Bangkok Post - June 15, 2003
Poona Antaseeda

"I want to do good deeds to pay for my past sins," Somsak, 44, a former amphetamine dealer in Tambon Thamakham, Muang district, Kanchanaburi confidently told Perspective.

"When I think of my past, I know I've made mistakes," he said during a thod pha pa ceremony (leaving offerings for the monks) at the Nong Sam Pran Temple in Kanchanaburi. A group of former drug dealers and addicts known as "Fa Fuen" (recovering sky) was holding the ceremony to collect money for the temple's drug rehabilitation programmes.

Thirty-four former drug dealers who passed the temple's rehabilitation programme formed the "Fa Fuen". Their group grew to include a network of other drug addicts and drug dealers who completed the rehab programme at Nong Sam Pran Temple. Their mission is to keep an eye on drug-related activities within their own communities. They call themselves " a group of former bad guys who do not want others to repeat their errors."

More communities are coming under their watchful eyes. The group wants to organise similar networks in 50 villages and plans to evaluate their operation in the next six months.

"We want to take care of our families and communities. We will ask drug users and pushers to abandon what they are doing," said Somsak, who is a member of Fa Fuen.

"If this is successful in my village, I will move on to other villages," he added.

Somsak is one of the 54 drug dealers who participated in a five-day training session which was organised by the Nong Sam Pran Temple and conducted from March 31 - April 4 . This was after Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra announced a general pardon this year to all drug dealers who voluntarily surrendered to the government during its three-month nationwide war against drugs. Somsak was one of those who turned himself in.

Actually, Somsak quit the amphetamine trade in 1998 upon the request of his daughter. However, his name appeared on the police blacklist of suspected drug dealers. When police ordered him to join the training, he could only comply. But in fact he didn't mind going through the training programme.

"When the premier announced the general amnesty for drug dealers, I thought myself so lucky that the premier himself pardoned me." said Somsak.

He said that he spent most of the lucrative, easy-come easy-go cashflow he had grown accustomed to as a drug merchant on a luxurious lifestyle and entertainment.

"My craving for money and my passion for expensive Rado watches, good cars, and fat gold necklaces tempted me so much that I found it very difficult to stop selling drugs," he said.

Somsak never tried amphetamines himself, but he knows well how destructive they are. Many drug dealers have become drug addicts. Despite the legal penalties for selling illicit drugs, he was not deterred because "the lure of money is stronger". Fortunately for him and his family, however, it wasn't stronger than the love he had for his daughter.

Although Somsak quit trading in illegal substances five years ago, the rules of karma seemed to hound him. A year later, Somsak's son became an amphetamine addict. Police arrested his son and tested his urine: it turned violet, indicating positive. Somsak was shocked.

He blamed himself. His son knew he had been a drug pusher. He also blamed himself for not spending enough time with his children. He took his son to the rehabilitation course at the Nong Sam Pran Temple.

Today, Somsak's son is 19 years old and rehabilitated.

The former drug dealer is now struggling to remain a good man. He assists at the temple's rehabilitation programmes for drug addicts and HIV-infected persons. Sometimes he just comes to chat with the monks. But he still feels the guilt from his former life.

"Even now, I don't believe the public will ever forgive me," he said.

LITTLE MONEY, BUT LOTS OF SUCCESS

The temple's drug rehabilitation centre is called Buddharaksa , or Buddhism Rehabilitation Centre. Of the 15 staff at the rehab centre, three are monks.

Nong Sam Pran Temple was an early pioneer in drug rehab, starting in 1992. They reopened in 2001 after closing in 1999 due to a lack of money. The centre uses the Buddhist concept of Dharma and herbs to rehabilitate addicts and dealers. There are two programmes available: a 60-day program and a five-day program.

Phra Kru Panyakanjanakij, the abbot of the temple, leads the drug rehabilitation and also the HIV programmes.

In 2001, the Office of the Narcotics Control Board, the Secretariat of the Sangha Supreme Council and the Department of Medical Services of the Ministry of Public Health formally agreed to allow temples to run drug rehabilitation centres. After the state anti-drugs campaign began last February, the stream of those wanting to be rehabilitated grew.

Phra Kru said the government's war on drugs sent a very clear message to drug addicts.

"During that period, drug addicts feared police arrest. They flocked to the temple for rehabilitation, but most were not serious about it," he said.

The monk said the success or failure of the drug war depends on the police. "If the police take it seriously, the problem can be solved," he said.

