385,771 offenders who were eventually charged with narcotics offences.

There were over 179,000 consumption offences and over 109,000 possession offences.

As for the quantity of seized drugs in the year 2019, Thailand saw nearly 518,900,000 methamphetamine pills seized, over 14,300 kilograms of cannabis seized, 941 kilograms of cocaine seized, and much more.

It was also reported that over 300 government officials were involved with narcotic drugs in Thailand.

It was also estimated by a report that 3,750,000 people aged 12 to 65, or 7.46% of the Thai population, have used drugs in their lifetime.

Almost 2,000,000 of the Thai population had consumed drugs in the past year ending 2019.

Furthermore, 1,300,000 of the Thai population reported to have consumed drugs in the month that the study was conducted.

Another report suggests that based on the AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test) score, 6.7% of the Thai population could be classified as hazardous drinkers, whereas 1% were considered harmful drinkers.

The Office of the Narcotics Control Board of Thailand made a statement that as of June 2020, the regional drug market had expanded significantly in Southeast Asia and Thailand.

In the last decade, seizures of methamphetamines have increased each year in Thailand and its neighbouring countries.

What Is Drug And Alcohol Addiction?

Addiction is officially recognised as a disease by neurologists and medical professionals.

According to the brain disease model of addiction, substance use disorder (another term for substance addiction) occurs in the brain due to a chemical reaction.

When this chemical reaction occurs, the subject’s reward pathways (also known as the mesolimbic pathways) are altered in a way in which they become increasingly dependent on an addictive substance.

This happens when they repeatedly expose themselves to the addictive substance.

Some subjects are more susceptible to falling into addiction than others.

Some may be suffering from genetic factors, whereas others may suffer from trauma, or other social and environmental factors which expose them to addiction.

Subjects will experience different symptoms, depending on their addiction history and their addictive substance.

Patients who are addicted to physically addictive substances such as alcohol, heroin, or other opiates, for example, will experience physical withdrawal symptoms such as:

• Headaches
• Trembling
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Vomiting
• Seizures

Patients who are suffering from physical dependency to substances will be required to undergo a medicated detox.

This is not the case for those suffering from abuse of psychologically addictive substances, however.

Psychologically addictive substances include cannabis and cocaine, and can present withdrawal symptoms such as:

• Anxiety
• Paranoia
• Depression

What Is Drug And Alcohol Rehab?

The term rehab is an shortened form of rehabilitation, which means to restore something back to its best quality, health or condition.

This is also a simplified definition of a drug and alcohol rehab.

At a drug and alcohol rehab in Thailand, the purpose is to help patients overcome addiction and to return to their most optimal self through abstinence and sobriety.

At a drug and alcohol rehab in Thailand, patients will undergo various forms of treatment methods in order to optimise their responsiveness to recovery methods.

Treatment can come in many different forms and different rehab providers and recovery programmes will utilise different methods depending on their experience, facilities, and values.

Some popular examples of treatment methods used to facilitate recovery include but aren’t limited to:

• Medicated Detoxes
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• Support Sessions
• Holistic Therapy

Patients will undergo varying forms of treatment plans according to their addiction severity and their requirements.

Depending on the level of care that they require, they may undergo addiction treatment as an inpatient or an outpatient.

According to the ASAM Criteria – a placement guideline for addiction which will determine what sort of treatment the patient will undergo – there are four levels of care at rehab.

These are:

• Level 1 – Outpatient Treatment
• Level 2 – Intensive Outpatient Treatment
• Level 3 – Inpatient Treatment
• Level 4 – Intensive Inpatient Treatment (Partial Hospitalisation)

The Admissions Process To Enter A Drug And Alcohol Rehab In Thailand

To enter a drug and alcohol rehab in Thailand, Rehab 4 Alcoholism can help you navigate the process.

By dialling the number 0800 111 4108 or +44 345 222 3509 internationally, you can make an inquiry about the process of entering a drug and alcohol rehab in Thailand.

Whether you are ready to undergo drug or alcohol addiction treatment in Thailand or you merely want to have some of your questions answered, a trained admissions officer will assist you all of the way.

Any questions asked will be done over the phone, free of charge, and with complete discretion.

The admissions process is simple.

When you are ready, a trained admissions officer will conduct a health assessment.

While it may sound formal, it is done in a casual manner and merely consists of answering questions about your health history, addiction history, and any requirements that you may have entering a drug and alcohol rehab in Thailand.

