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In Pictures: Thailand’s Buddhist detox centre

The Wat Tham Krabok monastery is Thailand’s largest free drug rehabilitation facility.

Pictures of Aom from Nakhon Si Thammarat before he became a monk at the Wat Tham Krabok monastery. Aom, a former gang member and drummer, was addicted to Yaba, tablets of methamphetamine and caffeine.
By Rohan Radheya
Published On 17 Aug 2014

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Thailand, Lopburi –The Wat Tham Krabok monastery,  based in the central province Lopburi, is the nation’s largest free drug rehabilitation facility.

The centre is known for its natural drugs rehabilitation programme, which first started in the 1950s. Over 100,000 opium, methamphetamine and heroin addicts have undergone treatment in the detox programme, which consists of ancient Buddhist meditation practises and the consumption of a secret detoxification potion. The mixture, composed of a wide variety of natural herbs, induces vomiting. A number of Western celebrities have sought treatment for their addiction at Wat Tham Krabok including Christy Dignam, Pete Doherty and Tim Arnold.

The Wat Tham Krabok is especially famous for treating Yaba addiction. Yaba are pills containing a mixture of methamphetamine and caffeine and is one of Thailand’s most prevalent drugs. 

Many monks in Wat Tham Krabok are former Yaba users and come from all parts of Thailand. Some come from neighboring Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos.

One patient, Aom, was a gang member and was heavily addicted to Yaba. He said he also was one of the most talented drummers in his hometown, Nakhon Si Thammarat, in southern Thailand.

According to Aom, his addiction went out of control and ruined his career as a professional drummer. He told Al Jazeera that he frequently got into fist fights with rival gang members and once had his arm broken in a fight. His family sent him to Wat Tham Krabok to undergo treatment for his Yaba addiction.

After his treatment, Aom denounced gang activities and became a permanent monk at the monastery.
Aom, who says he enjoys Muay Thai, a form of marital arts popular in Thailand, broke his right arm during a gang fight. 
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After his treatment Aom denounced gang activities and became a permanent monk at Wat Tham Krabok.
Aom plays chess with a fellow monk. In the morning, Aom often helps younger patients in the detox programme.
A factory makes the detox medicine used in the rehab programmes. Its ingredients, mainly consisting of herbs, remain a secret.
The patients at the detox session are mostly young people.
Two patients carry detox medicine used in the rehab programmes.
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A detox session uses a medicine made of herbs to induce vomiting.
A monk at Wat Tham Krabok monastery speaks about his past drug addiction.
Monks clean the Wat Tham Krabok. Many monks and patients at the monastery work voluntarily in the rehab centre, where lodging and treatment is free.
A monk at Wat Tham Krabok drinks the detox medicine. Many monks were former drug users and almost all of them still drink the detox medicine. They believe the medicine keeps the body clean and in good health.
This is a detox area used for rehab programmes. The temperature in these rooms can get as high as 45 degrees Celsius. Patients must spend at least 25 minutes per day in these rooms.
Visitors taste the bitter detox medicine used in the rehab programmes.