There are numerous forms of drug and alcohol addiction in Australia. Cannabis, cocaine, and hallucinogens are the most widely used drugs, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
While not as common, fentanyl addiction has also seen a rise in numbers. Between 2001 and 2021, there were 833 fentanyl-related deaths in Australia. While there are various alcohol and drug rehab centres in Australia, some people may find that tackling substance abuse will take them to Orchid in Chiang Mai.
Fentanyl Addiction and Its Consequences
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid. In Australia, it is classified as a Schedule 8 restricted medicine and can only be legally obtained with a doctor’s prescription. However, there are still people who use it illicitly and become addicted to it. People who struggle with addiction have little to no control over their compulsions. Generally speaking, it will take external intervention to help a person overcome addiction.
Addiction can have numerous long-term consequences, such as tolerance. When a person develops a tolerance to a drug, its effects are dulled. This will invariably lead to a user ingesting more of the drug to get the same effects, which can increase the risk of overdose. Fentanyl addiction can also cause sexual dysfunction in men and menstrual irregularities in women, among other health risks. People with long-term fentanyl addiction can also find that they have difficulty controlling impulsive behaviour. Another consequence of opioid addiction is that when a person does seek treatment, detoxification can come with more severe withdrawal symptoms.
Addiction Treatment at The Orchid
At our drug and alcohol rehab in Thailand, our treatment programme for substance use disorders typically consists of detox and residential treatment. Detox is the phase of treatment in which a person purges their body of all illicit substances, and this can come with various withdrawal symptoms depending on the substances taken. For fentanyl withdrawal, symptoms can include diarrhoea, shivers, dysphoria, muscle spasms, and cravings for the drug. At our treatment centre in Thailand, the detox programme typically lasts between 5 to 7 days. However, serious or complicated cases of withdrawal will be referred to the National Hospital 30 minutes away.
The other part of our addiction treatment programme is residential rehab. While in inpatient treatment, a person who is struggling with opioid use disorder will have no access to illicit substances. Any medication that they may need to take will be administered by a qualified nurse. Guests in our luxury drug and alcohol rehab centre in Thailand will also go to 1 to 2 counselling sessions per week. Holistic therapies such as yoga, sound baths, trauma release exercises, and meditation happen daily. Because people have different needs, our residential treatment for drug or alcohol addiction can last 4, 8, or 12 weeks.
Why Choose Rehab in Thailand?
While there are various treatment options available at home, there are numerous reasons to seek treatment in Thailand. Some of the benefits of our addiction rehab facility in Thailand include:
Queer-Friendly
Thailand is one of the most tolerant countries in the world when it comes to the LGBT community. The country was the first country in Southeast Asia to legalise same-sex marriages. In keeping with this, our treatment facility welcomes everyone who seeks treatment. Addiction does not discriminate, and neither does our treatment.
Discretion
Another benefit of seeking treatment for addiction in Chiang Mai is that it can offer discretion. There are those for whom addiction may be a sensitive subject and something that they want to keep close to their chest.
Isolation
Seeking treatment and detox in Thailand can also isolate a person from their normal circumstances and social circles. Circumstances can trigger substance use, and people can enable, sometimes inadvertently, unhealthy behaviour. Being isolated from them can help a person focus on addiction and mental health treatment.
Cost-Efficiency
Another reason to come to Thailand for addiction recovery is that it can be more cost-effective. While there are luxury rehab facilities in Australia, they can be rather expensive. Our rates are more affordable, which can make us the more cost-efficient option even after factoring in the cost of airfare.
Various Activities
Our treatment methods also include various activities such as getting massages, Thai boxing, and cooking classes.
Staff in Recovery
Some of the staff members who help people recover from addiction have been through addiction treatment themselves. This gives them an understanding of a patient’s struggles that other treatment providers may not have.
Modalities Used to Treat Fentanyl Use
We use several modalities to provide comprehensive treatment to those who come to us for help. Some of the modalities that we use to deliver effective treatment include:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a form of therapy that is focused on the relationship between thoughts and behaviours. It can help a person change the cognitive distortions that may contribute to their unhealthy behaviour, such as substance use.
Dialectic Behavioral Therapy
Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) is a modality that is focused on the concepts of acceptance and change. It helps people develop skills in four modules: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
Eye movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing
Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) is a form of treatment that uses bilateral stimulation to replicate REM sleep while thinking of a distressing memory. This allows the memory to be processed. As trauma is often a root cause of addiction, this can help reduce substance use.
Motivational Interviewing
Motivational interviewing (MI) is a treatment approach that uses guided questions and active listening to help patients resolve ambivalence regarding treatment and help them cultivate intrinsic motivation to change.
Therapies For Gambling Addiction
Many kinds of therapy are used to help people with gambling problems. The ideas behind therapy for gamblers are similar to those used for treating substance abuse. This is because both issues involve losing control, being overly focused on the behaviour, and continuing to engage in it even when it leads to bad outcomes.
Types of Therapy at Our Rehab Centre
A treatment plan at our Thailand rehab centre will involve various forms of therapy. Some of the therapies we use to address drug abuse include:
Individual Counselling
Individual counselling can give someone a safe space to delve into the underlying causes of their addiction as well as develop coping mechanisms to help manage triggers.
Group Therapy
Group therapy can provide a supportive community of people who have been through similar struggles with mental health and addiction. These sessions can be places of support and accountability, and they can help people make plans to prevent relapse when they leave treatment.
Family Therapy
Family therapy generally happens towards the end of someone’s time in our inpatient drug and alcohol rehab. A guest’s loved ones can fly out to northern Thailand for sessions. Failing that, there are online options available.
Drug Addiction Is Not Permanent
Some people can come to the belief that their struggles with addiction will be permanent and that they will have no future other than one filled with substance use. That is not the case. At Orchid, we can provide the treatment and support that a person needs to overcome their substance use disorder. Contact us to learn more.