It is important that you are honest with your answers, and that you also put yourself first by stating any preferences or requirements that you may have.

This is in order for the consultant psychiatrist to help identify the most optimal recovery programme and rehab provider which can facilitate your recovery.

Admitting Someone Else Into A Drug And Alcohol Rehab

It is often the case that a friend or family member of the addicted person is the one to reach out to us at Rehab 4 Alcoholism.

However, you cannot admit someone else into a drug and alcohol rehab without their consent.

Instead, Rehab 4 Alcoholism can help the friend or family member by connecting them with an interventionist in Thailand.

By utilising the expertise of an interventionist, you will have the ability to host an intervention in Thailand in order to foster open communication between the addicted person and those who care for them.

The interventionist will facilitate a non-confrontational meeting which encourages open communication.

This is effective because by allowing friends and family members to voice their concerns and how their loved one’s addiction has impacted their life, the addicted person will become more willing to enter a drug and alcohol rehab in Thailand.

CRAFT

One popular form of intervention is CRAFT, which stands for Community Reinforcement And Family Training.

The purpose of CRAFT is to cater to the family’s needs as well as the addicted person.

The family’s suffering is often overlooked during addiction, and CRAFT offers counselling as well as skills training in order to help the family cope and in turn create a more reinforced support network for the addicted person.

Inpatient VS Outpatient Drug And Alcohol Rehab In Thailand

The biggest difference between the addiction treatment programmes that patients will undergo is the inpatient and outpatient addiction treatment.

Neither is inherently better than the other.

However, depending on the severity of a patient’s addiction, one form will benefit them more than the other.

What Are The Benefits Of Inpatient Treatment?

There are many benefits to inpatient treatment.

Inpatient treatment typically refers to private treatment or residential treatment.

Here, patients will be provided onsite accommodation at a facility next to where they will undergo their addiction treatment.

This makes it much easier for patients to focus on and prioritise their treatments.

Not only do they live very close to where their addiction treatment is facilitated, they are without external distractions.

Subjects often find that social and environmental factors can not only interfere with their addiction recovery, but can directly cause a relapse.

Inpatient drug and alcohol addiction treatment usually utilises a personalised recovery programme.

Because this is a private form of recovery, the standards of recovery are usually far higher than that of outpatient treatment.

This means that patients will undergo a personalised recovery programme in order to address each unique variable.

Additionally, by staying at an onsite accommodation provided by the rehab, patients will never be without support.

They will have access to 24/7 support from medical professionals in a safe and comfortable environment should they require it.

What Are The Benefits Of Outpatient Treatment?

Some of the main benefits of outpatient addiction treatment include affordability and flexibility.

Rather than staying overnight at a rehab facility like you would undergoing inpatient treatment, outpatient treatment allows patients to return home each night.

This means that they can continue to maintain their employment, pursue social or academic interests and so on, all while undergoing addiction treatment.

Being able to maintain employment while undergoing treatment is a huge benefit, especially for patients who may also need to take care of families during their addiction recovery.

This also makes it much cheaper than inpatient treatment, minimising costs by eliminating the expenses of room and board.

However, it should be noted that outpatient treatment is not for everyone.

Outpatient treatment has often been criticised due to its lack of personalisation as well as its lack of intensity.

These services may use a one size fits all method, rather than catering to specific and unique requirements made by the patient.

Additionally, some patients are not well enough to undergo treatment as an outpatient.

Those who suffer from mild addiction are able to undergo treatment as an outpatient, however, patients suffering from moderate to severe forms of addiction will be required to undergo treatment as an inpatient.

This is because they are deemed to be at high risk of relapsing.

Patients suffering from mental health conditions (e.g. depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia) or those who become agitated, violent or erratic should seek treatment at an inpatient facility where they can be monitored and receive 24/7 support.

How Long Does Recovery At Rehab Last In Thailand?

This depends on many different factors such as the patient’s health history, their responsiveness to recovery methods, treatment intensity, whether they are an inpatient or outpatient, and so on.

Typically, if a patient is undergoing recovery as an inpatient, they will spend around 28 days undergoing recovery.

This allows them to have enough time to undergo a medicated detox (if necessary), therapy and counselling sessions, relapse prevention planning, and more.

