Treatment for Narcotic Addiction in a Buddhist Monastery

During the period 1972–74, approximately 3,000 narcotic addicts from Laos were sent to a Buddhist monastery in Thailand (Wat Than Kha Bok). This massive effort was initiated by a devout Buddhist woman. It was funded from a variety of sources including a Buddhist woman's auxiliary in Laos, an international organization funding philanthropic activities, the Ministry of Health in Laos, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the addicted people themselves. These particular data were obtained from 1,192 addicts admitted for treatment during 1973. Data were collected by trained employees in the Ministry of Social Welfare, using a format employed for previous research by the author in Laos. Demographic characteristics of the 1,192 people in the sample are presented. Clinical information in-eludes their age at addiction and the duration of their addiction. The sudden waxing of addict interest in this non-medical (even anti-medical) program is described, along with its subsequent waning. A limited evaluation of treatment outcome was conducted by the author in villages of Laos. These data are presented, along with mortality associated with the treatment. </jats:p