Treatment for narcotic addiction in a buddhist monastery

Joseph Westermeyer

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3 Scopus citations

Abstract

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.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)221-227
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Drug Issues
Volume10
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1980

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
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.

Funding Information:
The author is Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Minnesota. This study was funded and/or supported by the Ministry of Social Welfare and Ministry of Health in Laos, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Minnesota Medical Foundation, National Institute of Drug Abuse grants Nos. 1 R01 DA01599 and 5 T01 DA00023, and the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Minnesota. Acknowledgement is expressed to Dr. Chomchan Soudaly and Dr. Charles Weldon for their part in this study. Mr. Tou Fu Vang assisted in the tabulation of the data. 4 1980 10 2 221 227 © 1980 Florida State University College of Criminology and Criminal Justice 1980 Florida State University College of Criminology and Criminal Justice

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