Kanchanaburi is where the Thai judicial system first gave drug addicts the option for rehabilitation instead of jail time. Of the 130 drug addicts who have attended the 60-day program since 2001, 120 finished. Of the 753 who attended the five-day program, 667 completed it..

The 60-day program has two phases: the first 30 days is for physical rehabilitation and the second 30 days is for mental rehabilitation. Each programme can accommodate about 50 participants.

The Rajabhat Institute in Kanchanaburi studied the 120 participants who passed the programme after they returned to their villages. They found them all to be completely off drugs. There are currently 19 drug addicts being rehabilitated at the temple.

Talks between the Kanchanaburi temple and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) are ongoing over plans to accept drug addicts from Bangkok. But despite the official recognition of the temple's good work, the temple's rehabilitation budget continues to be severely strained. For instance, money from the Narcotics Control Board arrived only after three programmes were completed. The temple continues to struggle to find money.

"In the bureaucratic system, a budget is approved only after a a long time, but our work must go on. We can't work only when the money comes in. The problem is here, it is happening now," said Phra Kru. The monk even had to sell his car to help run the programme.

Upon hearing that the temple was short of budget, the Fa Fuen group organised the thod pha paceremony to collect money for the temple's rehabilitation programmes.

HEALING THE MIND

Why are monks effective in rehabilitating drug dealers? How does studying Dharma heal a drug addict?

"Dharma and meditation soothe the mind. Drug addiction is a form of mental disorder, which cannot be healed by using other drugs. Encouraging the patients to have spiritual thoughts and offering them Dharma is a successful way to heal their minds.," said the abbot.

"Physically rehabilitated, mentally developed, and socially integrated" was the motto of Nong Sam Pran Temple when it launched the drug rehabilitation programme. The drug addicts have to rise at 5 a.m. to pray. In the afternoons they study basic Dharma. They pray again in the evenings and meditate at night.

In the 60-day rehabilitation course, the center provides drug addicts with a secret herbal infusion created from plants native to Kanchanaburi. After drinking the potion, most fall asleep and wake up very hungry.

"So the temple has to provide food at night, despite the budget shortage," said Phra Kru.

After three days of herbal infusions, the heroine addict will not feel a craving for heroin, said the monk. Opium addicts require five days of herbal infusions. Amphetamine addicts require only two days.

"But not craving the drug doesn't mean that they are not addicted anymore," said the monk.

"It takes 25 days for the participants to recover physically. Most gain about five kilogrammes in weight. Sometimes the mothers who come to visit cannot recognise their children," the monk laughed.

Phra Kru Panyakanjanakij said drug addicts need training to acquire discipline. They are given new habits at the temple: morning exercises and prayers in the morning and evening.

"Parents also play an important role in rehabilitating the minds of the drug addict," the monk said.

"So the temple allows parents to come on Sundays. We stress the role of the family.

"Most drug addicts began walking the wrong path when they were young," he pointed out. "They are not bad people. They are people who want to be good but they had no alternative. Being a drug addict is one way to feel that you are number one. We all want to be number one because we're taught to compete with each other," said the monk.

After completing the 60-day rehabilitation program, participants are prepared to return to society. The temple offers vocational training for those want to return home. Those who want to become monks and are qualified are sent to ordain at another temple.

At least 49 graduates of the rehabilitation programmes have sought a new life in the monkhood.

"When we take these new monks on a pilgrimage in the forest, they observe the disciplines so strictly that we can hardly believe it ourselves," said Phra Kru.

The temple also cares for the HIV-infected. Although there are three specific zones laid out for the living areas for monks, HIV-infected persons, and drug addicts, they coexist without discrimination. No one looks down on anyone and they help each other in whatever they do.

Since its opening in 1992, the Buddharaksa HIV Centre has admitted over 6,000 HIV-infected persons from all over the country.

Phra Kru Panyakanjanakij said that each month about four people die from Aids at the temple.

Because of his belief that Dharma is an alternative cure for the ills of society, the monk would like to see Thai people pay more attention to Dharma.

"How can we make people interested in Dharma or in going to temple? How can we help those with the same ideals to meet each other? Thais are Buddhist only in their house registration," said the monk.

Looking at the forgotten products of modern society who end up at the temple - the drug addicts and the HIV-infected - the monk said: "Society is walking towards the civilisation of technology in the belief that it will bring happiness. But, that kind of happiness is short-lived. The Dharma of the Lord Buddha is the only sustainable happiness."

- Donations are received at the Nong Sam Pran Temple via its bank account number, 713-1-71282-5, at Krung Thai Bank, Kanchanaburi Branch.

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