However, if a patient is undergoing treatment as an outpatient, they may be undergoing treatment for much longer than 28 days, however, they will be doing so at a much lower intensity.

Outpatients are usually required to commit to several hours of recovery per week, or more if they are undergoing an intensive outpatient recovery plan.

How Much Does Inpatient Rehab Cost?

Staying at a drug and alcohol rehab in Thailand can cost as little as £1,000 a week or as much as £10,000 per week.

If a patient is spending 28 days at their drug and alcohol rehab in Thailand, the price can range from £4,000 to £10,000.

The price is location dependent, therefore it is very important that the patient does plenty of research into which rehab facility in Thailand they want to enter.

Rehab 4 Alcoholism can help them with the process by narrowing down the options to those suitable for the patient’s needs and requirements, but it is ultimately the patient’s choice which facility they enter.

The price will vary according to factors such as location, available facilities, reputation, experience, and how luxurious the rehab appears to be.

Not all rehab facilities are luxury rehabs catered to the wealthy or celebrities.

There are many well established and reputable rehabs which are not as expensive.

If you are worried about paying for the costs at rehab, some providers offer structured payment plans in order for patients to pay in instalments.

This makes it much easier and more financially viable for patients.

Additionally, depending on your health insurance policy (e.g. employee health insurance, private health insurance), it is possible that you may receive some coverage for your treatment.

Whether your policy provides coverage for accommodation, medication, or counselling costs, it is important to communicate with your provider to see what is included and what is excluded.

Medicated Detox For Alcohol & Heroin at Rehab In Thailand

If a patient is suffering from a physical dependence, that is, an addiction to a physically addictive substance such as alcohol or heroin, they will be required to undergo a medicated detox.

The medicated detox is a process which assists patients in overcoming severe withdrawal symptoms in order to proceed with the next stage of recovery.

A medicated detox helps patients overcome one of the most dangerous stages of physical addiction, which is overcoming the physical withdrawal symptoms.

Physical addictions can lead to severe withdrawal symptoms which can ultimately kill patients.

There have been many fatalities due to subjects abstaining ineffectively or without professional support.

During a medicated detox, patients will be under medical supervision in a safe and comfortable environment.

They will also be prescribed medication from an addiction physician.

Examples of the medication include but aren’t limited to:

• Benzodiazepines
• Subutex
• Naltrexone

Each will have its own purpose, such as minimising withdrawal symptoms, minimising symptoms of stress and insomnia, or minimising cravings.

Rehab For Cocaine & Cannabis In Thailand

In contrast to physically addictive substances such as alcohol or heroin, cocaine and cannabis are psychologically addictive substances.

While they do present their own unique and problematic symptoms, they do not require a medicated detox like physically addictive substances do.

Therefore, patients entering a drug and alcohol rehab in Thailand who are suffering from a psychological dependence can proceed to tackle emotional and mental issues, as well as undergoing relapse prevention strategies in order to overcome addiction.

Therapy To Combat Addiction At Drug And Alcohol Rehab In Thailand

There are a range of recovery methods which drug and alcohol rehab facilities in Thailand and all over the world utilise in order to combat addiction.

Recovery can be achieved in many different ways, and rehab providers will implement different methods depending on their principles, available facilities, experience, and so on.

Cognitive & Dialectical Behavioural Therapy

At a reputable drug and alcohol, it is extremely likely that patients will undergo Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

This is because Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is not only an established method of recovery when it comes to combating addiction, it has a history of being effective in treating patients.

The purpose of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is for the licensed counsellor and the patient to identify and reconfigure whichever negative thought or behavioural tendencies that the patient suffers from.

This could be in the form of cognitive distortions, extremely negative perspectives, self destructive and counterintuitive coping mechanisms, and more.

Similarly, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy also combats some of the issues which may influence a person’s thinking and their actions.

However, what distinguishes this form of therapy from the other is that Dialectical Behavioural Therapy places more emphasis on the emotional side of overcoming and healing from recovery.

Not only are Cognitive and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy good at treating patients who are suffering from addiction, they are also utilised in order to treat patients that suffer from other conditions such as depression, anxiety, and more.

By becoming more able to handle intense emotions and to discard negative habits, patients will not only be able to deal with addiction more effectively, but they will be able to deal with issues in most areas of life because the skills obtained are transferable.

Motivational Interviewing

Motivational Interviewing is a goal oriented form of therapy which utilises the language of change in order to inspire or reinforce the patient’s intrinsic motivation towards recovering from addiction.

