Sarah’s Story

Before Addiction

• Excellent Childhood

• Educated abroad and in the UK (Two languages spoken) Private school.

• Jobs in Japanese company’s – Kyocera, Honda

• Tried various drugs including weed, ecstasy, LSD, cocaine and speed.

• Over confidence in trying Heroin and crack cocaine.

Addiction• Not necessary to dwell too

much on the total degradation that a heroin addict sinks to

• NHS funded me to go to Thailand in 2004 though the East West (First to be funded in the reading area)

• I met Mike Sarson from East West Detox in 2003. He took me on and together we fought to attain the funding to send me to Thailand

Thamkrabok

• Signed agreement – Why?• Sajja Vow• 28 days• Treatment centre in the

monastery

Treatment

• Herbal medicines• Vomiting• Steam baths to help breathing and scars • Massages • Meditation/Mindfulness for relapse prevention • Individual and group therapy “self help” being in

it all together

Relapse Prevention

• Recovery or not?

• Current practice endorsed by health service deals mainly with the symptoms of withdrawal by prescribing one addictive substance for another

• Harm reduction rather than on long-term freedom from addiction

• Medication suppresses emotions and feelings which can make the process of healing the whole person more difficult

Return to Thamkrabok

• Returned to Tamkrabok as east west support network

• Taking a patient as in the role of a support worker

Return to Thamkrabok

• A special experience of re-connecting mind, body and sprit

• Able to move on with my recovery

East West Detox method

• Addresses the whole person• No medication is used • Self-help is promoted throughout

the treatment process • Non pharmaceutical interventions • 28 day treatment period • ongoing counselling support

• Aftercare and residential support

The Future

Learning to appreciate life again

Working to rebuild your life with “normal” goals for self development

East West Detox

Google - east west detoxwww.east-westdetox.org.ukinfo@east-westdetox.org.uk