World’s biggest gamblers & ecstasy users flocking to Thailand for offshore rehabilitation

Groundswell in Aussies attending private Thai rehab facility over past five years

AUSTRALIAN MEDIA ALERT

EMBARGOED FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2016

“Rehab tourism” is on the rise, with new figures set for release tomorrow (Friday, January 27) revealing a more than doubling of Aussie patrons to a leading five-star drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility in Thailand over the past five years.¹

Between 2010 to 2015, Australian visitors to DARA Drug and Alcohol Rehab Asia, Thailand, presented largely with alcohol and methamphetamine (“Ice”) addictions. Most came from Perth, followed closely by Melbourne; were male; aged in their late 30s to early 40s; and spent an average of 35 days in rehabilitation.¹

“Australians are unceremoniously renowned for being the world’s biggest gamblers and users of ecstasy, the second highest abusers of prescription opioid treatments, the world’s third highest users of methamphetamines, the fourth highest users of cocaine, and the seventh highest users of marijuana,”² according to Dr Phil Townshend, Clinical Psychologist, DARA Treatment Director and former head of Gamblers Help Services at the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation, Melbourne.

To learn why Australians from all walks of life are flocking to Thailand in record numbers to address their addictions, tee up an interview tomorrow with:

EXPERTS
Dr Philip Townshend	Clinical Psychologist, Treatment Director at DARA Thailand & former Head of Gamblers Help Services at the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation, Melbourne, *THAILAND*
AUSTRALIANS IN RECOVERY
Mark, 30	Labourer, rigger, recovering addict & DARA attendee, *OCEAN GROVE, VIC*
Nicole, 36	Mother-of-two, Clinical Support Officer, recovering addict & DARA attendee, TWEED HEADS, NSW
Kylie, 43	Long-term government employee, dog lover, recovering addict & DARA attendee, *PERTH*
MEDIA CONTACTS & MEDIA MATERIALS	Kirsten Bruce, Ruby Archis, Mark Henderson from VIVA! Communications 0401 717 566 / 0413 834 906 / 0431 465 004 Head to https://www.dararehab.com/blog/ for media materials
BROADCAST VISION	Available upon request

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References

DARA Drug and Alcohol Rehab Asia, Thailand. 2016. Data on file.
United Nations (UN), 2014. World Drug Report 2014, Available at https://www.unodc.org/documents/wdr2014/World_Drug_Report_2014_web.pdf [last accessed January 25, 2016].