The form of therapy is facilitated in a one-to-one fashion, with a licensed counsellor, or the ‘interviewer’ in this case, asking the patient a range of questions about the patient’s addiction which will evoke thoughts and feelings.

In turn, the patient will answer the counsellor by telling them why they want to recover, and what inspires them to return to a life of sobriety.

As a result, the patient will reinforce their ambitions and consolidate their motivation by once again exploring the reasons that drive their efforts towards recovery.

Holistic Therapy

Holistic Therapy is a very diverse form of therapy because much like the term therapy, it can mean many different things.

The term holistic means interconnectedness and wholeness, and Holistic Therapy aims to treat its patients as a whole by healing them physically, mentally and spiritually.

Because of its all encompassing nature, there isn’t one form of Holistic Therapy.

Examples of Holistic Therapy include but aren’t limited to:

• Equine Therapy
• Yoga
• Fitness
• Cooking
• Gardening
• Music Therapy
• Adventure Therapy
• Aromatherapy
• Massages
• Acupuncture

There is a form of holistic therapy which will appeal to each patient.

Group Therapy

Group Therapy can introduce many of the things that one to one forms of therapy can’t, such as peer discussion and peer influence.

The introduction of peers can encourage social reinforcement which will then inspire patients further.

During a group therapy session, patients will be encouraged to share their name and their experiences with addiction and their recovery.

This offers patients a platform to be heard, to inspire, and to then be inspired.

By being surrounded by like minded people who have the same ambitions, patients will resonate with each other.

Family Therapy

It’s not only important that the patient receives treatment and is educated about the complexities of addiction – their friends and families can play a monumental role in supporting them by maintaining their recovery and preventing relapses.

Family Therapy can break down the stigmatisation surrounding addiction and open up communication between the addicted person and his or her family.

This will then create a stronger support network who will not only understand their requirements more, but it will minimise any judgements about the addicted person and their condition.

Additionally, families can suffer greatly while witnessing their loved one’s addiction.

They may experience periods of emotional trauma, relationship breakdown, and more.

Because of this, it is important to include the family in the healing process along with the addicted person.

12-Step Facilitation Therapy (TSF)

12-Step Facilitation Therapy is a form of therapy which is often utilised during the aftercare stage of recovery.

When patients leave their designated drug and alcohol rehab in Thailand, they will undergo an aftercare programme and will have access to fellowship programmes such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, SMART Recovery, or others.

12-Step Facilitation Therapy offers patients a new set of lifestyle guidelines and principles in order to support them during their newfound lifestyle of sobriety.

These guidelines will help patients manage their sobriety in a measured and effective way.

Dual Diagnosis At Rehab In Thailand

While addiction is what most rehabs specialise in treating, they often come with other symptoms or illnesses.

Addiction can stem from other conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, and more.

However, addiction can also be the cause or main factor in a subject developing new conditions which affect their health.

To successfully overcome addiction, patients must also have assistance in overcoming other issues that they may have.

Illnesses such as depression, for example, can not only affect their recovery process but eventually result in a relapse, undoing all of their hard work.

Therefore, an inpatient facility which produces personalised recovery programmes is optimal for a patient suffering from co-occurring disorders.

At an inpatient rehab facility, they will receive additional treatment for these issues.

Only then can they successfully move on with their lives and practice their newfound lifestyle of abstinence.

Relapse Prevention Planning At Drug And Alcohol Rehab In Thailand

Not only will patients be able to overcome their drug or alcohol addiction at a rehab in Thailand, they will learn how to maintain their recovery in the long term.

This is essential in ensuring that the patient recovers effectively.

At a drug and alcohol rehab in Thailand, patients will also learn about the intricacies of relapse prevention planning.

By the end of their time at their rehab facility, they will have learned a wealth of knowledge and skills about developing healthier coping mechanisms and preventing relapses from occurring.

Therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy provide patients the skills in order to become more capable of identifying and preventing relapses.

Additionally, relapse prevention methods such as HALT (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired) will teach patients how to manage their physical, mental, and emotional cravings which could result in a relapse.

Getting Help Today

For more information on attending drug and alcohol rehab in Thailand, or to have any questions or concerns answered, the Rehab 4 Alcoholism team are always available to take your call.

Call us today on 44 345 222 3509.